A business broker typically charges 8% to 12% of the sale price on businesses that sell for under $1 million, with a minimum fee of $10,000 to $25,000 whatever the price, paid at closing. On a $150,000 sale that is $12,000 to $18,000; on a $75,000 sale the minimum fee applies, so the broker's share can pass 13% of your price.
Last updated: October 17, 2026
Morgan & Westfield, a business brokerage, describes the standard arrangement for businesses under $1 million as a flat 8% to 12% commission with a $10,000 to $25,000 minimum. Larger deals use a sliding scale (the Lehman or Double Lehman formula) that steps down as the price rises, which is why the percentage is highest on the smallest businesses.
The fee comes out of your proceeds at closing. Most broker agreements also run six to twelve months and are exclusive, so the fee is owed even if the buyer is your own employee or a customer who heard the shop was for sale.
| Sale price | Broker fee | Share of your sale |
|---|---|---|
| $75,000 | $10,000 | 13.3% |
| $100,000 | $10,000 to $12,000 | 10% to 12% |
| $150,000 | $12,000 to $18,000 | 8% to 12% |
| $250,000 | $20,000 to $30,000 | 8% to 12% |
| $400,000 | $32,000 to $48,000 | 8% to 12% |
| $750,000 | $60,000 to $90,000 | 8% to 12% |
Source: Morgan & Westfield fee guidance. A $25,000 minimum would make every fee under $250,000 higher.
Listing it yourself on a marketplace runs $65.95 to $199.95 a month, and you do the screening. YourBizWorth lists it for a flat $697 a month with the ads included, verifies every buyer (photo ID, confidentiality agreement, and a license check when the business needs one) before you hear from them, and takes nothing at closing. Either way, budget for a licensed attorney to paper the sale; the attorney bills separately, and a broker's fee never covers it.
YourBizWorth is not a broker, appraiser, or law firm. This guide is general information, not legal, tax, or lending advice.
The seller, almost always. The commission comes out of the seller's proceeds at closing. Buyers rarely pay a broker on a Main Street sale.
Most Main Street brokers are paid at closing only, but some charge a retainer or a marketing fee of a few thousand dollars that is credited against the commission. Read the agreement for both.
Under a typical exclusive listing agreement, yes, for the length of the agreement and often for a tail period after it. If you expect to sell to an employee or a customer, negotiate that exclusion before you sign.
Often not. The minimum fee alone can be 5% to 13% of the price, and the work a broker does on a sale that size is mostly screening buyers and keeping the listing confidential. A flat-fee listing with verified buyers covers that for a fraction of the cost.