I don’t know any entrepreneur who has succeeded alone.

An organization often distinguishes itself through its people who, every day, roll up their sleeves and make a difference.

For the entrepreneur, knowing they can count on solid allies is essential to face adversity or take on new projects.

Human resources are at the heart of operations, and selling your business is like performing open‑heart surgery.

In this context, a question often arises: when should I inform my employees about the sale?

Loyalty, a Two‑Way Street

Whether stated or not, entrepreneurs expect a certain loyalty from their employees.

The closer employees are to them, the more the feeling of loyalty and respect is shared.

This implies an honest and upright attitude from both parties.

One might wonder if selling one’s business is compatible with loyalty.

The answer is yes… and no.

No, in the sense that, just as an employee looking for another job undermines the bond of loyalty to their employer, an owner considering selling their business implicitly announces their eventual intention to leave it.

However, there are nuances.

The employer is often the face of the company, but they do not embody it alone.

In reality, the entrepreneur’s true duty of loyalty is to their business.

Deciding to sell means taking responsibility for its continuity.

That is true loyalty: doing what is necessary to ensure the company’s sustainability, even after one’s departure.

Preserving Continuity with Key Employees

To illustrate this point concretely, let me share a personal anecdote.

An entrepreneur who had decided to sell his business himself thought that announcing his project directly on his Facebook account, with over 25,000 followers, was an excellent idea to maximize visibility.

In just thirty days, he received eight resignations.

Each employee had personal reasons, but all were negatively affected by this unexpected announcement.

This is precisely the kind of catastrophic scenario that any seller must absolutely avoid.

The Value of the Business: A Human Asset Above All

For the buyer, the value of the business is strongly associated with the employees.

When we present the company, a lot of time is spent identifying experienced employees and analyzing the retention rate of newcomers.

The better the company can retain its employees, the lower the risk for the acquirer.

The entire value of the company benefits from this.

Even better, it significantly increases the chances of a successful transition with the buyer.

Beyond the acquirer, the continuity of your business depends primarily on your employees.

Discretion and Preparation

For all these reasons, and many others, the sale of your business must remain a confidential process.

We always recommend that the seller not share their thoughts or information regarding their approach.

The announcement to employees will be planned with the buyer once the contracts are signed, and communicated only after the money has been received.

In the meantime, you can always count on your broker as a confidant and human resources advisor to navigate effectively through all the steps leading to the sale.