Why two years, and not two months
Most owners decide to sell and then start preparing. Buyers can tell. A business that has been tidied up in a hurry looks exactly like one that has been tidied up in a hurry: inconsistent accounts, informal contracts, and an owner who is still the single point of failure.
Two years gives you three full sets of accounts that tell a consistent story, time to build a second tier of management, and, most importantly, the option to walk away from an offer that falls short. Optionality is the single biggest lever on price. An owner who has to sell this year starts the negotiation on the back foot.
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