Thinking Ahead:
Common Questions About Exit Planning
Have questions about exit planning? You’re not alone.
Whether you’re years from selling, thinking about succession, or simply want to reduce your day-to-day involvement, smart business owners ask these questions early.
This page addresses the most common exit planning concerns — from increasing business value and reducing risk, to preparing for funding, leadership transition, or a future sale.
Q1: I don’t want to sell — so why should I prepare for an exit?
You may not want to sell your business — and that’s perfectly fine.
But preparing your business as if you might one day sell is simply good business planning.
It means:
-
Your operations run smoothly without you
-
Revenue keeps coming in predictably
-
Customers and staff are not overly reliant on your presence
-
Key systems and relationships are documented and transferrable
That’s when your business has real value — not just to you, but to potential buyers, investors, and lenders.
It becomes more resilient, sustainable, and profitable — whether you sell or not.
Whether you plan to pass it to your children, bring in a professional CEO, or simply take more time off, preparing now gives you more control later.
You’ll have options.
And options give you freedom.
When you treat your business like a valuable asset, you’re ready — no matter what curveball life throws at you.
Q2: How can I increase the value of my business — beyond just growing revenue?
Revenue is important — but it’s not the whole story.
What really drives valuation?
-
Revenue quality: recurring, predictable, and contract-backed
-
Margin structure: scalable operations with strong unit economics
-
Customer mix: low concentration and high lifetime value
-
Competitive advantage: a clear niche, IP, or differentiated offer
-
Clean operations: well-documented systems and low complexity
You need a track record — ideally, three years of financial performance that demonstrates others can effectively run and grow the business without constant firefighting.
We use a confidential Value Builder Assessment (see link) to benchmark your business across eight core drivers. The result is a clear, actionable roadmap for turning growth into real value — not just numbers on a spreadsheet.
It’s not about working harder. It’s about building something that’s worth more — to you, and to others.
Q3: Why do I need a coach or advisor? I already have an accountant.
Your accountant is essential — especially for financial compliance, tax planning, and reporting. But they’re only one piece of the puzzle.
To prepare your business for a successful exit or transition, you need a broader team — and a strategy to bring it all together.
You need advisors who offer different perspectives and focus on different challenges:
-
Your accountant keeps the books clean and tax-compliant
-
An M&A advisor understands deal structures and buyer expectations
-
A financial planner aligns your exit with personal financial goals
-
A tax specialist ensures you don’t lose unnecessary value on the way out
And then there’s the strategic advisor — someone focused not just on the transaction, but on shaping the business into an asset others want to own.
As your strategic coach or advisor, we help you:
-
Think like a buyer or investor — and build a company others would want to own
-
Align your advisory team around a common goal: your long-term freedom
-
Act as a non-equity partner — committed to your success, with no conflicting incentives
If you’re interested, we offer flexible, month-to-month support with no long-term contracts and a money-back guarantee. See Pricing & Support.
It’s a low-risk way to increase your company’s value — while staying in control.