Blind listings when advertising
It is important to not share personal contact or business information in advertisements when you wish to sell your business. You should only reveal this information once you obtained the confidentiality agreements. Blind ads use headlines that will promote the business’s strength while not mentioning the name.
Create a separate email account that is not linked to a business, such as Shop4sellNY@email.com, to show limited information. It is also vital to remember to use traditional media areas, such as PO Box. If you choose to list your business for sale on an online site like Vetted Biz, use the site’s protection features to protect the business and your identity. It would be a necessary tactic, setting up a contact telephone number with no connection to your business or name. This might be useful to avoid contacting competitors.
Prequalify buyers
It is also time-efficient to screen potential buyers to protect your confidentiality. You can such as requesting for their information, their financial and business background. If a qualified buyer is serious about the business purchase, then he or she must provide their information. And keep the information about you and your business private.
Create selling memorandums with numbered copies
Once qualified buyers have been identified, and the confidentiality agreement has been signed, you can provide them with the selling memorandum with its unique identification number. There gives out a detailed overview of the business and its positive purchasing aspects, or the offering memorandum. Remember to add in the footer of each page a reminder of the terms of the confidentiality agreement. And that violation to comply with the agreement could lead to legal consequences.
Letter of Intent
It is wise to only provide information concerning the business in steps. Even when the buyer signs the confidentiality agreement, he still must show their ability to purchase the business. Then, you must provide an offer through a Letter of Intent before sharing any trade secrets or proprietary information.
Neutral ground for meetings

It is also a good idea to meet with potential buyers off-site. Especially at the office of your attorney or broker. This is util for avoiding as much suspicion as to who the person is that you are meeting with.
Involve only required people
There may come a time when you needed the assistance of a key employee for tasks such as due diligence. So it is important to explain to them the need for confidentiality. The meeting should only take place with the right people. And the right number of people to minimize chances of a breach of confidentiality.
Provided the above points, it is still an extremely difficult task to sell a business on your own with confidentiality. For business owners that value confidentiality and their time, it is wise to engage the services of a business broker.