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Business Exit Strategy: Definition, Examples, Best Types

Adam Hayes, Ph.D., CFA, is a financial writer with 15+ years Wall Street experience as a derivatives trader. Besides his extensive derivative trading expertise, Adam is an expert in economics and behavioral finance. Adam received his master's in economics from The New School for Social Research and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in sociology. He is a CFA charterholder as well as holding FINRA Series 7, 55 & 63 licenses. He currently researches and teaches economic sociology and the social studies of finance at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

What Is a Business Exit Strategy?

A business exit strategy is an entrepreneur's strategic plan to sell his or her ownership in a company to investors or another company. An exit strategy gives a business owner a way to reduce or liquidate his stake in a business and, if the business is successful, make a substantial profit. If the business is not successful, an exit strategy (or "exit plan") enables the entrepreneur to limit losses. An exit strategy may also be used by an investor such as a venture capitalist in order to plan for a cash-out of an investment.

Business exit strategies should not be confused with trading exit strategies used in securities markets.

Key Takeaways

• A business exit strategy is a plan that a founder or owner of a business makes to sell their company, or share in a company, to other investors or other firms.
• Initial public offerings (IPOs), strategic acquisitions, and management buyouts are among the more common exit strategies an owner might pursue.
• If the business is making money, an exit strategy lets the owner of the business cut their stake or completely get out of the business while making a profit.
• If the business is struggling, implementing an exit strategy or "exit plan" can allow the entrepreneur to limit losses.

Understanding Business Exit Strategy

Ideally, an entrepreneur will develop an exit strategy in their initial business plan before actually going into business. The choice of exit plan can influence business development decisions. Common types of exit strategies include initial public offerings (IPO) , strategic acquisitions , and management buyouts (MBO) . Which exit strategy an entrepreneur chooses depends on many factors, such as how much control or involvement (if any) they want to retain in the business, whether they want the company to be run in the same way after their departure, or whether they're willing to see it shift, provided they are paid well to sign off.

A strategic acquisition, for example, will relieve the founder of his or her ownership responsibilities, but will also mean the founder is giving up control. IPOs are often seen as the holy grail of exit strategies since they often bring along the greatest prestige and highest payoff. On the other hand, bankruptcy is seen as the least desirable way to exit a business.

A key aspect of an exit strategy is business valuation , and there are specialists that can help business owners (and buyers) examine a company's financials to determine a fair value. There are also transition managers whose role is to assist sellers with their business exit strategies.

Business Exit Strategy and Liquidity

Different business exit strategies also offer business owners different levels of liquidity . Selling ownership through a strategic acquisition, for example, can offer the greatest amount of liquidity in the shortest time frame, depending on how the acquisition is structured. The appeal of a given exit strategy will depend on market conditions, as well; for example, an IPO may not be the best exit strategy during a recession, and a management buyout may not be attractive to a buyer when interest rates are high.

While an IPO will almost always be a lucrative prospect for company founders and seed investors, these shares can be extremely volatile and risky for ordinary investors who will be buying their shares from the early investors.

Business Exit Strategy: Which Is Best?

The best type of exit strategy also depends on business type and size. A partner in a medical office might benefit by selling to one of the other existing partners, while a sole proprietor’s ideal exit strategy might simply be to make as much money as possible, then close down the business. If the company has multiple founders, or if there are substantial shareholders in addition to the founders, these other parties’ interests must be factored into the choice of an exit strategy as well.

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Exit Strategies - All You Need to Know about Business Exit Planning

Kison Patel is the Founder and CEO of DealRoom, a Chicago-based diligence management software that uses Agile principles to innovate and modernize the finance industry. As a former M&A advisor with over a decade of experience, Kison developed DealRoom after seeing first hand a number of deep-seated, industry-wide structural issues and inefficiencies.

The question, “What is your exit plan?” tends to draw blank expressions when asked to business owners.

A survey of business owners conducted by the Exit Planning Institute shows that a startling 2 out of 10 businesses that are listed for sale eventually close a transaction, and of these, around a half end up closing only after significant concessions have been made by the seller.

Business owners need to think about exit planning before searching for potential buyers. The tools provided by DealRoom can be a valuable asset to any business owner looking to develop an exit strategy.

By working with a team of professional advisors, accountants, lawyers, and brokers, you can ensure the right documents are in place for a business exit whenever the time comes.

In this article, we talk about creating a business exit plan and how to make one for your business.

What is a Business Exit Strategy?

A business exit strategy outlines the steps that a business owner needs to take to generate maximum value from selling their company. A well-designed business exit strategy should be flexible enough to allow for unforeseen contingencies and account for the fact that business owners don’t always decide on their own terms when to exit. By creating a strategy in advance, owners can ensure that they can at least maximize value in the event of an unplanned exit from the business.

Investor exit strategy

An investor exit strategy is similar to that of a business exit strategy. However, investors look for a financial return on their exit from a company, so bequeathing is never one of the options considered. An investor will often have a list of potential acquirers in mind, as well as a timeframe, as soon as their investment is made. In this type of scenario, there is often an exit multiple in mind (i.e. a multiple of EBITDA or a multiple of the original investment made in the business).

Venture capital exit strategy

Another business exit strategy option is a venture capital exit strategy. As our article on venture capital outlines, if a company is venture funded then consider that your investor will have a pre-planned exit. As an early stage company, this is a natural part of taking investments. Usually, with a VC investment, the aim is for an exit after five years, either through an industry sale or an IPO, where they can liquidate their original equity investment.

Motives for Developing Exit Strategies

Technically, it is important for equity owners to have a broad outline of what an exit would look like. For example, the image below represents various motives ranging from financial gain to mitigating environmental risk.

Some of the common motives for business exit include the following:

Retirement - Arguably the most common reason of all motives is retirement. Business owners will inevitably retire at some stage, and it’s best that they have an exit strategy in place before doing so.

Investment return - A business exit strategy as part of a wider investment strategy - for example, the VC company planning to go to IPO after five years - makes the exit valuation part a component of the initial investment in the business.

Loss limit -A business exit is ultimately a kind of real option for a business. If the business is hemorrhaging money, the best option may be to exit immediately - ‘cutting your losses’ on the business, a sit was.

Force majeure - Like the examples of Covid-19 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, sometimes an investor or owner doesn’t really have a choice: The circumstances dictate that they have to exit.

Types of Exit Strategies

Sale to a strategic buyer

Strategic buyers are usually in the same industry as the company whose owner is looking to exit. And in other cases, the buyer can be in an adjacent market looking to compliment their products in an existing market, or expansion of their products into a market.

Sale to a financial buyer

Financial buyers are solely looking for a financial return from their investment in a business and the exit is the primary means of achieving this return. Examples include venture capital and private equity investors.

Initial Public Offering (IPO)

This form of exit, far more common with startups than mature companies, enables company owners to exit by selling their equity to investors in public equity markets.

Management buyout (MBO)

An exit through MBO would occur when the owner sells the company to its current management team, whose familiarity with the business technically should make them the best candidates to achieve value from an acquisition.

Leveraged buyout (LBO)

A leveraged buyout occurs when a buyer takes a loan or debt to purchase another company. The buyer also uses a combination of their assets and the acquired company's assets as collateral. Financial models can be used for multiple scenarios and simulations of when an LBO is an effective choice.

Liquidation

Liquidation can be used by a business owner to exit if they feel like the liquidation would yield cash faster or that the individual assets (i.e. property, plant, and equipment) of the business were more liquid than the business as a going entity.

Exit Strategy for Startups

Startups looking for VC investment can include an exit strategy as part of their initial pitch. It is not mandatory. Sometimes this can work when well, for example, when a startup founder is well versed in the industry and has a credible 5-year forecast.

Startup exit strategies depend on a few different factors:

Market timing

How have IPOs for startups performed in the past 12-18 months? If public markets are showing enthusiasm for companies like the one being pitched, it makes it easier to show how an exit can occur.

Comparable transactions

Similar to IPOs, companies can use comparable transactions (industry or private equity sales) to show investors their route to an exit. The comparable firms should be operating in the same or close to the same competitive space.

How to Put Together a Business Exit Plan

Remember that the purpose of the plan is to make the new business owner transition as straightforward as possible.

Although the steps which follow are general, nobody knows a business better than its owner, so take whatever steps are necessary to make your business as marketable to potential buyers as possible.

These steps also assume that you, the owner of a business, have weighed up the options elsewhere. Personal finances, family situations, and other career options are beyond the scope of this article.

Rather, the intention of the points below is to ensure that a business will be ready to sell in the fastest possible time at a fair price.

Business exit plan

• Know the business
• Ensure that finances are in order
• Pay off creditors
• Remove yourself from the business
• Create a set of standard operating procedures
• Establish (and train) the management team
• Draw up a list of potential buyers

1. Know the business

This sounds obvious but a business can lose focus quickly in the aim of diversification, to the extent that it becomes ‘everything to every man.’

This may be useful in the short-term for revenue streams, but just be sure that your business has focus. It will help you find the right buyers when the time comes and to be able to communicate which part of the market your business occupies.

2. Ensure that finances are in order

This should be a priority regardless of any future business plans.

But if you intend to sell your business at short notice, it's best to have a clean, well-maintained set of financial statements going back at least three years.

3. Pay off creditors

The less debt that a business holds on its balance sheet, the more attractive it will be to potential buyers.

A common theme among small business owners in the US is thousands of dollars of credit card debt. This can be a red flag to many buyers and should be paid off as soon as possible.

4. Remove yourself from the business

How important are you to the day-to-day operations? If your business would lose more than 10% of its revenue were you to leave, the answer is “too important.”

If revenues are tied to the owner, buyers are not going to want to buy the business if the owner is going to leave right after.

Although it can be a challenge, seek to minimize your direct impact on the business, in turn making it more marketable.

5. Create a set of standard operating procedures

Closely related to the above point, ensure that your business has a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs), ideally in written form, that would allow any owner to maintain the business in working order merely by following a set of instructions.

6. Establish (and train) the management team

Are the existing managers capable of taking over the business and running it as is? If you leave the business for a vacation and one of your managers calls you several times, the answer to this question may be ‘no’.

They may need more training, or you may need a different set of managers. In either case, having a capable team in place will be valuable whether you decide to exit your business or not.

7. Draw up a list of potential buyers

A list of buyers should be made and refreshed on a reasonably regular basis. Ideally, you would know their criteria for buying a business, but this is not always practical.

Keeping a long list of buyers means that you can reach out to them at short notice if it is  required at some point in the future.

This list is likely to include at least some of your managers or suppliers.

Importance of Exit Strategy

Many owners make the mistake of thinking that a business exit plan means the same thing as a ‘retirement plan’, believing that they can start thinking about putting one together as soon as they hit 55 years of age.

This is an error. Not because your departure is impending, but because it doesn’t give you the flexibility.

Instead of looking at a business exit plan as a retirement plan, rethink it as a divestment option.

An alternative way of thinking about this is, what happens to the business owner that doesn’t have an exit strategy? Think of the value destruction that occurs to the business if something unexpected happens and the owner has to make an unplanned sale, at a discount, in unattractive market circumstances, or even at a time of personal loss.

Instead of thinking about the business exit as something that will happen in the future, rethink it as something that could happen at any moment.

Exercising critical thinking to write a business exit strategy can be exciting as well as enlightening. Thinking of an exit as an end state is not the best approach since this limits businesses to a strict definition. Rather, consider how the process can be supportive of a business' growth strategy. Take these top three considerations:

• Financial considerations: If the exit strategy has a target revenue number in 5 years then how will the business get there? What financial dashboards are needed to properly run the company? How will expenses be managed so a business does not outspend against earnings?
• Supply chain considerations: What products will need to be in your catalog to maximize margins? What inventory turns ratio are you aiming for on a monthly basis?
• People considerations: Who do I hire to grow the company exponentially? What benefits do I offer to attract the best talent but don't cause complications at the exit? How do I write the force majeure so I protect the company and employees?

A business's primary goal is long-term value generation to its customers, itself, and its stakeholders. Having a thoughtful exit strategy shows the maturity of a business's Leadership towards longevity and value creation. There are many facets of the journey from owner motivation to financial strategies.

At DealRoom we help the owners of businesses of all sizes prepare for this eventuality. Our Professional Services team is ready to help businesses think through these details. It is important that an exit strategy be a journey throughout the growth stages.

Talk to us about how our tools can be an asset for you in your exit plan.

Get your M&A process in order. Use DealRoom as a single source of truth and align your team.

Business Exit Strategy

A plan for the transition of business ownership either to another company or investors

What is a Business Exit Strategy?

A business exit strategy is a plan for the transition of business ownership either to another company or investors. Even if an entrepreneur is enjoying good proceeds from his firm, there may come a time when he wants to leave and venture into something different.

When such time comes, the business can be sold, left in the hands of new management, or acquired by a larger company. Even if it will be decades before the entrepreneur can sell his business, what he does in the present moment can set it up for a smooth exit or make the process more challenging.

What Should Be Considered In An Exit Strategy?

While different businesses will require different tactics in an exit strategy, there are key elements that can be helpful across the board. These elements factor into play the company’s financial circumstances, market conditions , objectives, and timeline.

1. Objectives

One aspect that should never be missed in a business exit strategy is the owner’s individual goals. Upon exiting the business, is the owner interested in getting profits or does he also want to leave a legacy? Establishing the purpose of exiting the company helps to identify the specific objectives and activities to be prioritized.

2. Timeline

Another factor that should be considered is the time frame of the business. When does the owner intend to sell the business? When establishing this time frame, a business owner should allow for flexibility. In such a way, he will have more negotiating power.

However, if the time frame is tight, the business sale might not go through smoothly since everything will be done in a rush. Similarly, the stakeholders might not have enough time to make the business reach its full potential.

3. Intentions for the Business

Does the firm owner want to see his business continue its operations or does he prefer that it gets dissolved? Answering this question will help to establish whether the company will end up being liquidated, merged with another, or sold and set up for transition via succession planning.

4. Market Conditions

Both the current supply and demand for the company’s products or services, and the marketplace demand for businesses are also factors to consider. Are there a lot of potential buyers or only a few?

Why a Business Exit Strategy is Important

1. business owners become weary.

Forming a company from the ground up and transforming it into a successful and profitable one is challenging. It calls for a significant investment of time and money. Most of the time, entrepreneurs need to wear many hats before they can earn enough profits to invest in recruitment and training.

Considering the amount of effort that business owners put into these ventures, they are often unwilling to delegate tasks. These individuals invest all their time in running the business operations. They work round-the-clock looking for new clients, marketing their products, and recording the business finances. Since such company owners rarely take some time off to recharge, they can get to the point of fatigue or burnout.

Burnout can occur at any time and for several reasons. When it does happen, the firm owner will not want to spend another three months getting his business ready for sale. Prospective buyers prefer that the company owners have performance metrics, revenue history, and any other paperwork ready. A business exit strategy ensures that company managers have systems in place for recording essential information on a regular basis.

2. Get a better understanding of revenue streams

An exit plan requires that one keeps consistent and up-to-date data regarding the business’ performance. This means that company owners will always have a good understanding of their revenue streams and cash inflows and outflows. They are able to determine the activities that are bringing in the most revenue and how this revenue is being spent.

Having accurate financial data makes for better decision-making. It also helps firm owners to make realistic predictions. They will be able to manage cash flows more efficiently, plan for seasonal fluctuations, and focus their marketing efforts on the projects that matter.

Coming up with an exit strategy helps firm owners decide whether they should go after short, medium, or long-term income projects. If an individual intends to exit the business within the next few months, he can focus his efforts on activities that bring in cash quickly. These would include items such as monthly subscriptions, automatic renewals, and membership models that remain active up to when customers cancel them. Such income-generating projects require minimal effort, yet they keep money flowing into your business.

However, firm owners who want to remain in business for the next couple of years should focus their efforts on long-term growth activities. Developing life-long client relationships, building a reliable pool of employees, and being innovative will go a long way in helping the company grow.

3. Developing effective leadership

Whether a company owner intends to sell his business or pass it onto his next generation, effective leadership can make or break this deal. To ensure that the transition is a success, the firm owners should outline the chain of command that is to be followed upon exiting. This plan should also lay out the basics of company decision-making.

When a longtime manager or leader leaves, some firms end up in chaos with numerous stakeholders fighting for power. The players that are left waste so much time deciding who will take over that they forget the primary goals of the firm. By outlining a clear succession plan, firm owners help to minimize such risks and ensure that the business continues to thrive long after they leave.

4. Smooth operations

An exit plan highlights all the information that the company’s successor would need to run it. This way, the new investors or managers won’t waste their resources collecting basic information regarding employees’ salaries, finances, and partners. If the business exit strategy contains all the necessary information, its successors can hit the ground running as soon as the company leader leaves.

Key Takeaways

Entrepreneurs think of themselves as innovators. Their primary goal is to take ideas and turn them into successful ventures. This is beneficial; it’s what helps most firms survive and thrive. However, placing too much focus on the start of a business takes away focus from its end, which can be detrimental. A good number of entrepreneurs don’t have solid strategies in place for how they will exit the industry or company.

Exit plans are crucial in ensuring that firms transition smoothly to the new management. Having an exit strategy also makes it easy to keep tabs on the company’s finances. If an individual intends to sell his business later, he will have to present the firm’s revenue history and performance metrics to prospective buyers.

Also, a business exit strategy is important as it outlines the chain of command to be followed once a leader exits the company. This way, the new owners won’t spend too much time determining who will take over the managerial positions.

Additional Resources

CFI is the official provider of the global Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA)™ certification program, designed to help anyone become a world-class financial analyst. To keep advancing your career, the additional CFI resources below will be useful:

• Corporate Structure
• Leadership Traits
• Management Theories
• Succession Planning
• See all valuation resources
• See all equities resources
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Design for Business

How to Develop a Business Exit Strategy [+ Templates]

Written by: Idorenyin Uko

No matter how successful your business is, you should plan for the day you move on from the start. At some point, you’re going to either sell or retire and pass it on to a successor.

However, most owners need to be more knowledgeable when it comes to exiting their business. William Buck’s 2019 Exit Smart Survey Report shows that about 53% of entrepreneurs don’t actually have an exit strategy in place.

An exit strategy defines how you will exit your business, providing guidance on how to sell your company or handle financial losses if it fails. In addition, it gives you a clear direction on what steps to take to ensure a successful transition.

This article will take a deep dive into how to develop a business exit strategy for your company. We’ll also share customizable templates you can use along the way.

Table of Contents

What is a business exit strategy, benefits of an exit strategy, 8 templates to support your business exit strategy, types of exit strategies, how to develop a business exit strategy, when to use an exit strategy, business exit strategy faqs.

• An exit strategy for a business is a plan created by an investor or business owner to transfer ownership of the company or shares to another investor or company.
• Having an exit strategy helps you make better decisions, amplifies your ROI, makes your business attractive to investors and ensures smooth transitions.
• The main types of exit strategies are mergers & acquisitions (M&A), selling your stake to a partner or investor, family succession, acquihires, management and employee buyouts, leveraged buyouts, initial public offering (IPO), liquidation and bankruptcy.
• Follow these steps to develop a business exit strategy: determine when you want to leave, define what you want to achieve, identify potential buyers or successors, evaluate and increase the current value of your business and assemble the right team.
• Write an exit plan, create a communication plan, develop a contingency plan and build a data room.
• Visme provides templates for creating a robust business exit strategy , checklist, investor pitch, succession plan, press release, communication plan and more.

A business exit strategy is a strategic plan for a business owner, trader, investor or venture capitalist to sell their company or shares to another company or investor. Having a deliberate exit strategy helps owners generate maximum value from liquidating their assets.

In cases where the business is unsuccessful, an exit plan helps the owner reduce losses or transfer them to another party. A venture capitalist may also utilize an exit strategy to prepare for a cash-out of their investment.

Common exit strategies include initial public offering, mergers and acquisitions, liquidation, management or employee buyout and transfer to a successor.

Exit Strategy Options: Closing vs Selling

When weighing your exit options, you're going to have to choose between selling to a new owner or closing the business.

Selling to a new owner is a win-win. You'll make money while the buyer can start operations without a huge upfront investment. If there's a financing agreement, the buyer can spread the payment over a period of time. However, the downside of selling is that employees may be affected.

The second option is closing shop and selling assets as quickly as possible. While this method is simple and quicker, the proceeds only come from the sale of assets. These may include real estate, inventory and equipment. Also, if you have any creditors, the funds you generate must be paid to them before you can pay yourself.

Planning a complete exit strategy well before its execution does more than prepare for unexpected circumstances; it builds purposeful business practices and focuses on goals.

Even though a plan may not be used for years or decades, developing one benefits business owners in the following ways:

• Making Strategic Business Plans and Decisions: With an exit in mind, you will be more likely to set goals and make strategic decisions toward your expected business outcomes.
• Maximizing Your Return on Investment: When it comes to exiting, timing is key. Having a business plan exit strategy enables you to sell when market conditions are favorable, amplifying your ROI.
• Making Your Business More Attractive to Investors: Potential buyers value businesses with planned exit strategies because they demonstrate a commitment to long-term sustainability.
• Working Towards Business and Professional Goals: Executing an exit strategy that increases your business’s value and potential can prevent negative consequences of exiting, like bankruptcy.
• Revealing the Best Selling Situation: Planning your exit strategy requires an in-depth analysis of finances, market dynamics, competition and positioning. This helps you value your business and understand the best-selling situation.
• Ensuring a Smooth Transition: Exit strategies outline all roles and how they contribute to operations. With every employee and stakeholder informed about their responsibilities and actions, transitions are smooth and predictable. You can minimize disruption and maintain continuity during times of change.
• Implementing an Effective Succession Plan: For business owners, an exit strategy can be a part of company succession planning . This ensures a smooth transition of ownership or management. Be it to family members, existing partners, or external parties.

Executing a business exit strategy involves many moving parts. By using templates, you can effectively articulate your plan and ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

Keep in mind that you can tailor these to suit different industries, business sizes and exit goals.

Company Exit Strategy Presentation

When approaching investors or stakeholders to share your exit intent, you need a pitch deck. And we’re not just talking about “run-of-the-mill” decks. Use this orange-themed, captivating exit strategy template to wow investors and stir their excitement about the deal.

This presentation helps you explain what your business is about, how much you’ve grown, what you’ve achieved and the team behind the dream. It also paints a positive picture of the future. This business exit plan template utilizes charts, widgets and data visualizations to capture the timeline, traction and financing in an engaging way.

Do you have more evidence to support your presentation? You can link to your valuation, financial, legal and operations documents using Visme’s interactive features .

If you're racing against the clock and need to create your presentation quickly, use Visme's AI presentation maker . Input a detailed prompt, choose your preferred design and watch the tool produce your presentation in seconds. You also have the freedom to customize text and design with the extensive array of features and tools in Visme's editor.

Business Exits Checklist

Business exits (or even mergers and acquisitions) are complex. Without a checklist, you could miss out on some key steps. This business exit strategy checklist is a must-have if you want to increase your likelihood of success. It covers various aspects, from financial readiness and legal compliance to communication strategies and post-exit planning.

Think of it as a roadmap with essential steps and considerations to help you achieve a smooth and successful exit. Feel free to use it as is or customize it with the help of Visme’s intuitive editor. When working on this business exit plan template, you can change fonts, text and background colors to fit your branding.

Business Exit Strategy

Use this strategic plan template as a framework to guide you throughout the business exit journey. It captures all the key components of an exit strategy, helping you decide what’s best for your business.

Use it as a guide to navigate various aspects such as financial planning, market analysis and stakeholder communication.

Since multiple stakeholders are involved in the exit planning process, this exit strategy for business can serve as a collaborative tool. With Visme’s collaboration feature , team members can contribute to and review it individually or in real time. (Check out the video below to see how it works.)

The best part is that you can even deploy the Workflow tool for better task management among stakeholders. You can assign different sections, set deadlines, track progress and make corrections—all in one place.

Merger Press Release Templates

Announce your company's recent merger in a polished and professional manner using this blue-themed template. It features dynamic content blocks where you can easily place your text and visual elements.

The blue mixed with a yellow sprinkle makes your news visually appealing and engaging. Leave a lasting impression on your audience with visuals of your product or team members.

The best part of using Visme? You can generate content ideas or drafts for your press release using Visme’s AI Writer . The tool also comes in handy for proofreading your press release.

You can replicate or customize this merger press release for different channels using the Dynamic Fields feature .

Ownership Succession Plan

An ownership succession plan is critical for the success and stability of any business. Craft a well-structured plan for transferring ownership with this ownership succession plan template.

This customizable template addresses every aspect of the transfer process, like ownership structure, transition timeline and financial implications. It also captures an ownership checklist, a succession plan for retirement, a consideration sheet and a successor development plan.

Use this document to facilitate effective communication among stakeholders, including the owner, management, board of directors and employees.

Edit this template to align with your brand identity and maintain a smooth operational flow during the transition. Feel free to beautify the document with icons , stock photos and videos from Visme’s library. You also have the option of generating unique visuals with Visme’s AI image generator .

General Due Diligence Report

Give your business a huge advantage on the negotiation table with this general due diligence report template. Presenting a stunning report makes your business more attractive to potential buyers. It also eliminates surprises during negotiations and expedites the overall deal execution process.

This report presents a clear picture of the company's assets, liabilities, financial performance and growth prospects. It also captures information about your company’s legal and regulatory compliance, operations and team.

After publishing your report, you can monitor traffic and engagement with the Visme analytics tool . It provides insights into your report’s views, unique visits, average time, average completion and more. Monitoring how readers consume the report will help you steer your conversations in the right direction.

Financial Due Diligence Report

​​Instill confidence in potential buyers, investors and other stakeholders with this financial due diligence report. It paints a clear picture of your company’s financial health, controls and systems. This template covers key sections like the company overview, financial analysis, income statement, taxation analysis and recommendations.

The beautiful thing about creating this report in Visme is that you don't have to type in your financial figures manually. You can easily connect to third-party sources and import financial information into your report. As you make changes to your data, your table or chart will also be updated in real-time.

Download this template to share with your recipient in different formats, including PDF, HTML, video and image. Or simply generate a shareable link for online sharing. This means you can cater to different reading preferences–whether print or digital.

Legal Due Diligence Report

Establish compliance with all relevant laws and regulations associated with the transaction with this report template. It offers both the buyer and seller an extensive understanding of the exit process. This report captures key sections, such as:

• Legal and regulatory compliance
• Privacy and data sharing
• Terms of Service and Licensing
• Data retention

With this report, you can identify potential legal risks and liabilities. Not only does it ensure a smoother exit process, but it also helps you make better decisions.

Keep your report on brand with Visme’s brand wizard . Just input your URL; the tool will pull in your brand assets and recommend branded templates. You don't have to manually import them into the Visme editor.

Whether you're mapping out a business strategy or creating a plan for a business exit, we’ve created this ultimate list of strategic planning examples and templates to help you.

There are eight major examples of exit strategies for entrepreneurs, startups and established businesses.

Made with Visme Infographic Maker

 Ultimately, the strategy you select will depend on your own financial, personal and business goals. We’ll also touch on some of the pros and cons of each.

Merger and Acquisition (M&A)

This business exit strategy example involves merging with or selling your company (or a portion) to another company. The acquiring company may be a competitor, a supplier, a customer or a private equity firm. If you’ve built a strong brand, technology, or customer base, a Merger and acquisition exit strategy can provide an attractive exit option for your company.

• Creates economies of scale and increases efficiency by combining resources and capabilities.
• Enhances competitiveness and market position through expanded offerings and increased market share.
• Provides access to new markets, technologies and talent.
• Generates synergies and cost savings through combined operations.

Disadvantages

• Integration challenges and cultural differences can lead to significant difficulties in realizing expected benefits.
• High transaction costs and significant investment are required.
• Risk of overpaying for the acquired company or assets.
• Potential loss of focus on core business activities during integration.

Streamline your M&A exit strategy with the help of this customizable template. It captures every aspect of the transition process, including assessment, preparation, valuation and negotiation.

Exit Strategies for a Partner or Investor

Selling your stake to a partner or investor can be a strategic exit plan, particularly if you are not the sole business owner. In this shareholder exit strategy, you have the opportunity to sell your stake to a familiar entity, often referred to as a 'friendly buyer,' such as a trusted partner or a venture capital investor.

• Allows the business to continue operating smoothly with minimal disruption to daily activities, ensuring a consistent flow of revenue.
• A 'friendly buyer' already has a vested interest in the business and a commitment to its long-term success. This can contribute to the ongoing stability and growth of the company.
• Identifying a suitable buyer or investor for your share of the company can be a challenging task.
• When selling to someone with a close relationship, personal ties may influence negotiations. Hence, the process may not be as objective as with an external party.
• The close relationship with the buyer may make you lower the asking price.

Family Succession Exit Strategy

This exit strategy for a small business involves passing ownership and leadership of a business from one generation to the next within a family.

• Maintains the business's continuity and legacy with a sense of tradition.
• Successors often deeply understand the business because of their long-term affiliation.
• The successor’s familiarity with existing relationships, suppliers and customers can contribute to the business’s stability during the transition.
• Family dynamics can lead to conflicts of interest and an inability to make impartial business decisions.
• Successors may lack the necessary skills or experience to steer the business.
• Non-family employees may perceive favoritism or a lack of equal opportunities, causing dissatisfaction within the workforce.
• Narrow-mindedness within the family may hinder the introduction of new ideas and innovations.

Acquihires Exit Strategy

For this exit strategy in business, a larger company acquires a smaller company primarily for its talent and intellectual property. This allows acquiring companies to easily tap into the experience and expertise of skilled employees and innovative minds.

• Acquiring a team with a proven track record mitigates some of the risks associated with starting a new project or entering a new market.
• Provides a quick way for companies to onboard skilled and talented hires.
• The acquired team brings fresh perspectives, ideas and innovations to the acquiring company.
• Integrating a team already familiar with the industry can accelerate product development or market entry.
• Merging different cultures may lead to conflicts and clashes that affect team morale.
• Getting the acquired team acquainted with existing workflows and processes may present difficulties that impact productivity.
• Acquihires can be expensive and there's no guarantee you'll successfully integrate the new team.

Management and Employee Buyouts (MBO)

An MBO occurs when the company's management team purchases a majority stake from existing shareholders. This exit strategy in entrepreneurship allows managers to take control of the business and make decisions without external interference. MBOs can motivate employees, align interests and facilitate succession planning.

• Increased chance of success since the management team is already familiar with the company's operations, culture and challenges.
• MBOs can provide continuity in leadership, ensuring a smooth transition without significant disruptions to daily operations.
• Enable more agile decision-making processes for a smaller group of decision-makers.
• F​​unding an MBO can be expensive. The management team may face difficulties raising the necessary capital to acquire the company.
• MBOs may lack the financial resources and expertise that external investors or buyers could bring to the company.
• Insiders may have a biased view of the company's value and potential, leading to overvaluation and unrealistic expectations.

Here's a template you can use to manage the transition process for your MBO exit strategy. The presentation template covers key aspects such as employee roles and ownership, the board’s role, the process, transition planning and management.

Leveraged Buyout (LBO)

An LBO is similar to an MBO but involves borrowing funds, equity and cash to finance the purchase. The assets of the purchased and acquiring companies are used as collateral for the loans. Private equity firms often use this method to acquire companies with the potential for high returns through financial leverage.

• If the acquired company performs well, the return on the equity investment can be substantial.
• LBOs allow investors to control a larger enterprise with less initial investment.
• Private equity firms involved in LBOs often bring operational expertise and efficiency.
• Private equity ownership supports strategic decision-making since the ownership structure is often less bureaucratic.
• If the acquired company's performance declines or interest rates rise, the debt burden increases.
• Capital structure of LBOs may limit the company's ability to generate cash for other purposes.
• LBOs are influenced by market conditions and economic downturns can impact profitable investment exits.

Create a robust strategy plan for your leveraged buyout exit strategy using this template.

Initial Public Offering (IPO)

An IPO exit strategy is when a privately held company goes public by issuing stocks to raise capital. This provides an opportunity for early investors and shareholders to cash out their shares and realize a return on their investment. However, going public also means increased scrutiny, regulation and pressure to perform well.

• Provides liquidity for existing shareholders, including founders and early investors.
• Enhances the company's public profile and can attract new investors.
• Preparing and executing an IPO can be an expensive and time-consuming process.
• The company becomes subject to rigorous regulatory requirements and market fluctuations.

Considering how challenging executing an IPO is, this template is your trusted ally. The green fashion-themed design makes it visually appealing. The pictures bring more context to the company’s products or offerings. This strategy plan accounts for every single aspect of a successful exit via IPO, including objectives, the preparation phase, timing, IPO execution and post IPO.

Liquidation

Liquidation exit strategy involves winding down operations, selling off assets and distributing proceeds to shareholders. This option is usually considered when a company is no longer viable or has reached the end of its life cycle.

• Compared to other exit strategies, liquidation is a simpler process.
• Proceeds from liquidation can be used to settle outstanding debts, liabilities and other financial obligations.
• Allows you to sell and realize value from individual assets rather than the entire business.
• Often results in lower returns for shareholders compared to selling the business as a going concern.
• The liquidation process, especially if it involves bankruptcy, can damage the reputation of the business and its stakeholders.
• Assets can be sold below fair market value due to urgency.

Bankruptcy is a legal process where a company unable to pay its debts seeks protection from creditors. Depending on the circumstances, it can result in restructuring, refinancing or liquidation. While not always ideal, bankruptcy can provide relief and allow for a fresh start.

• Provides a legal process for discharging or restructuring debts.
• Triggers an automatic stay and offers legal protection from creditors.
• Facilitates the orderly liquidation of assets. This ensures creditors get fair treatment and maximizes the value of assets for distribution.
• Has a severe impact on the credit ratings of both the company and its owners.
• The court takes control of the company's assets and may appoint a trustee to oversee the process.
• Proceedings involve legal and administrative costs that can further erode the company's assets.
• Often results in job losses and career disruptions for employees.

1. Determine When You Want to Leave

The first thing you should do when doing business exit planning is figure out how long you want to stay involved.

If it’s a voluntary exit, you can approach it in two ways. You can list goals that should be achieved before you exit or pick a date in the future and work towards it.

For example, you can decide to sell after hitting a certain milestone in revenue, profitability, growth, or liquidity. You can also determine whether you’ll proceed with the sale even if you don’t hit those targets.

The target date for this transition can change. But without a deadline, you won’t treat the plan with priority or commit resources to achieving it. Once you have a date, you can work toward making your business more valuable and attractive to potential buyers.

2. Define What You Want to Achieve

Ask yourself what you want to achieve from your exit strategy. These could be financial goals, legacy preservation or pursuing new opportunities.

Do you want to retire or will you pursue other opportunities? Do you still want to maintain control over the business? Are you hoping to preserve your legacy?

If you’re exiting a long-term business, succession planning or management buyouts may be your best bet. But if you’re looking to cash out or explore synergies, you can sell, merge or even launch an IPO.

3. Identify Potential Buyers or Successors

The potential buyer for your business will depend on your industry, financial performance, strategic fit, market position and other factors.

Create a profile of the type of investor that may be interested in acquiring your business.

For example, your buyer may be a bigger competitor or venture capital fund that can maximize value from your business model. It could also be a rival company that finds your new product line perfect for cross-sells. You may also be approached by rivals who want your intellectual property, staff or customer base.

The next step is to list businesses that fall into this category. If you're looking to sell your business, consider potential buyers who have expressed interest in your industry or have a track record of acquiring similar companies.

However, if you plan to pass your business down to family members, identify suitable candidates within your family who have the necessary skills and experience to run the business successfully.

4. Evaluate the Current Value of Your Business

The next step is to determine what your business is actually worth. This may involve a business valuation, considering factors like revenue, profits, assets, market position and growth potential.

We recommend hiring external auditing companies or professionals to value your business and conduct due diligence. Not only will you get a due diligence report , but you'll also get a transparent and impartial valuation of your finances.​​

Understanding your business's worth will help you set expectations for buyers and negotiate a fair deal.

In addition to valuing your business, do your due diligence. Organize all of your company and legal documents, including:

• Permits/licenses
• Employee data and payroll information
• Vendor and customer contracts
• Asset lists
• Insurance information
• Liabilities
• IP documentation

5. Increase Business Value and Improve Performance

Now that you know the value of your business, what's next?

Ask yourself: Does it align with the exit strategy goals? Can I achieve my exit strategy goals with this current valuation? What can I do to increase the value of the business or make it more appealing to investors?

Keep finding areas for improvement across your business. This could involve expanding your product or service offerings, entering new markets or implementing new technologies.

Focus more on areas that will make other businesses want to acquire or merge with you. If you haven’t found those value drivers yet, it’s about time you did. Similarly, figure out the biggest drawbacks and fix them.

For example, if you have a strong financial track record, consistent profitability and positive growth trends, you’re likely to attract potential buyers. Your proprietary technology, patents, intellectual property, customer base, supplier relationship and geographic presence may just be the reasons other companies find your business valuable.

Another great practice to increase value is to do a competitor analysis. Analyze the competitors in your market. Where are they doing better than you? How can you beat them in their game? Acting on this intel can increase your chances of finding a suitable buyer and negotiating a favorable deal.

6. Assemble a Solid Team to Manage the Process

Buyers will come to the negotiation table with a solid team. You should assemble a great team as well.

You should also do this if you’re creating an exit strategy for startups.

When it comes to selling your business or liquidating shares, you’ll need professional guidance to navigate the complexities and emerge with confidence. The key is to surround yourself with trustworthy individuals who understand the intricacies of selling.

These professionals should have a proven track record and a wealth of knowledge to handle various situations associated with exits. Some professionals you should consider adding to your team include:

• Accountants
• Business brokers
• Corporate lawyers
• Merger and acquisition advisors
• Financial experts
• Marketing experts
• Information and communication experts

7. Write an Exit Plan

Establish a succession plan that outlines how you’ll ensure business continuity. This should outline how leadership will be transferred, including a clear chain of command, roles and responsibilities and a timeline for the transition.

Once you’ve decided to exit your business, gradually remove yourself. If operations, revenues and survival are 100% tied to the owner, that becomes a red flag for buyers.

Choose new leadership and start transferring some of your responsibilities to them while you finalize your plans. Establish a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs), ideally in written form, that would enable any buyer to keep the business in gear by following a set of instructions.

If you already have a documented operation strategy, transitioning new responsibilities to others will become seamless.

Ultimately, your business exit plan should capture these elements:

• Valuation of the business
• Timeline for your exit
• Financial preparedness
• The most suitable exit strategy
• General due diligence report
• Post exit involvement (consultancy roles, advisory positions, or other forms of ongoing involvement)

We've shared dozens of business exit plan templates. Alternatively, you can create one in minutes using our AI document generator . 

8. Create a Communication Plan

Plan how and when you will communicate the exit to customers, employees and other stakeholders.

Create a communication plan to manage this process. It can minimize disruptions and maintain the confidence of key stakeholders.

Once you have established a solid succession plan, communicate this information to your employees. Be prepared to address any concerns or questions they may have. Notably, approach this communication with empathy and transparency so your employees feel heard and valued throughout the process.

Finally, inform your clients and customers. If your company will continue with a new owner, make the transition smooth by introducing them to your clients. However, if you are shutting down your business, point your customers to alternative options.

Here’s a communication plan you can use for this step.

9. Develop a Contingency Plan

During the exit process, things could go south. For example, unexpected events—like market condition changes, delays or disputes with stakeholders—could impact the exit process.

That’s why you need a contingency plan to address these risks. Evaluate the potential impact and likelihood of each risk you’ve identified. Then, you can develop strategies to mitigate their effect.

Let’s say there’s a sudden change in market conditions. Your contingency plan could be to diversify your revenue streams or implement cost-cutting measures. Ensure the strategies are feasible, practical and aligned with the overall business goals.

10. Create a Data Room

The data room consolidates comprehensive information on financial results, key business drivers, legal affairs, organizational structure, contracts, information systems, insurance coverage, environmental matters and human resources issues such as employment agreements, benefits and pension plans.

As soon as the Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM) is drafted, start compiling information for the data room, as it supports much of the document.

It is important to balance the amount of information and the level of detail provided in the data room. The information should be sufficient to enable buyers to determine the asset's value and complete their due diligence.

However, it is equally important to limit the amount of sensitive or competitive information disclosed to anyone other than the ultimate purchaser. Achieving the right balance often requires discussions between sellers and their advisers.

There are different instances where you may need to use an exit strategy. Let’s look at a few of them.

• Retirement: If a business owner is approaching retirement age, an exit strategy can help them plan for the transfer of ownership or sale of the business.
• Profit Objective : An angel investor can sell their stakes and exit, achieving a specific profit objective.
• Mergers and Acquisitions: If a business owner receives an offer to purchase their business, an exit strategy can help them negotiate the terms of the sale and ensure a smooth transition.
• Financial Losses: An exit strategy is a great way to liquidate losses from a business with financial challenges or heavy debt burdens.

Other situations that can necessitate developing an exit strategy for startups and corporations include

• Change in personal circumstances such as a divorce, illness, or death in the family.
• Shift in business direction or industry changes.
• Lack of growth opportunities.
• Legal or regulatory issues.
• Planning for succession or transition to new leadership.
• Aligning with the investment horizon or expectations of investors or stakeholders.

Q. What Is the Best and Cleanest Way to Exit the Business?

The best exit strategy depends on your personal goals, financial needs and the specific circumstances of your business.

However, a clean exit can provide peace of mind and financial security. This type of exit involves a smooth transfer of ownership where you receive your payout and know your business will be left in capable hands.

With a clean exit, there’s little or no disruption to business operations. The owners maximize the value of their business and realize their financial goals.

Q. What is the Master Exit Strategy?

There isn't a single "master exit strategy" that universally applies to all businesses. Different businesses may benefit from different exit strategies. In addition, a small business exit strategy may not work for a larger company.

When exiting your business, deploy a strategy that helps you maximize your company's value and benefits all stakeholders.

Q. What Are the Two Essential Components of an Exit Strategy?

The two essential components of an exit strategy are:

A clear definition of the business owner's objectives: This includes identifying what the owner wants to achieve through the exit, such as maximum financial return, continued legacy, or minimal disruption to employees and customers.

A thorough assessment of the business's current situation: This includes evaluating the company's financial health, operational performance, market position and competitive landscape.

How Visme Can Equip Your Company & Team

There you go. This article has covered the basics of how to prepare an exit strategy.

Exiting a business you’ve built or invested in can be emotional and overwhelming. But doing it the right way pays off.

Planning a proper exit strategy in entrepreneurship requires diligence in terms of time and care. That’s why you need a tool like Visme that helps you manage the entire process—from planning to documentation to execution.

Visme provides templates for creating a robust business exit strategy , checklist, investor pitch, succession plan, press release and communication plan.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg regarding what you can create in Visme. With a rich library and cutting-edge features, teams can collaborate and create stunning business documents.

Sign up to discover how Visme can help you execute your business exit strategy.

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Knowledgebase Topics

• General Information
• 1 - Preparation
• 2 - Valuation
• 3 - Exit Options
• 4 - M&A Team
• 5 - Marketing
• 6 - Letter of Intent
• 7 - Deal Structure
• 8 - Due Diligence
• 9 - Closing
• 10 - Transition

Business Exit Plan & Strategy Checklist | A Complete Guide

Executive Summary It’s not enough to merely hand over the keys at the closing. You need a strategy. An exit strategy. An exit strategy, as the term implies, is a plan to assist you in exiting your business. All exit plans will vary, but they all contain common elements. The three common elements that all business exit strategies should contain are: A valuation of your company.  The process of valuing your company involves three steps, the first being an assessment of the current value of your business. Once this value is calculated, you should plan how to both preserve and increase that value. Your exit options.  After you have determined a range of values for your company and developed plans for preserving and increasing this value, you can begin exploring your potential exit options. These can be broken down into inside, outside, and involuntary exit options. Your team.  Finally, you should form a team to help you prepare and execute your exit plan. Your team can consist of an M&A advisor, attorney, accountant, financial planner, and business coach. If you are considering selling your business in the near future, planning for the sale is imperative if you want to maximize the price and ensure a successful transaction. This article will give you a solid understanding of these elements and how you can put them together to orchestrate a smooth exit from your business.

Business Exit Plan Strategy Component #1: Valuation

Your exit strategy should begin with a  valuation, or appraisal,  of your company. The process of valuing your company involves three steps, the first being an assessment of the current value of your business. Once this value is calculated, you should then plan how to both preserve and increase the value of your business.

Let’s explore each of these components — assess, preserve, increase — in more depth.

Assess the Value

The first step in any exit plan is to assess the current value of your business.

Here are questions to address before beginning a valuation of your company:

• Who  will value your company?
• What methods  will that person use to value your company?
• What form  will the valuation take?

Who:  Ideally,  whoever values your company should have real-world experience buying and selling companies , whether through business brokerage, M&A, or investment banking experience. They should also have experience selling companies comparable to yours in size and complexity. Specific industry experience related to your business is helpful, but not essential, in our opinion. There are loads of professionals out there who possess the academic qualifications to appraise your business but who have never sold a company in their lives. These individuals can include  accountants or CPAs,  your financial advisor, or business appraisers. It is essential that your appraiser have real-world M&A experience. Without hands-on experience buying and selling companies comparable to yours, an appraiser will be unprepared to address the myriad nuances of the report or field the dozens of questions that will arise after preparing the valuation.

Action Step:  Ask whoever is valuing your business how many companies they have sold and what percentage of their professional practice is devoted to buying and selling businesses versus other activities.

What Methods:  Most business appraisers perform business valuations for legal purposes such as divorce, bankruptcy, tax planning, and so forth. These types of appraisals differ from an appraisal prepared for the purpose of selling your business.  The methods used are different , and the values will altogether be different as well. By hiring someone who has real-world experience selling businesses, as opposed to theoretical knowledge regarding buying and selling businesses, you will work with someone who will know how to perform an appraisal that will stand the test of buyers in the real world.

Form:  Your M&A business valuation can take one of two forms:

• Verbal Opinion of Value:  This typically involves the professional spending several hours reviewing your financial statements and business, then verbally communicating an opinion of their assessment to you.
• Written Report:  A written report can take the form of either a “calculation of value” or a “full report.” A calculation of value cannot be used for legal purposes such as divorce, tax planning, or bankruptcy, but for the purpose of selling a business, either type is acceptable.

Is a verbal or written report preferable? It depends. A verbal opinion of value can be quite useful if you are the sole owner and you do not need to have anyone else review the valuation.

The limitations of a verbal opinion of value are:

• If there are multiple owners, there may be confusion or disagreement regarding an essential element of the valuation. If a disagreement does arise, supporting documentation for each side will be necessary to resolve the disagreement.
• You will not have a detailed written report to share with other professionals on your team, such as  attorneys , your accountant, financial advisor, and insurance advisor.
• The lack of such a detailed report makes it difficult to seek a second opinion, as the new appraiser will have to start from scratch, adding time and money to your process.

For the reasons above, we often recommend a written report, particularly if you are not planning to sell your business immediately.

We have been involved in situations in which CPA firms have  valued a business  but had little documentation (one to two pages in many cases) to substantiate the basis of the valuation.

In one example, the CPA firm’s measure of cash flow was not even defined; it was simply listed as “‘cash flow.” This is a misnomer as there are few agreements regarding the technical definition of this term. As a result, any assumption we might have made would have led to a 20% to 25% error at minimum in the valuation of the company. By having a written report in which the appraiser’s assumptions are documented, it is simple to have these assumptions reviewed or discussed.

Note:  When hiring someone to value your company, you are paying for a professional’s opinion but keep in mind that this opinion may differ from a prospective buyer’s opinion.  Some companies have a narrow range of value (perhaps 10% to 20%), while other companies’ valuations can vary wildly based on who the buyer is, often by up to 100% to 200%.  By having a valuation performed, you will be able to understand the wide range of values that your company may attain. As an example, business appraisers’ valuations often contain a final, exact figure, such as $2,638,290. Such precision is misleading in a valuation for the purpose of a sale. We prefer valuations that result in a more realistic price range, such as $2,200,000 to $2,800,000. An experienced M&A professional can explain where you will likely fall within that range and why.

Preserve the Value

Once you have established the range of values for your company, you should develop a plan to “preserve” this value. Note that preserving value is different from increasing value. Preserving value primarily involves preventing a loss in value.

Your plan should contain clear strategies to prevent catastrophic losses in the following categories:

• Litigation:  Litigation can destroy the value of your company. You and your team should prepare a plan to mitigate the damaging effects of litigation. Have your attorney perform a legal audit of your company to identify any concerns or discrepancies that need to be addressed.
• Losses you can mitigate through insurance:  Meet with your CPA, attorney, financial advisor, and insurance advisor to discuss potential losses that can be minimized through intelligent insurance planning. Examples include your permanent disability, a fire at your business, a flood, or other natural disasters, and the like.
• Taxes:  You should also meet with your CPA, attorney, financial advisor, and tax planner to  mitigate potential tax liabilities.

Important:  The particulars of your plan to preserve the value of your company also depend on your exit options, which we will discuss below. Many elements of your exit plan are interdependent. This interdependency increases the complexity of the planning process and underscores the importance of a team when planning your exit.

Only after you have taken steps to  preserve  the value of your company should you begin actively taking steps to  increase  the value of your company.

Increase the Value

There is no simple method or formula  for increasing the value of any business.  This step must be customized for your company.

This plan begins with an in-depth analysis of your company, its risk factors, and its growth opportunities. It is also crucial to determine  who the likely buyer of your business will be . Your broker or M&A advisor will be able to advise you regarding what buyers in the marketplace are looking for.

Here are some steps you can take to increase the value of your business:

• Avoid excessive customer concentration
• Avoid excessive employee dependency
• Avoid excessive supplier dependency
• Increase  recurring revenue
• Increase the size of your repeat-customer base
• Document and streamline operations
• Build and incentivize your management team
• Physically tidy up the business
• Replace worn or old equipment
• Pay off equipment leases
• Reduce employee turnover
• Differentiate your products or services
• Document your intellectual property
• Create additional product or service lines
• Develop repeatable processes that allow your business to scale more quickly
• Increase  EBITDA or SDE
• Build barriers to entry

Note:  A professional advisor can help you ascertain and prioritize the best actions for your unique situation to increase the value of your business. Unfortunately, we have seen owners of businesses spend three months to a year on initiatives to increase the value of their business, only to discover that the initiatives they worked on were unlikely to yield any value to a buyer.

Business Exit Strategy Component #2: Exit Options

After you have determined a range of values for your company and developed plans for preserving and increasing this value, you can begin exploring your potential exit options.

Note:  These steps are interdependent. You can’t determine your exit options until you have a baseline valuation for your company, but you can’t prepare a valuation for your business until you have explored your exit options. A professional can help you determine the best order to explore these steps, or if the two components should be explored simultaneously. This is why real-world experience is critical.

All exit options can be broadly categorized into three groups:

• Inside:  Buyer comes from within your company or family
• Outside:  Buyer comes from outside of your company or family
• Involuntary:  Includes involuntary situations such as death, divorce, or disability

Inside Exit Options

Inside options include:

• Selling to your children or other family members
• Selling to your business to your employees
• Selling to a co-owner

Inside exits require a professional who has experience dealing with family businesses, as they often involve emotional elements that must be navigated and addressed discreetly, gracefully, and without bias. Inside exit options also greatly benefit from tax planning because if the money used to buy the company is generated from the business, it may be taxed twice. Lastly, inside exits also tend to realize a much lower valuation than outside exits. Due to these complexities, most business owners avoid inside exits and choose outside options. Fortunately, most M&A advisors specialize in outside exit options.

Outside Exit Options

Outside exit options include:

• Selling to a private individual
• Selling to another company or  competitor
• Selling to a financial buyer, such as a private equity group

Outside exits tend to realize the most value. This is also the area where business brokers, M&A advisors, and investment bankers specialize.

Involuntary Exit Options

Involuntary exits can result from death, disability, or divorce. Your plan should anticipate such occurrences, however unlikely they may seem, and include steps to avoid or mitigate potential adverse effects.

Business Exit Strategy Component #3: Team

Team members.

Finally, you should form a team to help you plan and execute your exit plan. Many of these steps are interdependent — they are not always performed sequentially, and some steps may be performed at the same time. Forming a team will help you navigate the options and the sequence.

Your team should involve the following:

• M&A Advisor/ M&A Consultant /Investment Banker/Business Broker:  If you are considering an outside exit.
• Estate planning
• Financial planning
• Tax planning, employee incentives, and benefits
• Family business
• Accountant/CPA:  Your accountant should have experience in many of the same areas as your attorney, along with audit experience and retirement planning. Again, it is unlikely that your CPA possesses all of the skills you need. If further expertise is needed, the CPA should be able to access the skills you need, either through colleagues at their firm or by referral to another accountant.
• Financial Planner/Insurance Advisor:  This team member is critical. We were once in the late stages of a sale when the owner suddenly realized that, after deducting taxes, his estimated proceeds from the sale would not be enough to retire on. An experienced financial planner can help with matters like these. They should have estate and business continuity planning experience, as well as experience with benefits and retirement plans.
• Business Coach:  A business consultant or coach may be necessary to help implement many of the changes needed to increase the value of your business, such as building infrastructure and establishing a strong, cohesive management team. Doing this often requires someone who can point out your blind spots. A coach can help you take these important steps.

Where to find professionals for your team

The best way to find professionals for your team is through referrals from trusted friends and colleagues who have personally worked with the professional in question. Don’t ignore your intuition, however. It’s important that you and your team members have good chemistry.

The Annual Audit

We recommend that you assemble your professional advisors for an annual meeting to perform an audit of your business. The goal of this audit is to prevent and discover problems early on and resolve them. As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Your advisors are a valuable source of information. This annual meeting is an opportunity to ensure that they’re all on the same page and that there are no conflicts among your legal, financial, operational, and other plans. An in-person or virtual group meeting enables you to accomplish this quickly and efficiently.

A sample agenda might include a review of the following:

• Your operating documents
• New forms of liability your business has assumed
• Any increase in value in your business and changes that need to be made, such as increases in insurance or tax planning
• Capital needs
• Insurance requirements and audit, and review of existing coverages to ensure these are adequate
• Tax planning — both personal and corporate
• Estate planning — includes an assessment of your net worth and business value, and any needed adjustments
• Personal financial planning

If you are contemplating selling your business, creating an exit plan will answer these critical questions:

• How much is my business worth? To whom?
• How much can I get for my business? In what market?
• How much do I need to make from the sale of my business to meet my goals?

Taking the strategic steps discussed in this article — assembling a stellar professional team and optimizing the team’s collective experience — will get you well on your way toward successfully selling your business and turning confidently toward your next adventure.

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6 actionable steps for preparing your exit strategy.

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Chad Lusco, CEO P3 Services .

As a business owner, you accept there's no such thing as “two weeks’ notice.” Grappling with a transition or succession plan can be challenging and emotional, but you’ll need to prepare an exit strategy well in advance to maximize your ROI and ensure the continuation of your company. You should plan this strategy at least three to five years in advance (ideally ten years) with the understanding that your goals and business may evolve over time.

1. Identify your expectations.

Every business owner needs an exit strategy, but not all exit strategies are right for everyone. You’ll need to spend some time reflecting on what's right for you. There is no right or wrong answer; your exit strategy should allow you to meet your goals—both personal and financial—and your business' needs. Each strategy has its unique set of advantages and disadvantages.

Consider these common types of exit strategies:

Keeps the business in the family by choosing a successor, but can often come at a discounted price to the seller and substantial debt service to the buyer.

• Merger And/Or Acquisition

M&A (via private equity or investment group) may benefit the seller with a higher purchase price, but the business may become part of a larger entity or investment portfolio with a new set of procedures or strategy.

• Strategic

One company (typically a direct competitor) purchases another to acquire its talent and/or book of business, often with the hopes of finding synergies, efficiencies or cost savings through consolidation.

• Friendly Buyer

Involves selling your stake to a partner or investor; often involves minimal disruption to the business, but may not achieve the highest purchase price possible.

2. Strengthen your management team.

In my experience working with small business owners, I’ve found the most common stumbling block is the owner. Often, the owner handicaps their own business by hoarding decision-making ability and failing to establish clear roles and responsibilities for team members. This creates bottlenecks for scaling the business, and the dysfunction becomes far more evident when an exit strategy is considered. Extricating the owner from day-to-day affairs is more difficult in a centralized power dynamic.

To strengthen the management team, begin by providing clarity on your team members’ roles, responsibilities and decision-making authority. It’s also essential to define the organizational structure and key performance indicators (KPIs) for all team members. Once this is accomplished, the next step is to plan for the gradual transfer of responsibilities to prepare the management team for the transition.

Speaking of transferring responsibilities, you may need to choose your successor, particularly if you’re planning an exit strategy that doesn't include long-term seller involvement. Selecting a successor often proves challenging if the candidate is a family member or long-time acquaintance. Be sure the individual you pick is the best suited in terms of skills, experience, education and temperament. It’s often a good idea to turn to an advisory board or consultant for neutral guidance.

3. Streamline your operations.

Are there any operational inefficiencies to iron out or unnecessary expenses to eliminate? Look for ways to improve processes, and be sure to resolve any pending or potential legal liabilities, as well as any outstanding debts.

Some operational challenges I commonly see are a lack of systemization and an inability to provide in-depth data and insights into the business. You’ll want to be able to pinpoint data that potential buyers will be interested in—from year-over-year (YOY) growth to the number of locations served, new customer growth, expansion of existing customer accounts and relationships—the list goes on.

4. Clean up your financials.

Before engaging with potential buyers, ensure your business has clean books that follow generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

Additionally, you’ll need to have a clear picture of your numbers—both personal and corporate—so you can head into negotiations with a fair asking price and use your financial performance to justify it.

Be warned, a common mistake entrepreneurs make is running their company so lean that it lacks a strong foundation. Efficiency is important, but running on a skeleton crew can create instability. Avoid trying to squeeze out every dollar of profitability leading up to the sale, as this will restrict scalability and create a questionable succession plan for a potential buyer.

5. Identify your differentiators and key selling points.

Treat potential buyers as you would potential customers and consider what sort of sales pitch you might give them. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What target market does your brand appeal to?

• What are the unique attributes of your products/services/brand?

• Do you have a proprietary method?

• What’s your brand heritage/story?

• What technologies/patents do you have?

• Do you have any endorsements or awards?

Identify your most compelling differentiators and use them to create an elevator pitch. Then, build on that elevator pitch to develop an appealing presentation for potential buyers.

6. Do your due diligence.

Lastly, do your due diligence. Get all of your relevant organizational and legal documents organized, including:

• Vendor and customer contracts

• Permits/licenses

• Financials

• Employee and payroll backup

• Insurance information

• Vehicle and asset lists

In addition, consult a CPA on how to optimize your tax strategy for the sale (don’t expect buyers to offer guidance on your tax situation). Your location, company structure and the structure of the sale can have significant effects on your sale price and valuation.

Preparing Your Exit Strategy

If these steps seem overwhelming, remember that you should have at least five to ten years to execute them. If you’ve held exit strategy planning in abeyance until you’re just about ready to retire, you may want to consider staying at the helm for at least a few more years. This will allow you time to plan adequately for a healthy transition that allows your company and talent to continue to flourish. Your company is your legacy, after all, whether or not it stays in the family.

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Business exit strategy definition, types, and use cases

Table of content.

Having a thoughtful exit strategy shows that a business owner is prepared for the future and is focused on ensuring the long-term success and sustainability of their company. However, according to a survey conducted by the Business Enterprise Institute, only 20% of owners have created written plans to transfer ownership.

The article will offer insights to startup founders, small business owners, and established company leaders about the importance of developing an exit strategy, outlining key benefits and steps involved. 

What is a business exit strategy?

A business exit strategy outlines the steps a business owner needs to take to sell their ownership in a company to investors or another company and generate the maximum value.

There are several different exit strategies, including types like strategic acquisitions, an initial public offering (IPO), management buyouts (MBOs), liquidation, bankruptcy, selling a stake to a partner or investor, or passing the business on to a family member.

It’s recommended to develop an exit strategy early in the business planning process , ideally during the initial stages of forming the company. This is because this strategy can impact future business plans and influence key decisions regarding growth, investment, and operational strategies.

For instance, if the exit strategy business plan is to pass the business on to family members, the focus may be on creating stable day-to-day operations and a strong brand reputation. In contrast, if a business owner aims to sell their business within, say, five years, they may focus on rapid growth and building tangible assets to increase the company’s valuation.

In fact, one of the most important parts of every thoughtful exit strategy is business valuation , as it determines the company’s fair price. Understanding the current and potential future value of the business helps to make the right decisions regarding when and how to exit. 

It’s also important to note that business exit planning can include two subsets — investor and venture capital exit strategies:

• Investor exit strategy . This is a plan developed by investors, such as angel or private equity investors, to exit their investment in a particular company. The primary goal is to achieve a favorable return on investment by selling their stake in the company. A business exit strategy, in this case, should always be part of a wider investment strategy.
• Venture capital exit strategy . Another business exit strategy option can be applied to an early-stage company or high-growth business backed by venture capital funding. In this case, VC investors develop a pre-planned exit to achieve a return on their investment within a specific time frame, often around five years.

Benefits of a business exit strategy

Let’s explore why developing a business exit strategy is always a good idea.

1. Maximizing value

A well-defined exit strategy helps maximize the value of your business by focusing on growth, profitability, and building tangible assets. This, in turn, will lead to a higher sale price or better terms during a transition.

Example: WhatsApp, a messaging app, focused on user growth and engagement before its acquisition by Facebook for $19 billion in 2014. This strategic approach maximized the company’s value and resulted in a lucrative exit for its founders and investors.

2. Mitigating risks

An exit strategy allows business owners to mitigate potential risks associated with industry changes and unattractive market circumstances, protecting the value of their businesses.

Example: Tesla, the electric car manufacturer, diversified its product offerings and revenue streams beyond vehicles by venturing into energy storage and solar energy solutions . This diversification strategy helped mitigate risks associated with fluctuations in the automotive industry.

3. Facilitating succession planning

By outlining a clear exit plan, you can facilitate smooth succession planning and ensure a seamless transition of ownership or management, minimizing disruptions to operations.

Example : Walmart, a retail industry leader, demonstrated effective succession planning . When Sam Walton retired in 1988, his son, Rob Walton, became a chairman, prioritizing expansion and technological advancement. In 2015, Rob Walton smoothly transitioned leadership to his son-in-law, Greg Penner.

4. Enhancing investor confidence. Having a well-defined exit strategy increases investor confidence, as it demonstrates strategic planning and commitment to maximizing returns. This, in turn, facilitates fundraising and growth opportunities.

Example: Airbnb clearly outlined its potential exit strategies, including IPO. This transparency and strategic planning boosted investor confidence, leading to a successful IPO in 2020 .

What types of business exit strategies are available?

The selection of an appropriate exit strategy is influenced by a few different factors, such as the entrepreneur’s goals, market conditions, and the business growth strategy. Each strategy comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages, making it crucial for company owners to carefully evaluate their options before making a decision.

Business exit strategy examples

Let’s also explore the most suitable exit strategy business plan examples for different company types:

• Startup exit strategies Startup exit strategies depend on factors such as the company’s growth trajectory, market conditions, investor preferences, and the founder’s long-term goals. The most common methods include an IPO, a strategic acquisition, or a management buyout.
• Small business exit strategy The best exit strategy for a small business always aligns with the owner’s financial objectives, long-term vision, and the company’s market position. Small business owners may opt for options like selling the business to a competitor, transitioning ownership to a family member, or pursuing a management buyout.
•  Larger company exit strategy The owners of established businesses may go for a combination of options tailored to maximize value. This may include a business sale to a strategic buyer, an IPO, or a management buyout.
• Family-owned business exit strategy Succession planning and management buyouts are common strategies for family-owned businesses to ensure a successful transition and preserve legacies.

8 most important steps to develop your exit strategy

A survey of business owners conducted by the Exit Planning Institute shows that just 20% of businesses put up for sale successfully find buyers. Among the businesses that manage to sell, 75% express significant regret within one year of leaving their business.

That’s why it’s so important to proactively develop an exit plan and facilitate the transition to a new business owner. Here are key steps to take:

• Setting exit timelines. Establish clear timelines for your exit strategy, outlining specific milestones and deadlines. Consider factors such as market conditions, personal goals, and financial targets to determine the optimal timing for your exit.
• Documenting information. To ensure a smooth and successful exit strategy, it’s important to maintain all important documents related to your business, including financial statements, financial strategies, contracts, employee information, organizational structure, and legal files.
• Identifying potential buyers. Conduct market research to identify potential buyers for your business. Develop detailed buyer personas to understand their motivations, preferences, and acquisition criteria. Tailor your exit strategy to attract and engage with these prospective buyers effectively.
• Building valuable assets . Focus on developing and enhancing valuable assets within your business, such as proprietary technology, intellectual property, and customer relationships. Invest in strategies that increase the overall attractiveness and value of your business to potential buyers.
• Improving business performance. Continuously monitor and improve key performance indicators (KPIs) across various aspects of your business, including revenue growth, profitability, operational efficiency, and market competitiveness. Implement strategies to optimize business operations and maximize financial performance to attract potential buyers.
• Chasing profitable growth. Explore new opportunities for revenue growth. For example, you can try to diversify product offerings, expand into new markets, or leverage emerging trends. It’s important to focus on generating new revenue streams and demonstrate the long-term growth potential of your business to potential buyers.
• Delegating responsibilities. Delegate key responsibilities to trusted employees, letting them learn to manage daily operations. Create a strong team able to sustain business continuity and growth, even in the owner’s absence.
• Saving financial resources. Keep some money saved to cover the costs associated with the exit process, including legal fees, transaction expenses, and the services of professional advisors. 

Key takeaways

Let’s summarize: 

• A business exit plan means a plan developed by a business owner or management team to exit or transition out of the business and generate the maximum value from it. 
• The most common types of exit strategies are strategic acquisitions, initial public offering (IPO), management buyouts (MBOs), liquidation, bankruptcy, selling a stake to a partner or investor, or passing the business on to a family member.
• The key benefits of developing a business exit strategy are maximizing value, mitigating risks, facilitating succession planning, and enhancing investor confidence. 
• Steps to take to create a business exit strategy include setting exit timelines, documenting information, identifying potential buyers, building valuable assets, improving business performance, chasing profitable growth, prioritizing customer loyalty, delegating responsibilities, and saving financial resources.

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Why Every Business Owner Needs an Exit Strategy

An exit strategy is a key component of entrepreneurship, as it can provide a sense of safety and peace of mind.

Table of Contents

You wrote a business plan to launch your company. To say goodbye to it, you need an exit plan to get the maximum possible return and to limit any future exposure to what happens to the company after your departure. But years of experience teach you that nothing in business is predictable — and that’s why you need two exit plans.

Why every business owner needs an exit strategy

Today, most business brokers and advisors recommend incorporating a thorough exit strategy into your business planning from the very start. While it may seem counterintuitive to plan on starting or buying a business and simultaneously plan how you’re going to sell or remove yourself from it, this is the smartest move you can make in today’s fast-paced economy.

Here are some of the benefits of developing an exit strategy.

Gives you an end goal 

If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll never know when you get there. An exit strategy helps define what success is for you and provides you with a timetable complete with milestones toward your exit.

Informs strategic decision-making  

Without a plan, it’s easy to get caught up working “for” the business, and resolving day-to-day issues. With a firm end game in mind, you have the vision to work “on” the business instead, planning and executing the strategies you need to achieve the ultimate end goal you’ve set for yourself.

Enhances the value of the business

If you don’t have an exit plan, your business will have some inherent value when you look to change ownership, but this is often the baseline value. With an exit strategy where you have a clear end goal in mind, your business is worth more to potential buyers or investors. You’ve grown it, locked its profitability, trained a strong management team, established a customer base, cemented meaningful supplier relationships and, most importantly, structured the business to operate independently of your personal involvement. That is valuable.

Provides a flexible template 

At some point, you will likely need to make adjustments to your exit strategy. Sometimes, that will be for business reasons. Other times, something unexpected and unwanted like a sudden death, divorce, major health problem or required relocation may force you to change course. It’s easier to revise and tweak a plan that already exists with clear objectives and milestones than to come up with one suddenly to cope with a sudden change.

Having a preexisting strategy makes managing unforeseen events simpler. That’s because you already have a way of making decisions for growth — one that’s got you to where you are. You can strengthen this by involving outside professional advisors like a business broker, attorney and accountant to help you course correct when necessary and to monitor progress against your goals. 

Why you need 2 exit strategies

Creating one exit strategy may seem daunting enough, but to cover your bases, you should craft two different plans: one for a voluntary exit and one for an involuntary exit.

With a voluntary exit strategy, you’ll know the following:

• When you want to leave:  Maybe it’s in five years, 10 years or when revenue hits $10 million.
• Who you want to take over the business:  It could be a brand-new owner, your current management or a family member.
• How much money you want to leave with:  Perhaps you’d like a lump-sum payment, a share of profits every month for the rest of your life or a mixture of both.
• What to do if you’re approached by a potential buyer:  How will you react if you’re contacted out of the blue? More business owners today are receiving unsolicited buyout offers than in years past.

But things don’t always go the way you expect them to, so you need a plan for that as well. With an involuntary exit strategy, you’ll know what to do in the following situations:

• You fall ill and you’re not able to work in the way you used to (or at all):  You need to know who’ll take the reins and make decisions and you need to train them now so the business is ready.
• Your business begins to fail financially:  You need to know which employees and assets you can jettison so you can stay solvent and in business.
• You burn out and just can’t take it anymore:  If it’s all getting to be too much, you need to look after yourself. Do you hang in there, appoint a successor for day-to-day overall management or look to sell up? A well-defined involuntary exit strategy can lead the way.

The best way to plan for leaving your business for good is to prepare as if you have to leave it involuntarily.  That might sound strange, but the situations that lead to voluntary and involuntary exits have a lot in common. For example, in either scenario, you need to do the following:

• Train people to run the company in your absence:  If you want to sell up, the person who wants to buy it probably won’t want to run the company day to day. If they know your business is not owner-reliant, this is a massive selling point. Meanwhile, if you fall ill or burn out, it’s a big comfort knowing your staff can keep the business operational so it can continue flourishing.
• Know which assets and staff to cut to survive:  This is not only a way for you to reduce costs when business is suffering. It’s also a road map for a new owner looking to streamline operations and make more money from their investment.
• Sell off nonvital assets quickly for cash:  A new owner will want to know they can sell certain assets to offset some of the amount they paid you to take over the business. If you’re managing a crisis and need cash, you need to know which assets you can sell (or refinance) to bring money into your account.

With two exit plans in place, you have more bases covered, and you can carry out strategies that benefit both you and the new ownership.

What an exit strategy involves

Developing a well-rounded exit strategy entails the following.

Knowing when you want to leave

For your voluntary exit strategy, set yourself a date in the future by which you want to achieve your ultimate goals. These milestones could be based on metrics like company revenue and profitability. Decide on whether you’ll still proceed with a sale if you’re not successful in hitting those targets.

When you have a fixed date of departure in mind, your approach to running the business changes. You now think long-term as well as short-term because you’ll constantly be looking for ways to not only improve profitability but also build more value in your business to make it as attractive as possible to potential buyers.

Discovering who your most likely buyers are

Try to come up with “buyer personas” — documents that detail the type of person or company that would want to buy your business and why. (These are similar to customer personas , which are developed to identify your ideal customer.) To get your wheels turning, look below at potential buyers for four very different types of businesses.

Think about what specific aspects of your business will be valuable to buyers. Consider how you’ll develop and showcase those assets to increase the appeal and value of your company at the point of exit.

Developing assets that are valuable to other businesses

Sometimes, your company’s real value may be hidden behind your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code. Don’t limit your company’s selloff potential by only considering buyers in your specific field.

Consider this example: You’re an e-commerce retailer and you’ve developed custom software that places your products in prominent search positions on third-party sales platforms. That, of course, would have great value for a purchaser from your sector. But it may have much greater value to a technology company and you could make a lot more money selling or licensing that software than doing a traditional sale to a competitor. Another benefit is that you could sell or license this software to raise cash if your company falls on hard times and needs money quickly. 

Improving performance in your business

Keep finding areas of improvement across your business. If you have developed custom software, as mentioned above, continue to develop it with your own needs in mind first but also consider what other companies would need to make them want to rent from you.

Look at new ways to get more people to your website or your premises every month with each visit costing you less. For instance, consider changing suppliers if you’re offered a similar quality product or service that does the job for a lower price. Ask yourself what you need to do to get that package to your customer in three days instead of four.

Another great way to build value is to do a competitor analysis. Investigate the competition in your market. Where are they doing better than you and how can you match or beat them?

Chasing profitable growth

Be experimental and creative in your advertising and keep tweaking every campaign to find wins like a drop in cost per sale or conversion. If you can prove to a potential buyer that by spending $1 on this campaign, you get $10 in revenue back and that’s been the case for years, that has tremendous value.

Promote deals to customers through  email marketing campaigns  and  short message service messaging and aim to make as much money as you can on each sale. Think of your future buyer when pricing up and chasing new business.

Doing everything you can to keep customers loyal

Don’t use the client email addresses and phone numbers you’ve collected just to move inventory; use them to  grow customer loyalty . 

Let customers know about a new product before it goes live on your website and give them the first opportunity to buy it. Send emails asking repeat clients to recommend you in online reviews. When someone does, give them a shoutout on social media and offer them a present as a thank you.  [Learn the  importance of social media for small businesses .]

Use  customer tracking tools  to work out the annual and lifetime value of each customer. Buyers look for those types of numbers. They also like companies with lots of clients who have given permission to receive emails and texts.

Customer loyalty is also key in any involuntary exit plan. If a crisis arises, you can attract regular clients and raise money quickly with a one-time sale. For example, if you sell subscription services, offer a special annual deal to existing customers to generate an influx of cash.

Handing over responsibilities to employees

The hardest types of businesses to sell are mom-and-pop shops and one-man bands. To a buyer, it’s like buying a job, not a company. It’s also really hard to sell businesses where there are 10 to 20 employees but success is still the responsibility of the owner. That’s because it’s like buying the job of a senior manager.

Delegate an increasing number of responsibilities to your employees over time. Train them and trust them to take on key tasks. If they make a mistake, be there to help them fix it and build up their confidence. If you don’t delegate, you’re training helplessness instead of anything valuable.

If a buyer asks, “Have you spent time away from the business?” you want to be able to confidently and truthfully say something like, “I spent three months in Hawaii and got one update email from the team a week. Everything ran like clockwork.”

For an involuntary exit plan, knowing you can step away for a while and still draw money thanks to your responsible staff gives comfort if you’re suffering from ill health or burnout.

Paying down company debt

You should try to pay down as much company debt as possible. That’s because when one company takes over another, things like business equipment loans and factoring service agreements cannot be novated.

In other words, they have to be settled in full on “completion day” (the day you sell your business). Normally, whatever you owe creditors is subtracted from the agreed-upon price you sell your company for, so you want to have less debt to subtract. Paying down debt also reduces your monthly servicing bills, meaning more profit in the meantime.

Starting to save money

Selling your business costs a lot of money. There are lawyers’ fees, accountant fees, professional service fees, a commission to your broker and more. For a business with $1 million in annual revenue, expect to pay up to $150,000 for a successful sale. If a deal is agreed to but falls through, you’ll still have to pay your team of outside advisors and experts.

If your business is struggling financially, having a decent amount of money saved up gives you more time to delegate day-to-day tasks to staff and raise cash by selling assets. If you also shrink your payroll and look for other savings, this will buy you even more time, financially speaking.

Exit strategies for startups vs. established businesses

There are dozens of ways for owners and investors to exit their businesses; however, the path chosen often depends on the age and size of the company.

Exit strategies for startups

• Initial public offerings (IPOs): IPOs are the favored way for many startup business owners to divest themselves, especially tech businesses that have already gone through a few rounds of funding. When you opt for an IPO, your business becomes a publicly traded and you and your investors should all make substantial returns. Bear in mind there are many regulation and governance hurdles to jump in preparation for an IPO.
• Strategic acquisitions: Most times, startup business owners end up selling their companies to larger competitors in the same or a related industry. You sell the shares in the business to your acquirer and this results in a complete transfer of ownership. Quite often, startups are bought for some aspect of their business that is unique and valuable, not necessarily due to their levels of profitability or market share. 
• Management buyouts (MBOs) : In an MBO, a team consisting primarily of your current management raises the money to buy you out. Returns for owners on MBOs can be good but are generally not as high as a strategic acquisition. Still, MBOs are an excellent way of ensuring the company remains in capable hands.

Exit strategies for established businesses

• Merger or acquisition: For established businesses with good profitability and an impressive market share, you can merge with or be acquired by another company. Businesses are often valued at multiples of annual profit and the higher your turnover and profitability, the greater the multiple you’re likely to receive. If you want to stay involved with your business after a merger, you can make it a condition of the sale that you stay on the board of the business you’re selling and/or have a seat on the board of the merged company.
• Liquidation: If you wish to exit the business on a faster timeline than it takes to find a buyer, liquidation is an option. You sell all your assets and settle all your existing debts, allowing you to extract the remaining residual value from your business as income. While quick, it’s much less lucrative than a sale or merger in most cases.
• Bankruptcy: If your business is facing insurmountable debts, you have two choices. First, there’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which keeps your doors open while you restructure your debt. Second, there’s Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which allows you to settle company debts by selling off your assets. This is a tough decision to make, but bankruptcy can relieve many financial burdens your company is suffering, giving it a chance to do business again in the future. There are a few specialist venture capitalist and private equity firms that specialize in purchasing bankrupt or near-bankrupt companies too.
• Spin-offs: If your business has several operating divisions, whether distinguished by geography, activity or both, you could spin them off into separate entities and sell them to realize their value. This way, you receive a payout and reduce the size of the operations you’re responsible for.

Word of caution

Beware of earn-outs. With an earn-out, you receive part of the agreed price for your company now and the remainder in tranches over a period of time based on the business’s continued performance.

It is perfectly normal not to receive your asking price in one go. However, if you agree that what you’re paid will be linked to the performance of the business once you’re no longer in control of it, you’ll be putting yourself in grave danger of not getting all the money you’re expecting.

Tips for executing an exit strategy

Now that you know what creating an exit strategy involves and how exits can differ for startups versus established businesses, follow these tips when executing your plans.

1. Bring in outside expertise.

You need to build your own professional team for the sales process because your buyer will almost certainly have one. You want to level the field as much as possible, but you also want people on your side who know the intricacies of selling companies.

Consider hiring part-time chief financial officers or fractional chief marketing officers well before you put your company on the market. Bring experienced, proven talent with wider connections in the business world to your C-suite to help you improve the organization first. They’ll be invaluable in helping you carry out your exit strategy when a deal is on the table.

These same professionals will have proven themselves adept at crisis management in their careers too. They’ll be able to help you get out of awkward financial situations and train your workers to handle management responsibilities.

2. Keep your accounts up to date and your accountants close.

Inform your accountants that you want to be in a permanent state of readiness in case you receive a purchase offer out of the blue or decide to put your company on the market. Once you’ve identified the financial areas of greatest interest to your buyer type, make sure your accountant updates the company’s finance reports on a weekly or monthly basis and keeps historical records of them. The  best accounting software  will come in handy.  [Related article:  How to Hire the Right Accountant for Your Business ]

3. Hire a corporate lawyer.

Retain a lawyer, preferably one with mergers and acquisitions (M&A) experience. Your buyer’s corporate lawyers will vigorously defend their interests and try to use the information you provide about your business during the due diligence process to bring down the selling price. You need someone on your team to advocate on your behalf.

4. Hire a business broker and M&A advisor.

Opinions differ on the effectiveness of business brokers and M&A advisors for companies with an annual revenue of less than $1 million. If you’re confident enough, it might be worth forgoing an advisor and handling the process yourself.

But what does a broker do? They market your business in many ways, often on websites like businessesforsale.com. They also handle initial inquiries, verify potential buyers have the required funds to purchase your company and sit in on the negotiations over price. Many try to engineer a bidding situation where two or more interested buyers make offers at the same time to try to drive up the price.

Brokers often also intervene during the due diligence stage. During due diligence, the buyer’s professional team of lawyers and accountants will ask for lots of detailed information about your company, often over a period of between three and six months. Their job is to help the buyer understand exactly what it is they’re buying. Tempers often become fraught during due diligence for a variety of reasons. When this happens, the brokers often act as go-betweens to smooth relations and keep the deal on track.

5. Create your own data room.

In years past, a buyer’s lawyer would enter a private room at your lawyer’s office called a “data room.” Here, they’d inspect financial and employment records, as well as documentation regarding intellectual property ownership and previous and ongoing legal disputes. Most data rooms are now virtual and the professional teams acting for the buyer and the seller usually email documentation to each other.

Create your own online data room as soon as you can and ask your accountants, lawyers and managers to submit updated reports every month. Delays in providing information can upset buyers — something you want to keep to a minimum.

Running your business like nothing else is happening

Once you’ve settled on an exit strategy for your business, don’t spend any more than 30 minutes per day on it, even if you have a deal on the table and it’s going through due diligence. Concentrate on running your business as well as possible to retain and build on the value you’ve already created. Buyers will expect this and they’ll be able to monitor if you’re protecting their interests from the updated information in the data room. Proceeding with business as usual while simultaneously preparing for the future is the best way to be ready for a voluntary or involuntary exit.

Bruce Hakutizwi contributed to this article.

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