business Archives - Your ExitMap

Owner Obstacles to an Exit Plan

John F. Dini — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 14:41:40 +0000

Owner obstacles to the implementation of an exit plan are often unconscious, but they can be dramatic. Their attachment to the business can be difficult to break. An advisor spends a lot of time and energy developing the vision for life after ownership in the hopes that it is far more attractive to them than their current role in the business. Yet no matter how well developed that vision is, or how well defined the action steps are, it isn’t unusual to find owners who behave in a way that ultimately sabotages the plan. Sometimes their actions are even intentional, but more often they aren’t. ... Read more

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How to Separate Yourself From Your Business – Why It’s So Important

Todd Jarvis — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 14:51:58 +0000

When you run your own business, oftentimes one of the most confusing aspects of the job, especially if you are new to the experience, is understanding how to separate yourself from your business. And this issue can show up in so many ways, from achieving a work/life balance and managing your time to how you get paid and even how much taxes you owe. With this in mind, here we will offer a big-picture overview of this issue, and in future articles, we’ll drill down to some of the finer details of keeping your business and personal assets separate. Although it might not seem overly ... Read more

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Avoiding the “Exit” Word

John F. Dini — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 17:02:52 +0000

Owners don’t like the “Exit” word. They tell us regularly to change it, or that talking about it is uncomfortable. It’s the elephant in the room. I understand. Anyone selling life insurance or funeral pre-planning knows that you don’t start with “So, let’s discuss what happens when you DIE.” For business owners, leaving the business is like a little bit of death. That’s why black humor in the exit planning world goes like this. “There are seven ways to exit your business. Six of those are head first.” Your company has been the central focus of your life for twenty or thirty years, and perhaps ... Read more

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Non-Qualified Plans

John F. Dini — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 15:04:17 +0000

When I talk to business owners about “non-qualified plans,” their first reaction is often “Hold on there. I don’t want to get in trouble!” The term “Non-qualified” merely refers to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, more commonly known as ERISA. As the title indicates, it is the basic set of regulations for retirement plans. If your company offers a 401K or SEP IRA, it has a Qualified Plan. If you have an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), that is also an ERISA plan. Under the terms of ERISA, a plan must be made available to all employees. In return, the company can ... Read more

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Thinking About the Future: What’s Your Plan?

Mary Richter — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 16:05:03 +0000

We’ve all heard the saying, “Fail to plan, plan to fail.” This is extremely pertinent if you’re thinking about the future of your business. Many owners focus solely on the exit transaction itself without spending the time to properly prepare for it. Transitioning your business can take many forms, from passing to a family member to selling to a strategic partner. Here are some things to think about before you transition. Are you ready to leave? Many business owners fail to consider what they’ll do after a transaction. Do you plan to continue to work in the business? For how long? To whom will you ... Read more

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When Kids Don’t Cut It

John F. Dini — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 05:28:26 +0000

Many owners want to see their children inherit the business, but what happens when the kids don’t cut it? Some years ago I worked with a business owner whose exit plan was to sell into one of the private equity roll-ups that were active in his industry. His son was finishing college, where he studied for a career in wildlife management. The son’s ambition was to spend his life in the great outdoors. One day my client was beaming when I walked into his office. “Guess what?” he said. “My son called. He wants to take over my business!” After a few minutes, it was ... Read more

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Your Exit Plan: The 3 Inarguable Reasons to Start NOW

John F. Dini — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 01:00:38 +0000

What is Your Exit Plan? If you’ve ever done a business plan for the purpose of raising capital, one of the key questions is “What is your exit plan?” Many business owners think that question is self-serving, intended merely to let the venture capitalists figure when and how they will get their return on investment. In truth, however, that question is far more important. An exit plan is a strategic plan with an end date. Putting a time frame on your plan, and defining the goals to be achieved by that date, creates a future-focused mindset for the owner. It controls and reduces your tendency ... Read more

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Exit Planning in a Crisis

John F. Dini — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 09:48:09 +0000

Why would you be exit planning in a crisis? At the height of the economic expansion (a few months ago in late 2019) I was reviewing a company’s financial statements. Their sales were stagnant, and profits were minimal. When I asked the owner why his business hadn’t grown, he responded, “Well, the Great Recession hit our industry pretty hard, you know.” Take note that it wasn’t his fault. He was in a hard-hit industry, and the economy dealt him a bad hand. He ignored the thousands of businesses just like his that had grown and prospered in the last ten years. Once you hunker down ... Read more

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Quarterbacking is Not Exit Planning

John F. Dini — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 13:58:14 +0000

Quarterbacking is a popular term when exit planners are talking to clients. It’s supposed to invoke a vision of someone who is in control. Think about a Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers or Patrick Mahomes standing tall in the pocket, surveying the offense and defense unfolding before him. There is a real problem with using “Quarterbacking” when referring to your exit planning professional team. The quarterback calls the plays. The job of the rest of the team is to run them as instructed. I’ve yet to meet a CPA or attorney who thinks that is the best way to develop a client’s exit plan. Teamwork Exit ... Read more

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Exit Planning Checklist for 2020

Pat Ennis — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 13:06:12 +0000

The beginning of a new year is a great time to review your Exit Planning Checklist. All business owners will stop being business owners at some point. So, there is no better time to begin planning for the inevitable than the present. The earlier you begin planning, the more options you will have for a successful exit. However, like any strategic plan, it can be difficult to know how and where to begin. With the start of the new year it’s also an ideal time for us to publish a basic “To-Do List” that will serve you in considering that most significant event as a business ... Read more

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Family Succession: Exiting a Small Business Part 3

John F. Dini — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 06:47:02 +0000

It’s time to discuss family succession. In Part One of this series we looked at exit strategies that aren’t really available to small businesses, and in Part Two we discussed selling to a third party. Now let’s talk about the issues when transferring to a family member or members. Which Kids? When passing the business to family, often the primary issue is inheritance. Small business owners frequently have 50%, 60% or as much as 80% of their personal net worth in their company. There is a temptation to treat the business like any other personal asset, and divide it among all the children. dinner “After ... Read more

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Manage Activities; Lead for Results

John F. Dini — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 09:23:17 +0000

A few weeks ago I posted a comment in the Business Journals Leadership Trust Forum about a life lesson I learned. The difference between effort and outcomes – Manage Activities; Lead for Results. They reached out and asked if I could expand my comments a bit. Those of you who know me won’t find it surprising that it grew into an article. You can find it here. I hope you enjoy it. Remember, lead for results. Invest 15 Minutes and take our FREE Exit Readiness Assessment. We do not request any confidential information. John F. Dini develops transition and succession strategies that allow business ... Read more

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