Can I ask a broker to keep marketing minimal to protect my privacy?

Yes — how a business is marketed, including how broadly and how identifiably, is something you can and should negotiate with your broker rather than accepting whatever their default approach is. Many sellers, especially those worried about employees, customers, or competitors finding out prematurely, ask for a more limited, targeted approach: a blind profile that doesn't name the business, marketing restricted to a smaller pool of pre-qualified buyers, or outreach limited to specific contacts rather than a broad public listing.

The trade-off is one worth discussing openly with your broker: a narrower marketing approach can mean a smaller pool of prospective buyers sees the opportunity, which may affect how quickly interest develops. That's a reasonable trade-off for many sellers who value discretion over reaching the widest possible audience, but it should be a deliberate choice rather than an assumption on either side. Put your privacy expectations in writing as part of the listing agreement, rather than relying on a verbal understanding that could be interpreted differently later. A Treadstone business lawyer can help make sure the agreement reflects the marketing approach you actually want.