Common Business Owner Mistake #5. Many business owners put their companies on the market in hopes of fetching an extraordinary price for their business. The truth is that these windfalls are rare. Instead, buyers need to keep their expectations realistic because offering your company at a price far above fair market value exposes your business to significant risk and disruption.

In addition, you risk tarnishing your reputation as a seller. When you really need to sell the company a few years from now, the market won’t take your value seriously. The bottom line: only put your company on the market if you’re genuinely committed to the process and ready to price your company to sell.