Whether you’re an entrepreneur or a small business owner, at some point, you’ll likely consider selling or exiting your business. But how do you get from where you are today to a successful exit? The answer lies in having a solid exit plan that aligns your business, personal, and financial goals.
In this article, we’ll explore what an exit plan is, why you need one (even if you aren’t planning to exit), and the benefits of having one. We’ll also take a look at when it’s appropriate to start planning your exit, and how to build transferable value in your business.
What is an Exit Plan?
An exit plan is a comprehensive strategy that aligns your business, personal, and financial goals. It’s not just a document that you create when you’re ready to sell your business. Instead, it’s a plan that you develop over time to build transferable value, secure your financial future, and allow you to focus on the things that matter most to you.
The first part of the exit plan involves building transferable value in your business. This refers to the value that your business has beyond the current owner. For example, if you have two companies with the same profitability, but one has a more efficient process, the more efficient company will have a higher transferable value.
Why Do You Need an Exit Plan?
There are many benefits to having an exit plan. First and foremost, it helps you to build transferable value in your business, which can increase its value when it’s time to sell. Creating an exit plan doesn’t mean that you’re planning to sell, it means you’re building a business that can be sold. Nearly 50% of businesses are forced into an exit due to one of the 5 D’s: Disability, Disagreement (among owners), Disruptions (i.e. Covid, supply chains, etc.), Divorce, or Death. Having an exit plan helps protect and preserve the value of your business. It ensures that your family’s needs are met. It even gives your employees comfort knowing you’re thinking about their long term well-being.
Having an exit plan also gives you peace of mind. You’ll know that you have a plan in place for your business and your future, which can be a huge relief. Finally, having an exit plan helps you stay focused on the things that matter most to you, whether that’s spending more time with your family, traveling, or pursuing your hobbies.
When is it Appropriate to Start Planning Your Exit?
The short answer is: the earlier the better. It’s never too early to start planning your exit. Having an exit strategy is really just good business strategy. Even if you’re not planning to sell your business for several years, it’s important to start thinking about your exit strategy now. This will give you plenty of time to build transferable value in your business, align your personal and financial goals, and ensure that you have a solid plan in place for the future. Why would you want to leave it up to chance?
Building Transferable Value in Your Business
One of the key components of an exit plan is building transferable value in your business. This refers to the value that your business has beyond the current owner. There are many ways to build transferable value. Here are just a few:
- Streamlining your processes: The more efficient your business is, the more valuable it will be to a potential buyer.
- Building a strong customer base: A loyal customer base is a valuable asset that can increase the value of your business.
- Developing a strong brand: A strong brand can differentiate your business from competitors and increase its value.
- Building a strong management team: A strong management team can help to ensure that your business can operate successfully without you.
Aligning Your Personal and Financial Goals
A crucial step in building a successful exit plan is aligning your personal and financial goals with your business goals. We all have passions beyond our business, but we often lose sight of these as our businesses require our attention 24/7. It’s important to discover the interest, hobbies, and goals you have outside your business because a successful exit depends on it. Not having a sense of purpose beyond your business makes any kind of exit difficult.
You start this process by visualizing your future plans and determining your “walk away” number – the amount of money you need to live comfortably without sacrificing your future. Once you have this number, you can take it to your business and determine how much of that income is coming from your business. This will also give you a clear understanding of how much additional value you need to build into your business to secure your financial future.
Are You Ready to Create Your Exit Plan?
Exiting your business can be a complex and challenging process, but having a well-thought-out exit plan in place can make it much smoother and more successful. By aligning your business, personal, and financial goals and creating transferable value in your business, you’ll be able to secure your financial future and focus on the things that are most important to you. Remember, it’s never too early to start planning for the eventual exit of your business, so start thinking about your exit plan today.