Business Sale Lawyer Fees in Portland

Business sale lawyer fees in Portland, Maine average about $9,700 — roughly 102% of the U.S. average and below the Maine state average of $10,600.

Low

$4,050

Average fee

$9,700

per sale

High

$30,550

What this typically includes

The asset purchase agreement with its schedules of included assets, excluded assets and assumed liabilities; the bill of sale and the assignments; the promissory note, security agreement and subordination the seller’s carried balance needs; the purchase-price allocation the two sides report consistently; the assignment of the lease and the request for the landlord’s consent; the transition or training agreement the buyer and the lender expect; the corporate or member authority to sell; and the closing statement and funds flow. Answering the buyer’s diligence requests, ordering lien and judgment searches, and reading the loan documents the bank sends across are normally inside the quote as well. Outside it: the broker’s commission, the accountant who models the allocation and files the return, a business valuation if the lender orders one, the escrow or closing agent, any environmental report, licence and permit applications filed in the buyer’s own name, and recording charges where real property transfers. A fight over the seller note after closing is quoted as its own matter.

Portland, ME Sales tax rides on the assets

Maine taxes retail sales, and that reaches a business sale twice. Handing over equipment, fixtures and inventory can itself be taxable. Whether an isolated-sale or going-concern exemption applies is a Maine question.

The second way matters more, and it lands on the buyer. A buyer of business assets can be made to answer for sales tax the seller never remitted.

So a clearance or notification from the Maine revenue agency belongs on the closing checklist. The procedure carries a different name in every state. Ask for the current one rather than assuming the buyer's bank will catch it.

Lawyers in Maine usually quote a flat fee to paper a small business sale, commonly $4,000 to $30,000. About $9,500 covers the ordinary broker-listed, SBA-funded version, and those quotes track the local market.

Hourly work takes over once the deal stops being standard, commonly $250 to $500 here. Redrafting, a renegotiation after the bank balks, or an argument about the financials each convert the engagement.

The broker's commission is larger than the legal fee and is fixed in a listing agreement signed long before closing. Get that agreement read before you sign it.

Maine settles things your purchase agreement cannot. Among them: how your entity authorises a sale, and whether a given licence can be transferred at all.

Clearances, recording charges and licence applications are priced by the agency collecting them. Those amounts get revised, so ask whoever collects them for the current figure.

Get in touch with a business sale lawyer in Portland

Browse these business sale attorneys serving Portland. Give a call or request an estimate and connect with local firm that fits your case.

We’re still adding business sale attorneys in Portland. Request a case evaluation and we’ll connect you with a local firm.

How Portland compares

Average business sale lawyer fees, Portland vs. Maine vs. the U.S.

Portland

$9,700

Maine

$10,600

U.S. average

$9,500

Portland comes in about 2% higher than the national average for business sale lawyer fees.

What affects business sale lawyer fees in Portland

In Portland, the cost of living comes in at 102% of the U.S. average — both of which shape what local attorneys charge. Beyond location, these factors determine business sale lawyer fees:

Whether an SBA lender is funding the buyer — A bank chasing a loan guarantee has to satisfy the current SBA procedure, and its requirements rewrite terms the two sides had already agreed.
How much of the price the seller carries — A seller note brings a promissory note, a security agreement, a subordination to the bank and a negotiation about guarantees and offset rights.
Whether the business occupies leased premises — An assignment needs the landlord’s written consent, and the request often reopens the rent, the term and who guarantees it.
Licences and permits that do not transfer — Liquor, contractor, childcare, transport and professional licences generally have to be obtained in the buyer’s own name before closing, on the agency’s timetable.
Whether real estate goes with the business — A building adds a title search, a survey, a deed, lender requirements of its own and recording work, and it moves the fee toward the top of the range.
Whether the deal starts from the broker’s forms — Reviewing and fixing a broker’s template costs far less than drafting from scratch, and far less again than answering a buyer’s counsel who redrafts everything.

How to choose a business sale lawyer in Portland

Fees matter, but the right business sale attorney in Portland also saves you time and improves your outcome. Before you hire:

Confirm the fee structure. Business sale matters are usually a flat fee — one agreed price for the work. Get it in writing before you sign — our flat fees guide explains exactly what to look for.
Look for business sale experience. Choose an attorney who regularly handles business sale cases in Maine, not a generalist.
Use the free consultation. Most Portland business sale attorneys review your case at no cost — use it to compare two or three.
Verify licensing. Confirm the attorney is licensed and in good standing with the Maine state bar.
Clarify what's included. Ask which case costs are separate from the fee and how they are billed — see attorney fees vs. case costs.

See how business sale fees work

Need help with your business sale case?

Average attorney fees in Portland by case type

National benchmarks adjusted by Portland's cost-of-living index (102). Open a case type for its full Portland fee breakdown.

Case type	How it’s billed	Low	Average	High
Business Sale	Flat fee	$4,050	$9,700	$30,550
Divorce	Flat fee	$2,050	$7,650	$20,350
Immigration	Flat fee	$510	$3,550	$15,300
Real Estate	Flat fee	$810	$1,550	$3,550
Probate	Flat fee	$1,550	$4,600	$15,300
Car Accidents	Contingency	$2,050	$6,100	$15,300
Personal Injury	Contingency	$3,050	$10,200	$30,550
Patent	Flat fee	$5,100	$10,200	$18,350
Estate Planning	Flat fee	$510	$2,050	$5,100
DUI	Flat fee	$1,550	$4,050	$10,200
Child Support	Hourly	$1,000	$3,550	$10,200
Criminal Defense	Flat fee	$1,550	$5,100	$15,300
Child Custody	Hourly	$2,050	$8,150	$25,450
H-1B Visa	Flat fee	$2,050	$3,550	$6,100
Trademark	Flat fee	$610	$1,200	$2,550
Living Trust	Flat fee	$1,200	$2,550	$5,100
Traffic Ticket	Flat fee	$100	$310	$760
Family Law	Hourly	$1,550	$7,150	$20,350
Speeding Ticket	Flat fee	$100	$310	$760
Bankruptcy	Flat fee	$1,000	$2,050	$4,600
Premises Liability	Contingency	$5,600	$17,850	$81,500
Pedestrian Accident	Contingency	$3,550	$12,200	$40,750
Chapter 7	Flat fee	$1,000	$1,550	$2,550
Traffic Violation	Flat fee	$100	$310	$760
Clemency	Flat fee	$2,050	$6,100	$15,300
Bicycle Accident	Contingency	$2,550	$8,150	$25,450
Medicaid Planning	Flat fee	$3,050	$6,600	$15,300
Adoption	Flat fee	$1,550	$5,100	$15,300
Medical Malpractice	Contingency	$25,450	$101,850	$356,500
Expungement	Flat fee	$510	$1,550	$4,050
Workers Compensation	Contingency	$1,550	$4,050	$10,200
SSDI	Contingency	$2,050	$4,050	$9,350
Uncontested Divorce	Flat fee	$510	$1,200	$2,550
Uber Accident	Contingency	$3,050	$9,150	$33,600
Tax	Hourly	$1,550	$5,100	$15,300
Rideshare Accident	Contingency	$3,050	$9,150	$33,600
Eviction	Flat fee	$510	$1,200	$3,050
Employment	Contingency	$2,550	$10,200	$40,750
Small Claims	Flat fee	$100	$510	$1,550
Bus Accident	Contingency	$4,050	$12,200	$45,850
Pardon	Flat fee	$1,550	$5,100	$15,300
Disability	Contingency	$2,050	$4,050	$9,350
Chapter 13	Flat fee	$3,050	$4,050	$6,100
Drunk Driving Accident	Contingency	$4,050	$15,300	$61,100
Defense	Flat fee	$1,550	$5,100	$15,300
Prenuptial Agreement	Flat fee	$1,000	$2,550	$7,650
Auto Dealer Fraud	Contingency	$2,550	$7,650	$25,450
Guardianship	Flat fee	$1,550	$4,050	$12,200
Closing	Flat fee	$710	$1,200	$2,550
Social Security	Contingency	$2,050	$4,050	$9,350
Business	Hourly	$1,550	$6,100	$25,450
Construction Accident	Contingency	$12,200	$50,950	$203,700
Alimony	Hourly	$3,050	$9,150	$25,450
Domestic Violence	Flat fee	$1,550	$4,050	$12,200
Green Card	Flat fee	$2,050	$4,050	$8,150
Business Litigation	Hourly	$15,300	$61,100	$254,650
Police Misconduct	Contingency	$8,150	$40,750	$254,650
K-1 Visa	Flat fee	$1,550	$2,550	$4,050
Foreclosure	Flat fee	$1,550	$3,550	$7,650
Annulment	Flat fee	$1,000	$3,050	$10,200
Sexual Abuse	Contingency	$20,350	$86,600	$407,450
Juvenile	Flat fee	$1,550	$3,550	$10,200
Debt Settlement	Contingency	$1,000	$3,050	$8,150
Bad Faith Insurance	Contingency	$8,150	$30,550	$127,350
Lemon Law	Contingency	$2,050	$5,100	$15,300
Divorce Mediation	Hourly	$2,550	$5,600	$12,200
Unpaid Wages	Contingency	$2,050	$8,150	$35,650
Non-Compete Agreement	Flat fee	$510	$2,550	$50,950
Consumer Protection	Contingency	$2,050	$5,100	$15,300
Life Insurance Denial	Contingency	$8,150	$50,950	$203,700
Personal Loan	Hourly	$510	$2,050	$5,100
Hostile Work Environment	Contingency	$4,050	$15,300	$66,200
Wrongful Death	Contingency	$15,300	$61,100	$254,650
Age Discrimination	Contingency	$5,100	$20,350	$86,600
Construction Defect	Hourly	$8,150	$45,850	$203,700
Elder Law	Hourly	$1,550	$5,100	$12,200
Restraining Order	Flat fee	$1,000	$2,550	$7,650
Debt Collection Defense	Flat fee	$510	$1,550	$5,100
Visitation	Hourly	$1,550	$5,100	$20,350
Brain Injury	Contingency	$20,350	$117,150	$509,300
Power of Attorney	Flat fee	$200	$410	$1,000
Birth Injury	Contingency	$101,850	$458,350	$1,527,900
CPS Defense	Hourly	$2,550	$7,650	$25,450
White Collar Crime	Hourly	$15,300	$76,400	$407,450
Wrongful Termination	Contingency	$3,050	$12,200	$45,850
Tenant	Hourly	$1,000	$2,550	$6,100
EB-2 NIW	Flat fee	$4,050	$7,150	$12,200
O-1 Visa	Flat fee	$3,550	$6,100	$10,200
Name Change	Flat fee	$310	$760	$2,550
F-1 Student Visa	Flat fee	$760	$1,850	$5,100
Misdemeanor	Flat fee	$760	$1,550	$3,550
Gun Charges	Flat fee	$1,550	$6,100	$76,400
Chapter 11	Hourly	$25,450	$76,400	$407,450
Citizenship	Flat fee	$510	$1,000	$2,550
Severance Agreement	Flat fee	$510	$1,200	$5,100
LLC Formation	Flat fee	$510	$1,200	$2,550
Emancipation	Flat fee	$1,100	$2,350	$5,500
House Purchase	Flat fee	$810	$1,300	$2,550
Arbitration	Hourly	$6,600	$28,500	$96,750
IRS Audit	Hourly	$1,000	$4,600	$20,350
CDL Ticket	Flat fee	$410	$920	$2,550
Truck Accident	Contingency	$5,100	$16,300	$50,950
Defamation	Hourly	$5,100	$15,300	$50,950
SSI	Contingency	$1,000	$3,050	$9,350
Surrogacy	Flat fee	$3,550	$8,150	$15,300
Probation Violation	Flat fee	$1,000	$2,550	$7,650
HOA	Hourly	$1,550	$4,050	$10,200
Reckless Driving	Flat fee	$1,000	$2,550	$5,100
Suspended License	Flat fee	$760	$1,800	$3,050
Asylum	Flat fee	$3,050	$6,100	$15,300
Franchise	Hourly	$2,050	$7,650	$61,100
Court-Martial Defense	Flat fee	$9,150	$32,600	$132,400
EB-5 Visa	Flat fee	$12,200	$25,450	$50,950
Discharge Upgrade	Flat fee	$1,550	$4,050	$10,200
Copyright	Flat fee	$310	$1,550	$7,650
ERISA	Contingency	$3,050	$15,300	$76,400
Driving Without a License	Flat fee	$250	$610	$1,550
Marriage Green Card	Flat fee	$1,550	$3,050	$7,650
Hit and Run Accident	Contingency	$2,550	$8,150	$30,550
Overtime	Contingency	$2,550	$9,150	$40,750
Timeshare Exit	Flat fee	$1,550	$4,600	$15,300
Fraud Defense	Flat fee	$2,550	$7,650	$25,450
Civil Lawsuit	Hourly	$3,050	$15,300	$50,950
Irrevocable Trust	Flat fee	$2,550	$6,100	$15,300
VAWA Self-Petition	Flat fee	$2,450	$4,900	$9,700
Property Tax Appeal	Contingency	$150	$510	$2,050
Slip and Fall	Contingency	$4,050	$12,200	$40,750
Special Education	Hourly	$2,050	$7,650	$25,450
Entertainment	Hourly	$760	$3,550	$25,450
EB-1 Visa	Flat fee	$5,100	$9,150	$16,300
Special Needs Trust	Flat fee	$2,050	$4,600	$10,200
Student Loan	Flat fee	$760	$2,550	$8,150
Civil Rights Violation	Contingency	$5,100	$25,450	$152,800
Immigration Bond	Flat fee	$1,550	$3,050	$6,100
Motorcycle Accident	Contingency	$3,050	$9,150	$30,550
Dog Attack Injury	Contingency	$3,050	$10,200	$30,550
Insurance Claim	Contingency	$2,050	$7,650	$25,450
Discrimination	Contingency	$3,050	$12,200	$45,850
Professional License Defense	Hourly	$2,550	$8,150	$25,450
Commercial Real Estate	Hourly	$2,550	$9,150	$45,850
Intellectual Property	Flat fee	$510	$2,550	$15,300
U Visa	Flat fee	$3,450	$6,500	$13,250
Security Clearance	Flat fee	$2,550	$7,650	$20,350
Deportation	Hourly	$3,050	$8,150	$20,350
Mesothelioma	Contingency	$50,950	$356,500	$1,018,600
Trust Administration	Hourly	$2,550	$6,100	$20,350
Shoplifting	Flat fee	$760	$1,550	$4,050
Startup	Flat fee	$2,550	$7,650	$30,550
Burglary	Flat fee	$3,550	$9,150	$25,450
E-2 Visa	Flat fee	$3,550	$6,100	$10,200
Partnership Dispute	Hourly	$20,350	$76,400	$305,600
Mediation	Hourly	$1,550	$5,100	$15,300
Postnuptial Agreement	Flat fee	$1,000	$3,050	$9,150
Dental Malpractice	Contingency	$8,150	$27,500	$112,050
Property Damage	Contingency	$1,550	$6,100	$20,350
Product Liability	Contingency	$15,300	$61,100	$254,650
Breach of Contract	Hourly	$3,050	$20,350	$76,400
Health Insurance Denial	Hourly	$760	$3,550	$15,300
Criminal Appeal	Flat fee	$7,650	$20,350	$50,950
Paternity	Hourly	$1,000	$3,050	$12,200
Debt Collector Harassment	Contingency	$1,550	$4,050	$15,300
Boundary Dispute	Hourly	$2,550	$12,200	$45,850
Corporate	Hourly	$3,550	$12,200	$61,100
Whistleblower	Contingency	$5,100	$20,350	$101,850
Legal Malpractice	Contingency	$10,200	$40,750	$152,800
Quiet Title	Flat fee	$1,550	$4,050	$25,450
Construction	Hourly	$3,550	$25,450	$152,800
Immigration Waiver	Flat fee	$2,550	$5,100	$10,200
Asset Protection	Flat fee	$3,050	$8,150	$25,450
Federal Criminal Defense	Flat fee	$10,200	$35,650	$152,800
Assault	Flat fee	$1,550	$4,050	$15,300
Contract Review	Flat fee	$310	$810	$3,050
Landlord	Hourly	$760	$3,050	$15,300
Unemployment Appeal	Flat fee	$510	$1,200	$3,550
Legal Separation	Hourly	$2,550	$8,150	$25,450
Deed Transfer	Flat fee	$250	$610	$1,850
L-1 Visa	Flat fee	$3,050	$5,600	$9,150
Security Deposit	Flat fee	$410	$1,000	$3,050
Custody Modification	Hourly	$1,850	$6,100	$22,400
Work Permit	Flat fee	$460	$970	$2,250
Employment Contract	Flat fee	$610	$1,650	$4,600
Civil Appeal	Flat fee	$8,150	$22,400	$61,100
Contested Divorce	Hourly	$10,200	$20,350	$50,950
Wage Garnishment	Flat fee	$410	$1,250	$3,550
Stepparent Adoption	Flat fee	$1,550	$2,550	$8,150
Mergers and Acquisitions	Hourly	$7,650	$25,450	$101,850
Retaliation	Contingency	$4,600	$16,300	$71,300
Murder	Flat fee	$25,450	$76,400	$254,650
DACA	Flat fee	$510	$1,200	$3,050
Mass Tort	Contingency	$8,150	$35,650	$152,800
Will Contest	Hourly	$6,100	$25,450	$101,850
Loan Modification	Flat fee	$760	$2,050	$5,100
Nonprofit Formation	Flat fee	$1,550	$3,800	$8,650
Will	Flat fee	$150	$410	$1,000
Felony Defense	Flat fee	$3,550	$10,200	$30,550
Drug Possession	Flat fee	$1,550	$4,050	$15,300
Theft	Flat fee	$1,000	$3,550	$12,200
House Sale	Flat fee	$810	$1,450	$2,550
Tax Debt Relief	Flat fee	$1,000	$3,550	$10,200
Disability Discrimination	Contingency	$3,550	$14,250	$61,100
Commercial Lease	Flat fee	$1,200	$3,550	$12,200
Bail Hearing	Flat fee	$810	$2,300	$5,100
Credit Report Errors	Contingency	$3,050	$7,650	$28,500
Removal of Conditions	Flat fee	$1,000	$2,250	$6,100
Family-Based Petition	Flat fee	$920	$1,850	$4,050
Hurricane Damage Claim	Contingency	$3,550	$13,250	$45,850
VA Disability	Contingency	$1,550	$5,100	$15,300
Long-Term Disability	Contingency	$2,550	$8,150	$25,450
Nursing Home Abuse	Contingency	$15,300	$61,100	$203,700
Sexual Harassment	Contingency	$5,100	$18,350	$76,400
Spinal Cord Injury	Contingency	$30,550	$152,800	$763,950
Elder Abuse	Contingency	$12,200	$42,800	$142,600
Drug Trafficking	Flat fee	$12,200	$40,750	$178,250
Child Support Modification	Flat fee	$920	$2,450	$6,950
Sex Crime Defense	Flat fee	$14,250	$48,900	$193,550

Business sale lawyer fees in other Maine cities

Compare local business sale attorney fees across Maine.

Auburn Bangor Brunswick Lewiston South Portland Sanford Biddeford Westbrook Saco Augusta Waterville Orono

FAQs - Business sale attorney fees in Portland

Business sale lawyer fees in Portland average about $9,700, with a typical range of $4,050 to $30,550. That is roughly 102% of the U.S. average, adjusted for the local cost of living.

Portland's cost-of-living index is about 102% of the national average, so business sale attorney fees here tend to run 2% higher than the U.S. norm.

The figures here are local averages. For a number tied to your specific situation, request a free match with a business sale attorney in Portland, or enter your ZIP code for a more precise estimate.

We take the national benchmark for business sale cases and adjust it by Portland's cost-of-living index — about 102% of the U.S. average — giving a local Low, Average, and High of $4,050, $9,700, and $30,550.

Portland averages about $9,700 for business sale lawyer fees, compared with roughly $10,600 across Maine and $9,500 nationally.

Many business sale attorneys in Portland offer a free initial consultation to review your case before you commit. Check each firm's listing above for details.

Look for a Portland attorney who regularly handles business sale cases, check reviews and their standing with the Maine state bar, and use free consultations to compare a few before you decide.

Attorney fees pay for the lawyer's time and skill, while case costs are separate out-of-pocket expenses such as filing fees, records, and expert witnesses. In a Portland business sale matter, always confirm how the costs are handled alongside the fee.

In Portland, business sale lawyer fees are typically paid as a single flat fee agreed up front. Case costs are usually billed separately from the fee.

For most business sale matters, yes — the right attorney can improve your outcome by more than the fee, and many work on terms that limit your risk. Use a free Portland consultation to weigh it for your situation.

ZIP codes covered

These Portland business sale fee estimates apply to ZIP code 04101.

Last updated Oct 3, 2026 · Fee figures are local averages for informational purposes only and are not legal advice or a quote. See how we estimate fees.