How Long Does It Take to Sell a Franchise Business?

Most franchise business sales take 6 to 18 months from the point of instruction to legal completion. The wide range reflects two variables that are unique to franchised businesses: the franchisor approval process and the franchise agreement term remaining.

This guide explains each stage of the timeline, what drives variation within it, and what sellers can do to avoid unnecessary delays.

The short answer

Straightforward sales — where the franchisor is cooperative, the buyer is well-qualified, and the financials are clean — can complete in 6–9 months. Complex sales involving multi-unit operations, extended franchisor reviews, or disputed valuations may take 12–18 months.

Stage 1: Preparation (1–3 months)

Before a franchise business can be professionally marketed, a seller needs to assemble the documentation that buyers and their advisers will need: at minimum, three years of financial accounts, a current management accounts pack, a copy of the franchise agreement, and a schedule of franchise fees and obligations.

If any of this is not readily available, this stage takes longer. Franchisors sometimes need to be contacted to obtain copies of agreement schedules, and accountants may need time to prepare normalised EBITDA figures.

The preparation stage also includes getting a professional valuation — an essential step before setting an asking price. Overprice the business and it sits on the market; underprice it and you leave money on the table. A specialist broker will value the business based on EBITDA multiples, agreement term remaining, and the specific franchise network’s resale history.

What affects the preparation timeline:

• How organised your financial records are
• Whether your franchise agreement is current and easily accessible
• How much owner-dependency reduction work is needed before marketing

For a detailed preparation checklist: How to Prepare Your Franchise Business for Sale

Stage 2: Marketing to buyers (1–3 months)

Once the information memorandum is prepared, your broker will approach qualified buyers confidentially. In a franchise sale, “qualified” has two meanings: financially capable of completing the purchase, and likely to meet the franchisor’s own qualification criteria.

Marketing a franchise business to unsuitable buyers wastes time. A specialist broker maintains a panel of pre-qualified buyers who have already demonstrated financial capacity and, in some cases, have prior experience within the relevant franchise network or sector.

Depending on the business and its asking price, receiving one or more offers typically takes 4–12 weeks from the point the business is confidentially presented to buyers.

What affects the marketing timeline:

• Price point — higher-value businesses have a smaller buyer pool
• Franchise network profile — well-known brands attract more interest
• Geography — national coverage vs. a specific territory with limited buyer base
• Agreement term remaining — shorter terms reduce buyer interest

Stage 3: Offer and heads of terms (2–6 weeks)

When a buyer is identified and an offer is received, the seller and buyer negotiate the key terms before instructing solicitors. These are typically documented in a Heads of Terms (or Letter of Intent) — a non-binding summary of the agreed price, deal structure, completion conditions, and key milestones.

Heads of Terms in a franchise sale typically include:

• Purchase price and structure (lump sum, deferred payment, earn-out)
• Condition: franchisor approval of buyer
• Condition: buyer to pass franchisor training (if required)
• Exclusivity period (typically 60–90 days, during which the seller does not market to other buyers)
• Transfer fee responsibility (usually buyer’s cost, but negotiable)

Stage 4: Franchisor approval (4–12 weeks)

This is the stage that most distinguishes a franchise sale from a standard business sale — and the stage most likely to cause delays.

Before the sale can complete, the franchisor must approve the proposed buyer. The process typically involves:

1. The seller or broker notifying the franchisor in writing of the proposed sale and buyer
2. The buyer completing the franchisor’s standard buyer application and qualification process
3. The franchisor conducting background checks, interviews, and potentially a trial or assessment
4. The franchisor confirming approval (or requesting modifications, further information, or buyer changes)
5. The buyer attending any required training at their own cost

Typical franchisor approval timelines:

• Streamlined networks with an active resales programme: 4–6 weeks
• Standard networks: 6–10 weeks
• Complex situations (multi-unit sales, international buyers, non-standard buyer profiles): 10–16 weeks

What causes franchisor approval delays:

• Franchisor resales team capacity
• Buyer not meeting standard qualification criteria (requiring exceptions or alternative arrangements)
• Outstanding compliance issues with the selling franchisee that the franchisor raises during the process
• Dispute over the transfer fee
• Franchisor exercising a right of first refusal (adds 30–60 days while they decide whether to buy)

Working with a broker who has an existing relationship with the franchisor’s resales team — and who understands what the franchisor looks for in a buyer — can materially shorten this stage.

Stage 5: Due diligence (4–8 weeks)

Once franchisor approval is confirmed (or conditionally confirmed, subject to training), the buyer’s advisers conduct financial, legal, and operational due diligence. This typically runs in parallel with the formal legal process.

Due diligence in a franchise sale covers everything in a standard business sale — management accounts, customer/client contracts, staff employment terms, lease terms, equipment condition — plus franchise-specific elements:

• Review of the franchise agreement (by a solicitor experienced in franchising)
• Verification of royalty and levy payment history (to confirm the franchise obligations have been met)
• Assessment of the remaining agreement term and renewal prospects
• Review of any franchisor correspondence relating to compliance, performance, or disputes

A clean compliance history and a well-organised documentation pack significantly shortens due diligence. Problems discovered during due diligence — particularly unresolved compliance issues or disputes with the franchisor — can stall or collapse a sale.

Stage 6: Legal completion (4–8 weeks)

With due diligence complete and franchisor approval confirmed, solicitors prepare the sale and purchase agreement. In a franchise sale, the agreement will include:

• Standard asset or share purchase provisions
• A novation or assignment of the franchise agreement to the buyer
• Conditions relating to franchisor consent
• Post-sale obligations (non-compete, handover assistance, key person introduction)

The transfer fee is typically paid from the sale proceeds at completion.

Multi-unit franchise sales

If you are selling multiple franchise units as a portfolio, add 2–4 months to the above timeline. Each unit may require separate franchisor approval (depending on the franchise agreement structure), and coordinating legal completion across multiple territories adds complexity.

Private equity and trade consolidators are the most likely buyers for multi-unit portfolios. These buyers move at their own pace — they have in-house legal and due diligence resource but may run extended commercial negotiation alongside the formal process.

The bottom line

Start planning 12–18 months before your target completion date. A sale that starts late, with disorganised financials and unresolved compliance issues, will either fail to achieve the best price or take longer than necessary.

If you want to understand what your franchise business might be worth and what the timeline might look like in your specific circumstances, the free valuation below is the logical starting point.

Find out what your franchise business is worth.

Get a free, confidential valuation → valuation.acquisitionsgroup.co.uk

Related reading:

• How UK Franchise Businesses Are Valued in 2026 →
• How to Sell Your Franchise Business: A Step-by-Step Guide →
• How to Prepare Your Franchise Business for Sale →
• Sell Your Franchise Business: Specialist UK Brokers →

The Business Acquisitions Group specialises in the sale of franchise businesses, estate agencies, letting agencies, and dental practices. We work exclusively with sellers — managing the full process from valuation and marketing through franchisor approval and legal completion.