Experience and resources are key in setting forth and implementing a successful marketing strategy for the sale of the business. Timing is important. The longer the business stays on the market, the more difficult it is to sell. The process requires having all of the essential marketing tools. These include everything from knowledge on how to prepare a business description, subscriptions to industry websites for listing the sale, current data bases of prospective buyers, and memberships in professional associations which can get the word out about the business effectively and confidentially.