Service
Experience and Expertise
Business Exit Planning
Business owners often believe that when they’re ready to leave their business, they will simply sell them or pass them on and head off into a comfortable retirement. But in reality, a business exit is a complex and time-consuming process that involves a lot of moving pieces including choosing the most appropriate exit strategy, finding potential buyers, succession planning, tax and estate planning, and much more.
Click the links below to learn how we help clients like you!
A business exit strategy in the context of a wealth planner is not just about selling a business; it’s about planning for a financially secure future, preserving wealth, and creating a lasting legacy. Through tax-efficient strategies, succession planning, and wealth diversification, wealth planners can help ensure that business owners exit their business on the best possible terms, with both their financial and personal goals in mind.
We will work with you every step of the way to help you achieve a successful outcome. Learn more about our process and what we can do for you.
Steps for successfully exiting your business
Gain Clarity
It might seem that selling your business is as simple as deciding to walk away when you’re ready. However, a successful exit is a complex process that requires careful planning. Defining your personal vision and goals before beginning this journey is essential to achieving the outcome you want. While preparing the business for sale is critical, it’s equally important to ensure you’re personally ready for what comes next.
Many business owners have only a general sense of what they hope to accomplish with their exit. We’re here to help you gain clarity, document your goals, and make the transition into your next phase as fulfilling as possible.
Get what you deserve
For most business owners, a substantial portion of their wealth is invested in their business, making it essential to assess how much you’ll need to secure from its sale. By reviewing your assets and understanding your post-sale income needs, we can determine your level of reliance on the sale proceeds.
From there, we’ll work together to develop strategies to diversify your wealth—exploring opportunities in investments, rental income, interest, dividends, and, potentially, Social Security. Additionally, we’ll focus on protecting both your business and your family from unforeseen events, to help ensure a secure and well-rounded financial future.
Maximize the value of your business
Understanding your business’s current value is a critical first step before choosing an exit strategy. Working alongside a CPA, we’ll help you assess its worth today and identify ways to maximize its value. For those planning to exit in the near future, adopting a buyer’s perspective is essential to reposition your business for optimal valuation.
Buyers seek businesses that are profitable, sustainable, and transferable. They’re looking for operations that run efficiently, carry minimal risk, and show promising growth potential. Together, we’ll conduct a thorough review of your company—a pre-due diligence process—from a buyer’s perspective to help ensure you’re enhancing its value to the fullest.
Understand your options
Many small business owners assume that selling to a third-party buyer is their only option, but that’s not always the case. We’ll guide you in exploring all your options, including both external and internal strategies, detailing key features and identifying which are best suited for different types of businesses. An “Internal Sale” may involve transferring ownership to employees, managers, or family members, while an “External Sale” could mean selling to outside parties such as competitors, customers, or investors.
Selecting the right approach requires aligning your business objectives with personal goals. With independent, objective guidance, we’ll help you identify and choose the best exit strategy for your unique situation.
Avoid common deal killers
The selling process can be complex and challenging, whether you’re transferring ownership to an insider or a third party. Along the way, you may face deal obstacles, buyer hesitations, and unexpected events that can make the transaction feel uncertain or even exhausting.
Our team is here to guide you each step of the way, helping you navigate key players, stay on track, and strategically position your business for a successful outcome. We’ll also work to secure an optimal deal and provide clarity on how taxes will impact your sale, so you can meet your financial goals confidently.
Exit on your own terms
We’ll work closely with you to create an exit roadmap that aligns with your vision for life after the transition.
Having an experienced, impartial advocate is essential to navigate this journey successfully. At your request, we’ll take on the role of quarterback for your exit team, ensuring all tasks are completed on schedule and that your goals remain front and center. When the timing is right, we can also introduce you to specialized advisors to help secure the ideal outcome for this once-in-a-lifetime deal.
Selling your business is a pivotal moment—don’t go it alone. Let us help you maximize this opportunity.
Gain Clarity
Prepare yourself to sell your business
It might seem that selling your business is as simple as deciding to walk away when you’re ready. However, a successful exit is a complex process that requires careful planning. Defining your personal vision and goals before beginning this journey is essential to achieving the outcome you want. While preparing the business for sale is critical, it’s equally important to ensure you’re personally ready for what comes next.
Many business owners have only a general sense of what they hope to accomplish with their exit. We’re here to help you gain clarity, document your goals, and make the transition into your next phase as fulfilling as possible.
Accomplish your goals
Get what you deserve
For most business owners, a substantial portion of their wealth is invested in their business, making it essential to assess how much you’ll need to secure from its sale. By reviewing your assets and understanding your post-sale income needs, we can determine your level of reliance on the sale proceeds.
From there, we’ll work together to develop strategies to diversify your wealth—exploring opportunities in investments, rental income, interest, dividends, and, potentially, Social Security. Additionally, we’ll focus on protecting both your business and your family from unforeseen events, ensuring a secure and well-rounded financial future.
Understand What Your Business Is Worth
Maximize the value of your business
Understanding your business’s current value is a critical first step before choosing an exit strategy. We’ll help you assess its worth today and identify ways to maximize its value. For those planning to exit in the near future, adopting a buyer’s perspective is essential to reposition your business for optimal valuation.
Buyers seek businesses that are profitable, sustainable, and transferable. They’re looking for operations that run efficiently, carry minimal risk, and show promising growth potential. Together, we’ll conduct a thorough review of your company—like a pre-due diligence process—from a buyer’s perspective to ensure you’re enhancing its value to the fullest.
Understand your options
Determine Which Exit Strategy is Best for You and Your Business
Many small business owners assume that selling to a third-party buyer is their only option, but that’s not always the case. We’ll guide you in exploring all your options, including both external and internal strategies, detailing key features and identifying which are best suited for different types of businesses. An “Internal Sale” may involve transferring ownership to employees, managers, or family members, while an “External Sale” could mean selling to outside parties such as competitors, customers, or investors.
Selecting the right approach requires aligning your business objectives with personal goals. With independent, objective guidance, we’ll help you identify and choose the best exit strategy for your unique situation.
Avoid common deal killers
Negotiate the Best Possible Deal
The selling process can be complex and challenging, whether you’re transferring ownership to an insider or a third party. Along the way, you may face deal obstacles, buyer hesitations, and unexpected events that can make the transaction feel uncertain or even exhausting.
Our team is here to guide you each step of the way, helping you navigate key players, stay on track, and strategically position your business for a successful outcome. We’ll also work to secure an optimal deal and provide clarity on how taxes will impact your sale, so you can meet your financial goals confidently.
Execute Your plan
Exit on your own terms
We’ll work closely with you to create an exit roadmap that aligns with your vision for life after the transition.
Having an experienced, impartial advocate is essential to navigate this journey successfully. At your request, we’ll take on the role of quarterback for your exit team, ensuring all tasks are completed on schedule and that your goals remain front and center. When the timing is right, we can also introduce you to specialized advisors to help secure the ideal outcome for this once-in-a-lifetime deal.
Selling your business is a pivotal moment—don’t go it alone. Let us help you maximize this opportunity.
Time is of the essence
Ideally, a business owner starts planning at least 3 to 5 years in advance. The more time you give yourself to plan, the more options you will have. But no matter where you are on your exit timeline, we can help you achieve a better outcome.
Contact us now to begin planning your business exit strategy.