business exit Archives - Your ExitMap

The Transfer Options Many Owners Don’t Consider

John F. Dini — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 14:26:42 +0000

If you ask most business owners what their exit strategy is, they will tell you they intend to sell the business to a third party. It is the most straightforward-sounding option. Find a buyer, negotiate a price, sign some documents, and walk away with a check. The problem is that it may be the hardest option to execute successfully. According to data from business broker associations, intermediaries fail to sell approximately eighty percent of the businesses they list. When you run the arithmetic on how many businesses are available for sale versus how many buyers exist in any given market, the odds for a typical ... Read more

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Every Owner Needs a Continuity Plan

John F. Dini — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 19:54:08 +0000

Exit planning conversations tend to focus on the voluntary transition, an owner who decides they are ready to move on, begins preparing the business, and eventually negotiates a sale on favorable terms. That is the version of the story everyone hopes for. It is not always the version they get. In my experience working with business owners, the planned, orderly transitions require considerable anticipation. However, there are any number of the “Dismal Ds” including death, disability, and disease, can create forced transitions that happen on a timeline and under conditions that benefit no one. The business owner who hasn’t anticipated those possibilities is not just ... Read more

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How to Transfer a Family Business to the Next Generation

Amit Chandel — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 16:42:52 +0000

A family business goes on from generation to generation, and having a structured succession plan helps in minimizing the problems and smooths out the process. Family business succession planning is the structured process of legally, financially, and operationally preparing your business for a smooth ownership handoff, covering everything from IRS valuations to trust structures. Only 30% of family businesses survive to the second generation, and skipping a formal plan is the #1 reason. The tax exposure alone (gift tax, estate tax, capital gains) can drain decades of business value if no one plans. In this blog, we’ll cover the right methods to transfer a family ... Read more

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The 3% Problem in Advisory Work: A Guide for Business Owners

John F. Dini — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:10:53 +0000

As a business owner, you belong to a unique group that makes up only 3% of the population. Yet, many advisors treat you like any other client—using the same approaches they apply to executives, professionals, or retirees. This is a fundamental misunderstanding that can impact your business and personal goals. Why You’re More Than Just an Asset You are not simply a high-income individual with concentrated wealth. Your business is not just an investment; it’s an integral part of your identity, your livelihood, and your daily purpose. It is the source of your authority, reputation, and even your personal satisfaction. Navigating Identity, Not Just Assets ... Read more

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Exit Planning: If Not Now, When?

John F. Dini — Thu, 14 May 2026 14:36:37 +0000

You’ve probably said it yourself: “Talk to me in five years.” It’s the most common response advisors hear — and it makes sense. You’re heads-down building, not winding down. Exit planning feels like a conversation for later. The business is performing. You have time. And honestly, it’s a lot to think about. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: later is exactly when most exits go wrong. You’re already doing exit planning — just not deliberately Think about the early-stage tech founder. Obsessed with product, grinding 80-hour weeks, convinced the exit is the last thing they should be thinking about. Yet their investors demand an exit strategy ... Read more

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Exiting Your Business Happily, Often Requires a Strong Personal Vision

Steven Zeller — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 17:57:37 +0000

Some surveys conducted among business owners, find that approximately 75% of owners who exit their business are unhappy with the decision one year after they do so. There are several reasons for this, and some owners struggle with it more than others, but the main reason for the unhappiness after a business exit is because of their lack of “personal vision.” What will their life entail after the exit? What will be their new higher purpose (beyond playing golf)? What will be their new areas for personal growth? If they thrive on working with a team towards a common cause in the organization, how will ... Read more

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Creating the Perfect Business Exit Timeline!

David Lupberger — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 16:05:51 +0000

When is a good time to start planning the eventual exit from your business? Simply, you will be leaving your business and hopefully, this will happen in a planned and deliberate fashion. This is something every business owner will address. Unfortunately, things do not always happen in a planned fashion. Those of you in the remodeling industry deal with project-driven plan and schedule changes on a weekly basis. This is nothing new to you! If we follow the advice from the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, we want to implement Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind! We ... Read more

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The Inexperienced Advisor – An Exit Planning Horror Story for Business Owners

John F. Dini — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 15:08:53 +0000

This is a cautionary tale for business owners—one that’s “based on a true story.” The facts are real, although the exact sequence of events might raise questions if the IRS were to take a closer look. A small business owner received a $1,000,000 offer to sell his company. He had already been thinking about retirement, and the chance to cash out felt like a perfect opportunity. His original plan had been to sell the business to a long-time employee through a promissory note, but that changed when the cash offer came along. The business’s profits had always been modest, and the employee couldn’t match the ... Read more

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Creating the Plan to Eventually Depart Your Business

David Lupberger — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 17:00:00 +0000

Creating and Editing Your Plan I am now 66 years old. It seems like a strange statement to write here. Where did that time go? I have a grown son and my spouse and I are now empty nesters. It is just us now, but we do get to enjoy some delightful visits from my son when he can get away from his own business to join us. Does that sound familiar to you? We will all be addressing a similar outcome as we age into our later years. This will also affect our busines lives. All business owners will exit their businesses, either ... Read more

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What Business Owners Should Know from the 5th Annual Exit Planners Survey

John F. Dini — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 16:55:45 +0000

Between February 1 and March 2, 2025, ExitMap conducted its 5th annual survey of professionals who help business owners plan successful exits. This is the only survey that gathers insight across multiple advisory specialties—offering a wide-angle view of the professionals supporting entrepreneurs like you during one of the most critical transitions of your life. The survey included 30 questions and was distributed to over 7,000 experienced advisors worldwide. These are professionals with recognized credentials in exit planning, active roles in professional organizations, or who publicly position themselves as specialists in business transition. We received 434 responses from advisors in eight disciplines, representing six countries and ... Read more

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Decisions Made from Fear

John F. Dini — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 15:56:03 +0000

“I’m taking the logos off my trucks. It just makes them a target for personal injury lawyers.” “I don’t want to put our newest product innovations on our website. The competitors just copy them.” “We’re creating a human resources LLC so that employees are separated from the rest of our business. That way we’re safer from spurious claims.” “We pay all of our employees to bring their vehicles back to the yard every night. We don’t want to be responsible for what they do on their own time.” “We were thinking of opening a new location, but the news says the economy might dip.” “I ... Read more

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Top 3 Tips for Small Business Buyers

Mark Ahern — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 17:57:20 +0000

We review over a hundred small business transactions each year. Buying a business can be a complicated process, especially for a first-time business owner. Entrepreneurship through acquisition “ETA” has become increasingly popular, but we wanted to share some insights to assist buyers in negotiating a fair price. 1. Add-backs - Seller add-backs for personal or discretionary spending is a murky area. An an appraiser, some add backs make sense and others do not.

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