— Business Owners

Business Exit Planning

Exit planning is a ‘present-tense’ activity that’s embedded in the strategic planning process, not a future project.

Business exit planning is a strategic process that business owners engage in to prepare their company, themselves, their family, and other stakeholders for when they decide to transition ownership of the business to someone else.

It includes making the business attractive to potential buyers and preparing you for life after ownership so that the exit can achieve your personal, business, and financial goals. Key elements include succession planning, business valuation, financial planning, tax strategies, legal considerations, and sourcing buyers.

The exit planning process includes personal readiness and business attractiveness; preparing the business and you, its owner, for a successful future transition. Strategies include risk management, asset protection, growth and value acceleration, designing operations to be transferable, ‘What’s Next’ planning, and legacy planning.

“Exit planning is also a shift in mindset from annual income generation to long-term value creation. So, the business becomes stronger today and more valuable in the future.”

- Scott Snider, President of the Exit Planning Institute

What This Looks Like

Success doesn't happen in a vacuum - it’s the result of smart decisions, intentional actions, and consistent performance. Our process is about helping you identify, align, and execute the strategies and tactics that allow you to build a business that works for you, not the other way around.
01

Discovery & Defining Success

We start by assessing your business attractiveness and personal readiness; together, we’ll identify what makes your business appealing to potential buyers and the steps you need to take to personally prepare for life after ownership. Adopting an ‘exit ready’ mindset allows you to improve income and profitability while also enhancing valuation regardless of your exit timeline or preferred exit strategy.
02

Strategy Development

Together we’ll identify key areas to consistently focus on to accelerate growth and increase valuation in alignment with your exit timeline. Typically, owners planning their exit know there are things you can do to make either a transfer of ownership to heirs, sale of the business or orderly dissolution more successful. By starting early we can create a plan that allows you to make those enhancements while also making personal and financial decisions that support your transition.
03

Action & Execution

We help you make key decisions, set deadlines, and align resources to take action. This can include facilitating your team’s execution of a growth plan, managing the process of engaging other professional advisors (attorneys, CPA, financial advisor) to implement your exit plan, helping you communicate your plans to family members, and working with you to create a ‘What’s Next’ plan for your next act.
04

Measuring Success

Progress isn’t just about bold moves and big decisions. It’s about taking consistent action. As roadblocks come up (and they will), we’ll adjust accordingly without getting distracted from your goals. Our job, even when we’re not in the room together, is to support you in maintaining focus on achieving your business attractiveness and personal readiness goals so you can exit how you want, when you want.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does exit planning take?

It depends on how much time you have and how much work you want to invest in improving your valuation before going to market. Typically, we advise owners to start the process no less than 3-5 years out.

What is exit planning?

Exit planning is the process of understanding the business owner wants to leave their ownership position. The focus is on how the business asset will be sold to a new owner(s), transferred to a family member(s), or dissolved in an orderly fashion, as well as the timeline for this process. Key elements include business valuation, financial planning, tax strategies, legal considerations, and sourcing buyers.

When should I start succession or exit planning?

Right now. Purpose First Advisors believes in present-tense succession and exit planning that is integrated into your strategic growth plan.

Businesses with the highest valuation compared to their peers are built to be profitable and valuable. That is the result of intentional decision making that reduces owner dependence, lowers customer dependence, creates a strong leadership team, codifies replicable processes and procedures, reduces risk, and produces sufficient recurring revenue and free cash flow. The earlier you start the more options you create for you and your family.

Related Ideas

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  • Christy’s keen ability to identify my actual needs and focus me on the critical aspects of my business has been transformative. She’s provided insights and asked probing questions that emphasize the importance of planning with the end in mind.
    Stephanie Haenchen
    Owner, Pace Marketing
  • Christy’s coaching has has been instrumental in elevating my business to new heights. Her ability to facilitate strategic conversations has been transformative, helping me identify opportunities, overcome obstacles, and refine my business strategies for optimal results.
    Paya Sample
    Owner, Peak Leaders Collective
  • Christy took the time to assess my business model, understand my goals, and identify areas for improvement. What impressed me most was her ability to provide tailored strategies that were practical and immediately implementable.
    Sue Bailey
    Owner, Celebrating Life Cakes
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