Where to Sell a Business in the UK: Marketplace Comparison
Most UK marketplaces charge sellers £49 to £850 to list. Here is how the main platforms compare on cost, reach and features, including the free option.
Last updated October 2026. 8 min read.
The main ways to sell
UK owners selling a small or medium business generally choose between three routes: an online marketplace, a business broker, or a direct approach to known buyers. Marketplaces give you the widest reach for the lowest cost. Brokers handle the whole process but typically charge 5 to 10% of the sale price. Direct approaches cost nothing but limit your buyer pool.
This guide compares the four largest UK marketplaces on published listing costs, so you can decide where your money works hardest. Prices below were checked against each platform's own website in October 2026.
What each marketplace charges
- Dealdoor: free to list, with no commission on the sale. Optional paid upgrades add promotion and buyer matching.
- Rightbiz: reported at around £49 per month after a 14-day trial, though its own site does not publish prices.
- Daltons Business: from £225 plus VAT for a 2-month listing, rising to £850 plus VAT for 8 months.
- BusinessesForSale.com: from £249 for 1 month to £449 for 6 months, plus VAT, with a free 20-day test option.
On cost alone the spread is wide. A 6-month presence on a paid portal can cost £300 to £850 before any success fee, while Dealdoor charges nothing to list. Paid portals argue their buyer volume justifies the fee, so the right question is not just price but cost per qualified enquiry.
What to compare beyond price
- Listing quality: does the platform structure turnover, profit and asking price so buyers can filter properly, or is it a wall of free text
- Buyer intent: are enquiries from registered buyers with stated budgets, or anonymous tyre-kickers
- Confidentiality: can you hide the business name and exact location until a buyer is qualified
- Commission: some brokers and portals take a percentage of the sale on top of listing fees
- Contract length: multi-month packages lock you in even if the platform produces nothing
A free listing with poor enquiry quality wastes your time. A paid listing with strong buyer volume can pay for itself. Ask each platform how many active buyers it has in your sector and region before paying for a premium package.
The free option
Dealdoor is free for sellers. You build a structured listing with asking price, turnover and profit, choose what stays confidential, and receive enquiries through the platform. There is no commission when you sell. Optional upgrades exist for sellers who want extra promotion, but the core listing costs nothing.
Because every listing follows the same structured format, buyers can compare your business fairly against others in your sector, which tends to produce better qualified enquiries than a free-text advert.
Our recommendation
Start with a free Dealdoor listing and measure enquiry quality for 30 days. If you want more reach after that, add one paid portal in your strongest region rather than buying premium packages everywhere at once. Whichever route you choose, keep your financials structured and your confidentiality settings tight until a buyer is qualified.
List your business on Dealdoor for free
No listing fees and no commission. Add structured financials, reach qualified buyers and manage enquiries from one dashboard.