How Long Does It Take to Sell an Optometry Practice

The Timeline of Selling Your Optometry Practice

When you first decide that it is time to move on from your optometry practice the very first question you likely have is how long the process will take because you might be dreaming of a vacation in six months or perhaps you are just starting to feel the weight of management and want to know when the finish line is in sight. 

At DVMElite, we talk to owners every day who are surprised to learn that a successful and smooth transition is not a sprint because it is a marathon that requires careful pacing. If you rush the process you risk leaving money on the table or even worse choosing a buyer who is not a good fit for your staff and patients. On average you should expect the entire process to take anywhere from six to twelve months from the moment you decide to go to market until the day you hand over the keys but the best outcomes actually start two or three years before that because preparation is what determines your speed and your final payout. You can learn more about the step by step process in our guide on how to sell your optometry practice in 2025 because knowing the roadmap helps you stay patient when things feel slow.

We have seen this journey play out hundreds of times because we have been working with practice owners for years and we know the emotional weight it carries for you. Our main goal is to prepare your practice for sale so that you get the maximum value for your life work. If you look at our reviews you will see real stories from owners who were able to grow incredible practices. These owners were able to drive their revenue higher and they finally felt like they had a true partner looking out for their best interest. That is exactly why we do this work because your legacy deserves a transition that is just as professional as the care you gave your patients. We are not just looking for a quick exit because we want to help you build real lasting value.

Before we move ahead, would you like to see what selling your optometry practice could actually look like with the right guidance?

In this short complimentary strategy session, we will walk you through the key decisions optometrists face when selling a practice, explain how to maximize the value of your clinic and help you understand the options available so you can plan the right next step for your practice and your future.

Choose a time on the calendar below to get started.

Phase 1 -  The Foundation of Preparation and Valuation

This first phase usually takes one to three months and it is the most critical part of the entire journey because it sets the foundation for everything that follows. If you skip steps here you will pay for it later in delays or lower offers because buyers smell disorganization from a mile away. Before you can show your practice to a buyer you have to know exactly what it is worth and this involves more than just looking at your last tax return or guessing based on what a colleague said they received. A professional transition team will perform a deep dive into your financials to calculate your true profit which we call EBITDA. We look for personal expenses or one time costs that can be added back to your profit to show a buyer the real earning power of the clinic.

Well you might have been running your car or your family health insurance through the business for years and while that is fine for tax season it can hide the true value of your clinic from a buyer who wants to see how much cash the business actually generates. During this time you are also gathering the mountain of paperwork that a buyer will eventually want to see and this includes three to five years of profit and loss statements and tax returns and equipment lists and lease agreements. If you wait until you have a buyer to start looking for these documents you will slow the deal down and potentially lose the interest of a serious buyer who wants to move fast. Having a clean and organized data room ready on day one shows the buyer that you are a professional and that your practice is a safe investment.

Phase 2 - Deciding on Structure and Finding the Right Buyer

Once your practice is dressed up for sale it is time to find the right match and this is where the timeline can vary depending on what type of buyer you are looking for. This phase typically takes two to four months and it is where you make one of the most important decisions of your life. You have to decide if you want to sell to another doctor who will carry on your legacy or a large company that might offer a higher price but will change the culture. We have broken down these differences in our article about private vs corporate buyers in optometry practice sales so you can see which path fits your goals.

But there is another technical choice you must make early on that can drastically affect your timeline and your taxes. You need to understand the difference between an asset sale and a stock sale because each has its own set of rules and risks. In an asset sale the buyer only picks the parts of the business they want like your equipment and patient list while in a stock sale they buy your entire entity including its history. Most buyers prefer asset sales to protect themselves from your old legal problems but this choice can lead to a much higher tax bill for you if it is not handled correctly. You should read our detailed breakdown on asset sale vs stock sale in optometry to see what you should know early in the process. This phase can move quickly if your practice is in a high demand area but if your clinic is in a more rural location it might take a bit longer to find the right veterinarian who wants to move to your community.

During this time we are conducting interviews and showing the practice after hours to maintain confidentiality so your staff and patients do not find out until the deal is certain.

Phase 3 - The Audit and Due Diligence Stress

Once you choose a buyer you sign a letter of intent which outlines the basic price and terms of the deal but this is not the end of the journey because it is actually the start of the most intense phase called due diligence which usually lasts two to three months. This is when the real work begins for the buyer team and they will send in accountants and lawyers and specialists to verify everything you told them in the earlier phases. They will check your billing records and your equipment and your employment contracts and your lease to make sure there are no hidden surprises.

This is often the most stressful part of the process because it feels like a personal audit of your entire career. If your books do not match your initial claims the buyer might use this as an excuse to lower the price or walk away entirely. This is why having a transition partner is so important because we handle the technical questions and keep the process moving while you stay focused on your patients. You also have to think about the money you will actually keep after everyone else takes their cut and you should read about the tax implications of selling an optometry practice 2026 to make sure you are structured correctly. The goal during due diligence is to keep the momentum going because the longer a deal stays in this phase the more likely it is to fall apart.

Phase 4- Legal Closing and the Landlord Hurdle

The final month is all about the legal fine print and this is where many deals get delayed by things out of your control. Your attorneys and the buyer attorneys will finalize the purchase agreement and the bill of sale and any new lease or employment agreements but one of the biggest bottlenecks we see is the landlord because if you rent your space you need the landlord to approve the transfer of the lease to the new buyer.

Look landlords often move slowly and they might try to use the transition as an excuse to raise the rent or change the terms of the lease which can frustrate the buyer and stall the closing. We recommend starting the conversation with your landlord as early as possible once you have a serious buyer in place. Once the documents are signed and the funds are wired the practice is officially sold and you can finally take a breath. It is a moment of total relief but it is only possible if you have stayed disciplined throughout the previous six to nine months.

Phase 5-  The Post Sale Transition and Earnout Realities

But for most owners the transition does not actually end on closing day because most buyers, especially corporate ones will want you to stay on for one to three years to help transition the patient relationships and ensure the staff is comfortable with the new ownership. This is often structured as an earnout where part of your money is paid over time based on how the clinic performs after you are no longer the one in total control.

Well you have to be very careful with these agreements because if the buyer changes the way you practice it could affect your ability to hit those targets. We have written a detailed guide on how earnouts work in optometry practice sales so you can understand the risks and rewards of this structure. This phase is about handing over the legacy you built while still ensuring you get the full value of the deal you signed. It is the final stretch of the marathon and it requires just as much focus as the day you decided to sell.

Why You Should Never Rush the Clock

It is tempting to want to get the deal done as fast as possible especially if you are feeling burnt out but rushing usually leads to mistakes in the contract or choosing the wrong buyer who might upset your team. You spent decades building this business and it deserves a transition that is handled with care and discipline. If you start the process early you have the luxury of walking away from a bad deal because you are not desperate to leave.

And that leverage is exactly what leads to the best offer prices and the smoothest transitions.  We have seen time and again that the most successful owners are the ones who put in the work early so that when the right buyer arrives they are ready to act with total clarity.

We highly recommend you get a free valuation of your practice by filling out the form below so you can see exactly where you stand in today's market and once that is done you can book a complementary consultation with our transitions expert to answer your questions and concerns.