ServicesExit Planning
Exit Planning in Jonestown
Most owners think about leaving long before they act on it. We help you turn that thought into a plan: what the business is worth now, what would raise that number, and when to step away. Then we stay in touch once the exit is done.
What an exit plan covers, and when to make one
An exit plan is the groundwork you lay before a sale or handoff so the transition itself runs without trouble. It takes in your financials, your role day to day, who could step in and the way you want to go. Some owners want a straight sale. Others want to ease out gradually or hand the business to a partner, a key employee or a family member.
Ideally you begin one to three years before you plan to leave. That leaves time to tidy the books, train someone to run the business and fix the weak points a buyer would spot regardless. If your date is closer, a plan is still worth having. It simply has fewer pieces.
Meet us at our office or talk by phone or video, whichever fits around your workday. We stay involved after closing, checking on the handoff and explaining what to watch during the first months.
What we cover in an exit plan
A starting valuation
We look at your financials and give you a free, confidential valuation. It tells you where you stand today, not where you hope to be.
A gap list buyers would find
We go through the business the way a buyer would. Owner dependence, customer concentration, messy records, a short lease. You get a plain list of what to fix and what to leave alone.
Exit options side by side
An outside sale, a partner buyout, a sale to employees or a family handoff each work differently. We lay them out so you can pick with clear eyes. If a buyout is the route, our Partner Buyouts and Succession page goes deeper.
A timeline you can follow
Each step gets a target date. That way you know what this quarter is for, and what can wait until next year.
Check-ins during prep and beyond
We call at set points to see how the prep work is going. Once the exit is done, we check back on the transition and explain what to keep an eye on, like earnouts, seller notes or any training period you agreed to.
Signs it is time to plan your exit
The business can't run without you
If things stall when you take a week off, buyers will notice. That is the first thing a plan works on.
Personal and business costs are mixed
Owner perks run through the books are common. They need to be sorted out and documented before anyone sees your numbers.
You are tired, or your health is changing
Owners who wait until they have to leave often sell for less. Planning while you still have energy gives you choices.
Partners want different things
One partner wants out and the other wants to grow. A plan puts the options and the numbers on the table before it turns into a fight.
A big customer or lease is a risk
If one customer brings in a large share of revenue, or your lease ends soon, those issues shape your value. Better to deal with them on your schedule.
How the work goes, step by step
- 1
A free first conversation
You call, and we talk about your business and what you want your exit to look like. Everything stays confidential. No paperwork yet.
- 2
Valuation and review
You send recent tax returns and financial statements. We build a valuation and go through the business to find the gaps a buyer would flag.
- 3
The written plan
We sit down with you and go over the options, the gap list and a timeline. You decide which route and which fixes are worth it.
- 4
Prep work with regular check-ins
You and your team work through the list. We check in at set points, update the valuation when things change and tell you when the business is ready to go to market.
- 5
The exit, and the follow-up
When you are ready, we can move into a sale with our Sell a Business service or a handoff to a partner. Once closing is done, we check back on the transition and explain how to protect what you agreed to.
What exit planning costs
Your first consultation is free, and so is the confidential valuation. If the plan ends in a sale we handle, putting the business on the market costs you nothing at the start. Our fee comes out of the sale at closing, because we only get paid when the seller does. Along the way, there are no retainers and no hidden fees.
- How long the plan runs
- A one-year runway takes fewer check-ins than a three-year one. Longer plans mean more updates to your valuation as the business changes.
- The state of your books
- Clean, current financials make the review quick. Records that need to be rebuilt take more time, mostly on your accountant's side.
- How the exit is structured
- A straight sale is simpler than a partner buyout, a seller-financed deal or a staged handoff. More moving parts mean more planning.
- Your other advisors
- Your CPA and attorney bill on their own terms. We work alongside them and keep their time focused on what only they can do.
Questions owners ask about exit planning
Something not covered here? (512) 955-5966
When should I begin planning to leave?
One to three years ahead works best. It gives you time to make the business less reliant on you and to build a couple of years of clean financials. If you have to leave sooner, we can still put together a shorter plan focused on what buyers care about most.
If you help with my plan, must I sell through you?
No, the plan belongs to you. Plenty of owners later list with us, while others keep the business longer or pass it to family, and either way is fine.
Could my staff or customers hear about it?
Not through us. What we talk about and any documents you send stay confidential. We'll help you choose when and how to tell key people, which tends to be later than owners assume.
What if the next owner is a partner or relative?
Plenty of owners leave that way, and it still calls for a plan. The price, the payment terms and the length of the handoff all need to be settled. Our Partner Buyouts and Succession page explains how those deals typically come together.
What do you do after the sale closes?
We follow up with you. Many sales come with a training period, a seller note or an earnout, each with its own dates and conditions. We tell you what to keep an eye on so the money owed to you actually arrives.
Will I still need my own CPA and attorney?
Yes. They handle taxes and contracts, and how you structure your exit can change your tax bill considerably. We involve them early and keep everyone on one plan.
Start with a conversation about your exit
Tell us where the business stands and when you would like to step away. We will give you a straight answer on what it is worth and what to work on first.