Exit Advisory
Get your business ready to sell, pass on, or be acquired
Leaving a business is one of the larger financial and personal decisions an owner makes, and the outcome depends heavily on preparation done well before the exit. Exit advisory covers the work that gets you there: strengthening the value of the business, working through the options, and shaping the deal so the transition is smooth and you walk away with what the business is worth.
A good exit doesn't come together overnight. It starts with an honest read of where the business is strong and where it isn't, so you know what a buyer will see and what's worth addressing first. The earlier you start, the more room there is to improve both the appeal and the value.
Getting ready usually begins with:
a valuation assessment, so you know what the business is actually worth
a financial health check, to lift profitability ahead of a sale
an operational review, to give a buyer confidence the business runs without you
Strengthening the value before you sell
Buyers pay more for businesses that are profitable, able to run without the owner, and clean enough to understand quickly. The work here is about making the business one of those, by identifying what genuinely drives its value, tightening financial reporting and cash flow, and structuring it so a buyer sees a lower-risk purchase. Each of those tends to lift both the price and the terms on offer.
Choosing the right exit for you
Not all exits look the same, and the right one depends on your financial goals and what you want afterwards. The main routes:
Sale to an external buyer. Positioning the business to reach its market value with the right buyer.
Passing to a successor. Managing a family or internal handover so the transition holds together.
Merger or acquisition. Preparing the business for a strategic sale or merger.
Gradual exit. Structuring a phased transition that protects your interests as you step back.
Part of the work is thinking past the transaction to what you want your life to look like after it, because that shapes which route actually suits you.
Planning for after the exit
The sale isn't the finish line. What you keep, and what you do next, depend on decisions made before completion. We help you understand the tax position on your exit, including how the small business CGT concessions and your structure affect the outcome, and work alongside your tax adviser so nothing is left to the last minute. From there it's about setting up the financial security you're exiting for.
Exit-planning Options (Summary)
Best For | Key Benefits | |
|---|---|---|
Pre-Exit Planning | Business owners considering an exit within 1 to 3 years | Stronger valuation, cleaner financials, and a business that appeals to buyers |
Succession Planning | Owners passing the business to family or key employees | A managed transition that protects what you've built |
Not sure which suits your situation? It's worth a short conversation to work it out. Get in Touch
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Independent business valuations and CFO-level advice for small and medium-sized businesses.
25+ years industry experience
Advice you can count on
Real strategy, with real results
Support at every stage
From the first valuation through to being ready for sale, you're not left to work out the next step alone.
Value you can act on
Practical work to strengthen the business so it appeals to the right buyers, not just a report on where it stands.
Structuring experience
Help shaping the deal and the tax position so the terms protect your interests, working with your tax adviser where needed.
Life after the exit
Planning that carries through to the financial security you're exiting for.
