SIDE BY SIDE
A BizBuySell listing covers three stages of a business sale. Openfair covers all nineteen. Six months on each side costs within $50 of the other.
BizBuySell
3 of 19 stages
Openfair
19 of 19 stages
Stages of a business sale, from valuation through closing.
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Accredited by
BizBuySell is an advertising marketplace. It gives owners a public place to list a business, but you handle the valuation, marketing, buyer screening, negotiation, and closing yourself.
Openfair is an M&A advisory team. A six-month comparison is within $50, but the service includes a CPA valuation, confidential information memorandum, buyer qualification, negotiation, and support through closing.
THE FULL PROCESS
| What happens | BizBuySell | Openfair |
|---|---|---|
| Prepare | ||
| Set sale goals and timing | You decide when to sell and what outcome you need. | Your advisor helps set goals, timing, and an actionable sale plan. |
| Know what the business is worth | You set an asking price using your own research. | An in-house CPA values the business using three methods. |
| Prepare the financial story | You assemble and explain your own financials. | The team reviews and normalizes the numbers buyers will examine. |
| Build buyer-ready materials | You create the listing with your own photos and description. | Openfair prepares a CIM and a complete marketing package. |
| Choose a sale strategy | You decide the timing, price, and process. | Your advisor recommends the timing, positioning, and process. |
| Market | ||
| Put the business in front of buyers | A public listing reaches BizBuySell's marketplace audience. | The team markets confidentially to a targeted buyer pool. |
| Find and qualify serious buyers | You respond to inquiries and screen buyers yourself. | Openfair qualifies buyers before sharing sensitive information. |
| Manage questions and interest | You answer questions and keep the process moving. | Your advisor manages buyer questions and next steps. |
| Track the marketing process | You follow up with interested buyers and manage the pipeline. | The team tracks outreach, interest, and next steps for you. |
| Create a competitive process | You coordinate offers from any interested buyers. | The team creates leverage through coordinated buyer outreach. |
| Negotiate | ||
| Compare offers and terms | You compare price, structure, and buyer quality. | Your advisor evaluates the full offer, not just the headline price. |
| Negotiate the deal | You negotiate directly or hire help separately. | An M&A advisor leads the negotiation on your behalf. |
| Draft and agree the LOI | You or your attorney handles the letter of intent. | Openfair guides the LOI and keeps the agreed terms clear. |
| Manage due diligence | You coordinate requests, documents, and deadlines. | The team organizes diligence and keeps both sides accountable. |
| Close | ||
| Resolve final issues | You handle last-minute questions and deal friction. | Your advisor helps resolve issues before they threaten the deal. |
| Coordinate the closing | You coordinate documents, escrow, and closing participants. | Openfair coordinates the closing process with the right professionals. |
| Transfer ownership | The marketplace does not manage the ownership transfer. | The team stays involved through signed documents and the handoff. |
| Plan the transition | You and the buyer arrange the transition after the listing. | The team helps coordinate a practical transition after signing. |
| Pay the success fee | There is no success fee because there is no representation. | A success fee is paid only when the sale is completed. |
The nineteen stages of a business sale, grouped into four practical phases.
BEFORE YOU START
The Seller Readiness Assessment scores your financials, operations, and owner dependence, then shows you what to fix before a buyer asks.
SIDE BY SIDE
| Term |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Advertising marketplace, owned by CoStar Group | M&A advisory firm |
| Who runs the sale | You do | A dedicated M&A team |
| Listing cost | $74.95 to $199.95 per month on a 6-month term | $249 to $797 per month, or $1,247 to $3,985 per 6 months |
| Success fee | None, and no representation | 8%, 6% or 4% by plan, charged only on a completed sale |
| Minimum commitment | 6 months | 6 months |
| Valuation | Seller sets the asking price | CPA valuation using three methods |
| CIM and marketing kit | Basic listing fields, photos, and seller-written description | Confidential information memorandum and buyer-ready marketing materials |
| Buyer qualification | Seller screens inquiries | Openfair qualifies buyers before sharing confidential information |
| Negotiation, LOI, diligence | Seller-led, or handled by professionals hired separately | Advisor-led negotiation, LOI guidance, and organized diligence |
| Closing support | No transaction management beyond the listing | Support from signed LOI through closing |
| Credentials | CoStar marketplace | In-house CPAs, IBBA member, BBB accredited |
| Coverage | Public marketplace in the US and Canada | Business sales across the US and Canada |
| Deal size | Businesses listed by owners and intermediaries | Owner-operated small and mid-sized businesses |
Published pricing and service terms compared across a six-month period.
WHERE EACH ONE ACTUALLY STANDS
BizBuySell makes sense if
You want to advertise a business publicly and feel comfortable owning the work after the inquiry arrives.
Openfair makes sense if
You want an experienced team to carry the sale from valuation through a completed transaction.
CASE STUDY
Iron Grill BBQ shows what the full-service model can look like in practice: one owner went from a first conversation to a closed sale in under a month.
“She helped me a lot, she advised me, gave me a lot of ideas, and she was really, really helpful. The next day we sold the business in one month. Really professional.”Read the Iron Grill story
THE SIX-MONTH COST
The headline prices are close. The difference is what the fee includes and who carries the work.
BizBuySell
$1,199.70
6 months, paid upfront
A public listing on the marketplace. You manage the valuation, buyer conversations, negotiation, and closing.
Openfair
$1,247.00
6 months, paid upfront
A full-service M&A process with a CPA-backed valuation, marketing, buyer qualification, negotiation, and closing support. Success fee only on a completed sale.
The difference
$47.30
Six months of Openfair costs $47.30 more than the BizBuySell Diamond listing in this comparison.
FAQ
No. BizBuySell is an advertising marketplace. It publishes listings and connects sellers with interested buyers; it does not represent you or run the transaction.
It gives you the marketplace and listing tools. You provide the information, set the asking price, respond to inquiries, screen buyers, and manage the sale.
The published listing plans range from $74.95 to $199.95 per month on a six-month term. The Diamond plan is $1,199.70 for six months when paid upfront.
Openfair seller plans range from $249 to $797 per month, or $1,247 to $3,985 per six months, plus a success fee that is charged only when a sale closes. The success fee is 8%, 6% or 4% by plan.
Yes. Openfair's in-house CPAs prepare a valuation using three methods and use the result to help position the business for buyers.
Neither service can guarantee a timeline. A public listing may generate inquiries quickly, while a prepared and qualified process can reduce wasted time. Your industry, financials, price, and buyer demand matter most.
Openfair works across the US and Canada. Ask an advisor about your location and industry to confirm the best fit.
Figures are taken from each company's published pricing and FAQ pages and were verified in August 2026.
BizBuySell listing and seller informationOpenfair pricing
BizBuySell is a trademark of its respective owner. Openfair is not affiliated with or endorsed by BizBuySell. This page is an informational comparison, not legal, tax, or financial advice.
In-house CPAs · IBBA member · BBB accredited · Success fee only when it sells