A successor, not another listing
Earnout.com connects owners with entrepreneurs who want to take over and run an existing business. Your business isn't put on a public marketplace.
A confidential business succession platform
Your business is profitable, but you're done with it.
Don't shut down.Find an entrepreneur to take over.
We have entrepreneurs waiting.
Choose the right buyer, agree the deal, and get paid over time.
Find my successor
No public listing · Completely confidential
A different kind of exit
You're ready to stop. Your business doesn't have to.
You've built something worthwhile. A business that makes money. Happy customers. But you no longer want to be the person running it.
Perhaps retirement is overdue. Perhaps you're exhausted, or simply finished. Maybe you have a better opportunity to move on to. You've tried selling, but the right deal hasn't happened.
Closing isn't the only option. A new entrepreneur could take over what you've built – and agree to pay you over time rather than fund the whole purchase upfront.
You're done running it. That doesn't mean it's done.
“Finally, a realistic solution. Let's do this.”
A way forward
Get out now. Earn from the sale over time.
The principle is simple: agree a handover, transfer ownership, and receive the purchase price on the terms you negotiate.
That could mean agreed instalments, payments linked to future results, cash at completion, or a combination. You and the buyer decide what works for the business and for you.
Payment amounts, timing and protections depend on the agreement you reach. Deferred payments carry a risk of non-payment; Earnout.com does not guarantee them.
An exit, not a giveaway
You are selling your business, not donating it. Price, payment terms and any cash at completion are negotiated between you and the buyer.
A handover, not an overnight disappearance
Agree the transition support the buyer needs – and when your involvement ends. The aim is to hand over responsibility, not create another indefinite job for yourself.
From first conversation to handover
How it works
A considered process gives you room to understand who may be right, what the terms could look like, and when you're ready to move forward.
Tell us about your business – privately
Share your financial information, what you do, and the exit you're looking for. We assess whether your business fits the platform before you pay to join.
Explore suitable successors
We match your business with entrepreneurs whose interests and experience fit. Initial information is anonymised. You choose whether to progress an introduction and authorise disclosure of your business's identity.
Agree the deal and handover
Discuss the price, any upfront cash, deferred payments and your transition period. Use our deal-structure library to understand the options, then work with your own advisers to document the agreement and complete the sale.
You stay in control. No exclusivity. No obligation to accept an offer.
A measured introduction
Your plans stay private
Your staff, customers and competitors don't need a public announcement that you're considering an exit.
There is no public listing, searchable business profile or open catalogue of sellers. Information is shared selectively, and your business's identity is disclosed to a prospective buyer only with your permission and under confidentiality terms.
Private matching. Controlled introductions. Your decision.
A considered fit
Is your business a fit?
Earnout.com is for owners of businesses that:
- Generate at least £500,000 in annual revenue.
- Are profitable – there is no minimum profit amount.
- Have financial information that can be checked.
- Can be handed over to a new owner.
- Fully disclose their debts, obligations and other material issues.
You should be open to receiving most or all of the purchase price over time. A buyer may also agree to pay cash at completion.
Check my business's fitStraightforward by design
Clear fees. No exclusivity.
For business owners
£500 to join, once your business is accepted.
Join the confidential matching process, connect with potential successors, and access our library of deal structures.
Keep working with your broker, explore other buyers, or decide not to proceed. Joining Earnout.com does not commit you to a sale.
For the next owner
Built for entrepreneurs ready to run
Don't want to start from zero? Take over a business with customers, revenue and a trading history – and make its next chapter yours.
Earnout.com introduces you to owners who are ready to hand over. Deferred payment terms may reduce the cash needed to buy the business, but they do not remove the need for working capital, due diligence or a credible plan to operate it.
Bring your experience, your ambition and a serious plan.
Tell us what you're looking forBefore you decide
Questions & answers
Am I giving my business away?
No. You and the buyer negotiate a purchase price and payment terms. The difference is that some or all of the price can be paid after the buyer takes over, rather than entirely at completion. You decide whether an offer is worth accepting.
What does “get out now, earn over time” actually mean?
It means the transfer of ownership and the payment of the purchase price do not have to happen all at once. You agree when the buyer takes over, any handover support you'll provide, and when payments are due. It does not mean an immediate exit is guaranteed or that every business can operate without a transition period.
Will I receive any cash upfront?
Possibly. Deals can include cash at completion as well as deferred payments. A business with substantial equipment, inventory or other assets may call for a different upfront payment than a business with few physical assets. The amount depends on the business, the buyer's funding and the agreement you reach. There is no standard cash percentage.
Are all deferred payments an earnout?
No. A fixed deferred payment is an agreed amount paid later, often through instalments or a seller loan. An earnout links payments to agreed future results. A deal can combine these structures with cash at completion. Our library explains the differences and provides examples to help you discuss the options with your advisers.
How much will I get for my business?
There is no standard valuation or promised payout. Buyers will consider the business's finances, assets, risks, dependence on you and prospects under new ownership. Price and payment terms need to be considered together: a larger contingent price is not the same as a smaller amount paid in cash. You choose which offer, if any, to accept.
Does my business have to be highly profitable?
No. It must be profitable and generate at least £500,000 in annual revenue, but there is no minimum profit amount. Acceptance does not guarantee buyer interest or a particular price. Buyers will assess what it will cost to operate the business after you leave and what payments it can realistically support.
Can I join if I haven't tried selling yet?
Yes. You don't need to have run a sale process first. Earnout.com may be relevant if you're ready to leave, have no successor lined up and are open to deferred payment terms. It is also an option if a conventional sale process hasn't produced a deal.
Will anyone know my business is available?
There is no public listing. Initial information is anonymised and shared selectively, and your business's identity is disclosed to a prospective buyer only with your permission and under confidentiality terms. However, no process can promise absolute secrecy: a knowledgeable person might recognise a business from limited details, and confidentiality terms cannot prevent every breach.
Who are the buyers?
Entrepreneurs looking to take over and operate an existing business. We use their stated acquisition interests, experience and available resources to assess potential matches. You should still conduct your own checks on a buyer's suitability, finances and ability to meet the proposed terms. An introduction is not a guarantee of performance or payment.
What if the buyer doesn't pay me?
That is a real risk of deferred consideration. Before you sign, your advisers should help you negotiate payment obligations, reporting rights, any security and what happens on default. Protections depend on the deal and may not prevent a loss. Earnout.com does not guarantee payments, and you do not automatically get the business back if a buyer defaults.
What does the £500 seller fee cover?
Participation in the confidential matching process and access to our deal-structure library, once your business has been accepted. It does not guarantee an offer or a completed sale. Any specific introduction commitment and refund terms will be shown before you pay.
Do I have to stop working with my broker?
No. Earnout.com is non-exclusive. You can continue working with a broker, marketing the business elsewhere and speaking to other buyers. Your existing broker agreement still applies, so check whether it creates any fee obligations if you complete a sale through another route.
How long does it take?
There is no guaranteed timetable. Finding a suitable successor, completing due diligence and agreeing the deal all take time. Your preferred exit date is part of the matching process, but the buyer's readiness and the condition of your business will affect what is possible.
Do I need a lawyer and an accountant?
Yes. You and the buyer should use your own professional advisers for due diligence, tax, the sale agreement and payment protections. Our examples help explain possible structures; they are not a substitute for advice on your transaction.
Do I have to accept an offer?
No. You control whether to meet a prospective buyer, share further information, negotiate or complete a sale. If the terms don't work for you, you can decline.
The next chapter
You've built it. Let someone take it forward.
Find an entrepreneur to take over, agree an exit that works for you, and make room for what comes next.
Find my successorConfidential. Non-exclusive. For profitable businesses with £500k+ annual revenue.