For private companies orchestrating a transfer or sale, fortune doesn’t favor the bold. It favors the prepared. A successful deal hinges on planning and foresight long before negotiations begin. To understand how private company leaders are positioning their businesses for that moment, we asked 100 executives about their upcoming timing, priorities, and pressure points.
Our findings suggest the market isn’t in wait-and-see mode. A significant share of surveyed leaders are gearing up for a major transaction in the near term. As they do so, their sights are set on recognized gains, managing transfer taxes, and securing the right external advisors.
About Deloitte Private’s market readiness survey
Deloitte Private’s survey of 100 private company leaders was conducted online by an independent research firm in October 2025. Respondents included CEOs, CFOs, presidents, board members, and partners or owners of private companies in the US. Surveyed companies have annual revenues of US$100 million to US$1 billion+ and anticipate a future transfer or sale.
Let’s break down four takeaways from the survey.
- Timing signals urgency: Three-quarters of private companies are eyeing a transfer or sale in the near term.
With 57% of respondents reporting a one-to-three year timeline for a transfer or sale of their organization, and an additional 22% citing a three-to-five year window, deal-making is clearly afoot.
But how will leaders determine the right moment to act? Respondents report that market conditions (50%) and go-to-market readiness (43%) are the top factors expected to impact their organization’s transaction timeline. Other factors cited include the personal urgency of the founder or owner (33%) and a large valuation gap (14%). - Business continuity remains the top priority in private company transfer and sale strategy.
When leaders execute a transaction, the motivation behind it may vary. Our survey found that business continuity stands apart as the leading driver, cited by 40% of respondents. Liquidity for the business (22%) or owners (13%) trail behind, followed by retirement of existing owners or executives (12%) and transfer to family or the next generation (9%).
For many surveyed executives, the catalyst for a transfer or sale is expansion: Forty-five percent said the opportunity to scale the business is the primary motivator. Thirty-seven percent also indicated that a financial sponsor with the ability to scale the business would prompt a sale of all or part of the organization. Fewer (22%) pointed to uncertainty about the future of the business as the governing factor. - More than half of private companies have due diligence sorted and are ready to act—but still need third-party advisors
Due diligence is underway for many organizations. Among private company leaders surveyed, 63% report their organization has obtained a recent fair market value (FMV) appraisal. More than half (53%) of companies planning a transfer or sale in the next 12 months have both an FMV and a buy-sell agreement in place. Just 11% have neither.
Organizations are also ramping up external support for an impending transaction, with differing timelines. Roughly half of respondents who are planning to sell between one and three years (51%) and three to five years (55%) say they are prepared to participate in the due diligence process but still need to hire third-party advisors. Among those planning a sale in the next 12 months, 80% are engaged with external advisors. - Taxes and gains are top-of-mind challenges for private companies hitting the market
As companies move closer to market, tax strategy becomes central. Nearly 9 in 10 private company leaders surveyed report tax on recognized gains (88%) and transfer taxes (87%) as major concerns.
Among tax planning strategies under consideration, existing losses (43%) and qualified opportunity zones (36%) rank highest, signaling a proactive approach to managing after-tax outcomes.
Together, these takeaways paint a clear picture. Private company leaders are increasingly looking to transactions as a pathway to business continuity and growth. They are approaching each decision with careful consideration, as they closely evaluate market conditions, organizational readiness, and tax implications. And, whether pursuing a full or partial sale in the years ahead, their priorities seem evident: Private companies plan to manage transitions to help safeguard stability, fuel expansion, and create lasting value for owners and other stakeholders alike.
For more data and details, download Deloitte Private’s Private Company Outlook: Market Readiness report.
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