How should I sell the pharmacy?

The choice is whether to try and sell privately or to use a reputable pharmacy agent.

Private sales
The problems with trying to negotiate a sale yourself are:

The risk of selling your business for less than it is worth. By only negotiating with one or two purchasers you will not create the competitive environment, which is needed to obtain the best price. Inexperience, you have probably not sold a business before, do you think your negotiating skills can match those of the acquisitions manager of a group or multiple who are carrying out these negotiations every day? If you are selling to a first time buyer how will you vet them and check their financial position? The purchaser will be in control if you are only negotiating with one party this increases the chance of the purchaser trying to renegotiate the price just before exchange of contracts. Breach of confidentiality, you may find it difficult to maintain confidentiality when trying to deal with the sale directly. Delays in completion of the sale can occur due to inexperience of how the sale process works. The more protracted a sale is the more likely it is to fall through.

Using a Pharmacy Agent
A good agent should:

Get the best price for you. The difference between you selling privately and using an agent should far exceed the agents fee. Introduce you to genuine buyers after eliminating time wasters. Create a competitive environment between the purchasers so as to maximise the price achieved. The objective should be to obtain several genuine offers. Vet the purchasers and check their financial ability to buy the pharmacy. Obtain signed confidentiality agreements before releasing any details of your business to prospective purchasers. Control the sale by setting time limits for offers and final bids. Recognise and deal with frivolous offers. See the sale through to a speedy conclusion by dealing with solicitors, financial advisers and accountants, minimising the time, which you need to spend, thus allowing you to concentrate on your business. Minimise the risk of a purchaser trying to renegotiate the price after the sale has been agreed. Help you choose a good commercial solicitor experienced in pharmacy sales.