Managed business sale service — hybrid AI + human

A managed business sale service is an outsourced sale process where a named human deal lead runs the process end-to-end alongside AI tooling — pricing indicative offers, screening buyers, coordinating diligence and steering completion. The Sell Ltd managed sale is a hybrid AI + human service: Chris does the analysis and drafting, a human deal lead handles the relationship and negotiation.

Same outcome (someone runs your sale), very different cost. A traditional broker charges a £5–15k upfront retainer plus 5–10% success fee — £57–115k on a £1m sale. Sell Ltd's managed sale is £0 upfront and 2–4% success fee (typically 3%) — £30k on a £1m sale. The human lead is a corporate finance professional; the AI does the analyst work.

Chris (AI) drafts the IM, shortlists buyers, drafts outreach, screens enquiries, tracks the deal room and answers routine buyer questions. Your human deal lead sets strategy, calls buyers to qualify them, negotiates indicative offers, coordinates diligence, and manages completion. You approve every material decision.

Pick managed if: you don't want to speak to buyers directly, your deal is complex (multiple entities, cross-border, earn-outs), or your sale price is £2m+ where the human lead pays for themselves. Pick self-serve if: you're commercially confident, you want to stay close to buyers, or your deal is £100k–£1m where the 1.5% self-serve is materially cheaper.

Kickoff call within 3 business days. IM live within 10 business days (slower than 24-hour self-serve to accommodate human review and design). First tranche of buyer approaches within 14 business days. Weekly deal-lead update calls until completion. Expected time to heads of terms: 8–16 weeks depending on sector.

You're introduced to your deal lead on the kickoff call — a corporate finance professional from the Sell Ltd deal team with sector experience relevant to your business. If personality fit is off, you can request a different lead once at no charge. Every deal lead has a minimum of five completed UK SME sales on their track record.

Yes. Managed sale is 'platform + human lead' — everything self-serve sellers get, plus the human. Chris is still your AI deal adviser doing the analytical work; the deal room, buyer matching, NDA gating and marketplace all still apply. The human deal lead layers on top.

Managed sale fees start at 3% and scale down for larger deals: 3% on the first £2m, 2.5% on the next £3m, 2% on anything above £5m. On a £3m sale that's £85,000; on a £5m sale £135,000. Compare to a typical broker at 6% flat: £180,000 and £300,000 respectively.

Yes. You can start on the free self-serve platform and upgrade to managed at any point (typically when serious buyer meetings begin). The 3% managed fee replaces the 1.5% self-serve fee — you don't pay both. If you downgrade back, you return to 1.5% self-serve pricing.

You pay nothing. All managed sale fees are success-only — if the deal doesn't close, you owe zero. Compare to a broker where the £5–15k retainer is spent regardless of outcome. This is the single biggest difference from a traditional broker mandate.

Yes — we have deal leads with prior experience in regulated care (CQC), hospitality/leisure, professional services and light financial services (IFA and mortgage broker sales). Deeply-regulated sectors (banking, insurance underwriting, defence supply chain) we'll refer to a specialist rather than take the mandate.

Book a discovery call on the /contact page. We'll scope the deal, quote a specific fee (typically 3% but bespoke for atypical deals), and introduce your deal lead within 3 business days of engagement. No commitment until you've met the lead.