Why shouldn’t I try to sell my business on my own?

I have talked to dozens of business owners over the last 18 years who have attempted to sell a business on their own. Even with the advent of Internet marketing and “For Sale by Owner” web sites the vast majority of them advised me they would not attempt it again- it was just not worth the hassle, or any perceived cost savings. Even the majority of the owners that were successful admitted that having a professional intermediary involved in the deal would have undoubtedly made the transaction much smoother & less stressful. I can assure you also that it is also a lot harder to protect the confidentiality of a business sale when attempting a “For Sale by Owner” transaction.