The invention relates to a process for the preparation of alkylarylsulfonates by a) reaction of a C.sub.4-olefin mixture over a metathesis catalyst for the preparation of an olefin mixture comprising 2-pentene and/or 3-hexene, and optional removal of 2-pentene and/or 3-hexene, b) dimerization of the 2-pentene and/or 3-hexene obtained in stage a) over a dimerization catalyst to give a mixture containing C.sub.10-12-olefins, and optional removal of the C.sub.10-12-olefins, c) reaction of the C.sub.10-12-olefin mixtures obtained in stage b) with an aromatic hydrocarbon in the presence of an alkylating catalyst to form alkylaromatic compounds, where, prior to the reaction, additional linear olefins may be added, d) sulfonation of the alkylaromatic compounds obtained in stage c), and neutralization to give alkylarylsulfonates, where, prior to the sulfonation, linear alkylbenzenes may additionally be added, e) optional mixing of the alkylarylsulfonates obtained in stage d) with linear alkylarylsulfonates.