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

 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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The Exit Planning Fallacy – A Business Owner’s Perspective

 One of the most common sales pitches you might hear from someone claiming to help you “enhance value” goes something like this: “I’ve reviewed your company and believe it’s worth $4.2 million today. With the right planning, it could be worth $7.7 million. Would you rather exit with $4.2 million or $7.7 million?” That’s not really a question—it’s a setup. Of course, no business owner would willingly choose the smaller number. But the real issue isn’t which number you prefer. It’s what it actually takes to bridge that gap—and whether you’re being given a full picture. Are You Falling for the Planning Fallacy? There’s a ... Read more

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Decisions Made from Fear

 “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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The Role of Business Valuation In Your Exit Strategy

 Accurate business valuation is a cornerstone of a successful exit strategy, as it provides the foundation for setting expectations and achieving a fair sale price. Determining the true worth of your business requires a comprehensive assessment that goes beyond financial analysis to include market conditions and intangible assets. This thorough evaluation helps in setting a realistic asking price and attracting serious buyers. Understanding the factors that influence business value, such as financial performance, industry trends, and competitive positioning, is crucial. This knowledge enables you to make informed decisions and enhance your business’s value before the sale. Engaging valuation experts can provide an objective and accurate ... Read more

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Missed Opportunities

 Your business is doing pretty well. You’re adding to your personal savings every month and are more focused on tax strategies than making payroll. But how do you know if you’re leaving opportunities on the table? Some indicators are obvious. Others, less so. One of the easiest to spot is stagnation. Businesses are like living organisms—they either grow or they shrink. Flat or declining sales are a warning sign. Stagnation limits opportunities for your top employees and makes it easier for competitors to lure away your customers with newer, more innovative solutions. How does your growth rate compare to your industry or market? If others ... Read more

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Goals and Resolutions

 There is a difference between goals and resolutions. Businesses set goals. These can be budgetary, operational, recruiting, sales or profit oriented. Individuals make resolutions. Business Goals Goals are focused on a particular outcome, and so should be specific. It’s worth the time to get into the details. If you intend to increase the company’s cash flow, how will that be done? If it’s by boosting sales, what has to change to make that happen? You could add a new product line or enter additional territory. It may require hiring and training new salespeople. You can also increase the cash flow by reducing your Cost of ... Read more

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How To Set Goals for Yourself That You’re Passionate About Accomplishing

 Whether we set New Year’s resolutions at the beginning of the year or any other point during the year, we often desire to challenge ourselves and set goals for personal growth and achievement. Too frequently, goals are established and later abandoned as we shift our focus to other priorities and distractions. How do we set goals for ourselves that we are genuinely excited about pursuing and accomplishing and that motivate us to stay focused on reaching them? Over the years, I have provided planning guidance to individuals, and I have concluded that there is likely a particular approach to setting goals that is pursued more ... Read more

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Deal Momentum, Deal Fatigue, and Pre-Sale Diligence

 With the help of her Exit Planning Advisor, Betty has decided that selling to a third-party buyer would best accomplish all of her goals (financial, values-based, legacy). Quantifying her business and personal resources with a financial gap analysis has been helpful to Betty in determining her departure date in six years. She now knows the current fair market value of her business and how much it will need to increase in value to attain her financial objectives at sale in six years. Betty now also understands (again with the help of her Exit Planning Advisor) the importance of maintaining “deal momentum” when she eventually enters ... Read more

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The Power Of Strategic Exit Planning

In today’s business landscape, having a strategic exit plan is not just a luxury—it’s essential. Effective exit planning involves setting clear goals, understanding your business’s value, and creating a detailed roadmap to achieve a smooth transition. Starting early with your exit plan allows you to set precise objectives and assess your business’s value well in advance. This proactive approach provides the flexibility to adapt to changing market conditions and business performance, ensuring that your exit strategy remains relevant and achievable.

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What is “Holistic” Planning?

Financial planners use the term “holistic planning” frequently. It’s meant to indicate that they consider the client’s short- and long-term life goals and the future they visualize. According to Fidelity Investments Holistic Wealth Planning is continuous and considers two dozen aspects of client wealth objectives. The Valuation Reality Gap - Only one of those aspects is ownership of a business.

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