Business Exit Strategy

One of the most significant moments in any company owner’s life is when they exit their business. Each individual has their own reasons and objectives so a bespoke plan is required to ensure these are achieved. For example:

● Selling the business for the best price.

● Achieving a successful transition of leadership to other directors, perhaps family members. 

● Some business owners want to remain involved while others want complete separation. 

It’s a personal choice but whichever route you take it’s important to start planning your exit well in advance so you have enough time to prepare. It’s essential to consider what you want to achieve and develop a plan that takes you there. This is where independent advice and guidance from an exit planning consultant can make a significant difference to the outcome.

Secantor has extensive experience in leading business owners to a successful exit so why not speak to us to see how we could help you through one of the most important phases of your life.

Check out our example case studies of previous exit successes.

The Pinnacle Of All Your Achievements

It’s the culmination of everything you have been working for – your business climax.

After years, perhaps decades of dedication, hard work, risk-taking and sacrifice, the full value of everything you have created and grown is realised. It’s also a major life moment as you prepare for life beyond your business and pass the baton on to others to take control.  However, the exit must be planned carefully to avoid disappointment. 

A business exit strategy accompanied by a clear business exit plan is essential to ensure maximum value is achieved and the future success of the business is secured.  So what is the best exit strategy for a small business?

Exit Strategies For Business Owners

There really is no one-size-fits-all approach to planning an exit. There are many types of exit strategies for businesses so what’s best in your situation will depend on you, your business, and the outcome you are aiming to achieve. Below is a list of the main outcomes that small business owners will consider for their exit:

● Trade Sale

● Private Equity Investors

● Management Buy-Out (MBO)

● Management Buy-In (MBI)

● Employee Ownership Trust (EOT)

● Share Sale

● Ongoing Ownership

● Family Business Succession Planning

Secantor can guide you through the options and help you to develop the right business exit strategy to suit your aims. When the time comes, we can also introduce you to other experts such as Corporate Finance professionals who specialise in selling businesses. They will help arrange the deal by preparing the sales particulars, introducing potential buyers, drawing up terms and handling the transaction. 

Exit Strategy For A Failing Business

Unfortunately, some business owners are forced to exit their business because it’s failing. In this situation, the key is getting expert advice as early as possible to increase the number of options open to you. Secantor has helped many businesses in this situation to recover and/or restructure. We also work closely with insolvency practitioners to get the best outcomes for business owners where recovery is not possible.

Why Should I Use Exit Planning Consultants?

Whilst it is often an exciting process, exiting your business can be stressful so it’s important to have expert support around you. If you are selling, you will need to be prepared to provide lots of very detailed information about every aspect of your business to prospective buyers as part of the due diligence process. Our team at Secantor are experts in providing financial, management and operational information to satisfy all requirements.

If you are handing over control to others you need to invest in their development which takes time and patience. Being independent, Secantor can bring a fresh perspective and draw on our experience from other businesses across multiple industries to aid this process. We will help you make the right plan and stick to it. We’ll also support you as you execute your plan, providing help and guidance to ensure you achieve your desired outcome.

Fulfilling Business Potential

Secantor has been helping SME business owners to fulfil their business potential for almost 20 years. Our expert business executives are experienced in building business value and in achieving the best possible outcomes for owners wishing to exit their business.  Read one of our case studies to see how we achieve this or listen to some of our clients talk about what it is like to work with us. If you would like to explore how we could help you, please contact us to arrange an initial consultation or a complimentary business review.

Image source: Unsplash

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