At Baton, we’re always looking for innovative ways to connect business owners and buyers, helping facilitate connections that lead to a great outcome for everyone. Today, we’re excited to announce our latest product: Private Listings — a game-changing solution for business owners who may not be actively looking to sell but are open to potential conversations with interested buyers.

What Are Private Listings and Why It Matters

Private Listings are off-market listings designed for small business owners who aren’t ready to fully market their business but want to understand the type of interest that their business may receive. These business owners aren’t currently actively selling but are curious about what opportunities might be out there. They’ve created anonymous teasers on Baton, built on our data-driven valuations so they can showcase key financial information that is validated by Baton. They can share enough business details to spark buyer interest without the fuss of putting together a big marketing package and dealing with the pressure of a formal sales process.

The essence of Private Listings lies in their flexibility. Rather than placing a business on the market, owners can simply “dip their toes” in and see if there’s a potential buyer out there who understands the value of what they’ve built. Buyers who encounter these listings have the opportunity to reach out to owners via Baton’s secure platform. From there, the owner decides if they’d like to engage in deeper discussions or not, or decide to actively sell given the interest.

How It Works

The process is simple:

1. Browse Private Listings: Potential buyers can browse through Private Listings on our platform. Each listing includes enough high-level financial information from the business’ financials, without a complete marketing package.   

2. Connect with Owners: Interested buyers can reach out directly to the business owner through Baton’s platform, sharing their interest and any relevant details about themselves from their Baton Profile.
   

   

3. Owners Decide to Engage: Owners can choose to reply to buyers through Baton. They maintain full control over the process, deciding whether they want to open up a dialogue or not.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is there a data room for Private Listings?  No, currently we’re not supporting data rooms for Private Listings, but if a buyer is interested in more information they can ask via the platform.

• How can I stand out to the owner as a serious buyer?  First, you should make sure your Baton profile has a flattering bio as that’s the first thing the owner will see. Next, you can submit an Informal Offer on the platform to show how you would think about the deal.

• How do you protect confidentiality?  Like all of our listings, Private Listings are confidential and gated behind our platform NDA. Additionally, even after signing the NDA as a buyer, they will only see the vetted financials. If they want to dig deeper they will reach out through Baton.

• As an owner, what can I do to get more interest?  Private listings get less engagement than a traditional listing on Baton because key details that get buyers engaged are hidden. 

The Future of Business Sales is Flexible

Private Listings exemplify Baton’s mission to revolutionize how small businesses connect with buyers. We believe that selling a business — or considering a sale — should be a process defined by choice, control, and flexibility. With Private Listings, we’re bridging the gap between owners who aren’t quite ready to sell but would sell for the right price and buyers looking for exclusive opportunities.

This is just the beginning of how we’re shaping the future of small business transactions. As we roll out Private Listings, we’re excited to see how these connections will spark new possibilities, create opportunities, and ultimately, reshape the landscape of buying and selling businesses.

Start Exploring Private Listings Today

Whether you're a business owner looking to explore the market in a low-pressure environment or a buyer seeking hidden gems, Private Listings is your key to making meaningful connections on your terms. Book a call here if you are an owner looking to list, and if you are a buyer sign up for free!