Baton vs BizQuest: Fees, Process, and Which to Choose
Chat Joglekar
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6 min read
BizQuest is a legitimate business-for-sale listing site owned by CoStar Group, the company behind BizBuySell and LoopNet, and it is the right choice if you want to advertise your business for a monthly fee and run the sale yourself. Baton is the better fit for most Main Street and lower-middle-market sellers who want an advisor to run the sale and a fee paid only at close (6%, no retainer).
This comparison is for owners deciding whether to sell on their own or with help. BizQuest sells advertising space, and Baton runs the sale. If your business is small, simple, or below Baton’s $100K annual profit minimum, BizQuest may be the more practical choice.
What BizQuest is
Founded: 1994. BizQuest calls itself the original business-for-sale website.
Ownership: LoopNet bought BizQuest in 2010, and CoStar Group bought LoopNet in 2012. Its terms of use name CoStar Realty Information, Inc., which runs BizBuySell and BizQuest.
Model: a self-serve listing site. Owners and brokers pay to advertise a business, and BizQuest charges no commission on the sale.
Size: BizQuest says it lists more than 35,000 businesses for sale and that its network gets more than 2.5 million visits a month. Listings also appear on its partner network, including BizBuySell and LoopNet.
Pricing, as of October 2026: not shown on its public sell page. Published figures put a basic listing at about $59.95 a month, with upgraded packages costing more.
Baton vs BizQuest
Baton | BizQuest | |
|---|---|---|
Upfront cost | None. No retainer or listing fee. | A monthly listing fee, paid in full for the initial term. About $59.95 a month for a basic listing. |
Success fee | 6% of the total purchase price, paid at close | None |
Who runs the sale | A dedicated Baton advisor, through diligence and close | You: the listing, buyer inquiries, screening, negotiation, and closing |
Buyers | 30,000 vetted buyers, major business-for-sale sites, and direct outreach to strategic buyers | Buyers who find your ad on BizQuest and its partner network |
Off-market option | Yes. Test buyer interest privately with a free anonymous listing. | Listings are public, but you can hide the location and your contact details |
Valuation | Free, data-driven valuation before you list | Free online calculator based on industry multiples |
Diligence and closing | Marketing materials, a buyer-ready data room, and a diligence and closing platform | Not included. You manage diligence and closing. |
Buyer financing | SBA and bank pre-qualification for interested buyers | A Finance Center that points buyers to SBA lenders |
Contract term | Three-month exclusive, then month to month | Initial term paid upfront and non-refundable, then renews monthly until you give notice |
Pricing and features checked October 2026. Baton figures are from baton.com/pricing. BizQuest does not show seller prices on its public sell page, so the BizQuest column draws on its sell a business page, terms of use, valuation calculator, and Finance Center, plus our guide to the best websites to sell a small business.
Where the difference shows up
On cash cost alone, BizQuest is far cheaper. Six months of a basic listing at $59.95 a month is $359.70. On a $1.5 million sale, Baton’s 6% success fee is $90,000. If you can find the buyer and close the deal yourself, a listing site is the cheapest way to sell.
The fee pays for the work. On BizQuest, you write the ad, screen every inquiry, negotiate price and terms, and manage diligence and closing while you keep running the business. With Baton, an advisor runs that process with you, prepares marketing materials and a data room, helps buyers get SBA or bank pre-qualification, and supports negotiation through the LOI.
Reach is the other gap. BizQuest shows your ad to buyers who are browsing listings. Baton lists your business on its own marketplace and on major business-for-sale sites, and contacts strategic buyers, such as competitors, who may not be browsing at all. If you would rather hand the work to a traditional broker, Baton’s site says brokers charge 10% to 15%, or $150,000 to $225,000 on the same sale. See our guide to business broker commissions.
Which should you use?
Choose BizQuest if your business is small or simple, earns less than $100K a year in profit, or you have sold a business before and want the lowest cash cost while you run the sale yourself.
Choose Baton if your business is worth $500K to $100M and earns at least $100K a year in profit, and you want an advisor through close, a flat 6% fee paid only when the business sells, a free valuation, and a private way to test buyer interest first.
Start with a number
Know what your business is worth before you set an asking price. Get a free Baton valuation.
FAQ
Is BizQuest legit? Yes. BizQuest has operated since 1994 and is owned by CoStar Group, which also owns BizBuySell and LoopNet. It is a listing site, not a broker, so screen buyers carefully before you share financials.
How much does BizQuest cost to sell a business? As of October 2026, BizQuest does not show seller prices on its public sell page. Published figures put a basic listing at about $59.95 a month, with the initial term paid upfront, and BizQuest charges no commission when the business sells.
Is BizQuest the same as BizBuySell? No, but they are related. Both are owned by CoStar Group, and BizQuest says its listings also appear across its partner network, including BizBuySell and LoopNet. For more on the larger site, see our BizBuySell review.
Can I cancel a BizQuest listing early? Not for a refund. BizQuest’s terms of use say fees are non-refundable and mid-term cancellations are not permitted. After the initial term, a listing renews monthly unless you give written notice 10 business days before the term ends.
What are the best BizQuest alternatives? For owners who want an advisor to run the sale for a fee paid only at close, Baton. For other listing sites and their fees, see our guide to the best websites to sell a small business, or compare every option.
More comparisons
See every option side by side on Compare Baton, or read another comparison:
Sources
Baton pricing, checked October 2026
Sell your business on BizQuest, checked October 2026
LoopNet, Wikipedia