Many business owners believe the act of selling their business is similar to passing the baton in a 400 meter relay: once you're finished running, you get to relax. In reality, most buyers will insist that even though they're now holding the baton, you need to stay on for a transition period. During this time, anywhere from three months to three years or more, you continue to work in your business to help the buyer capitalize on the investment they're making. Each deal is different; however, there is always a timeline that needs to be agreed upon, where your knowledge, experience and expertise is available.