Exiting is More then Selling

Exit Planning is a process involving the development and execution of a series of systematic steps taken to allow both the owner and the "accumulated wealth" to be extracted from the business, via one or more of the numerous available strategies, including:

• Selling the business to partners, strategic buyers, investors, competitors, international buyers, or the public
• Recapitalizing the business for partial liquidity
• Merging the business to achieve enhanced valuation and/or marketability
• Transferring the business to family, management or employees
• Gifting the business to meet personal and/or tax planning goals
• Liquidating or partially liquidating the business

Exiting is a process, not an event.

The optimal exit will be achieved through the implementation of a managed process which includes:

• Establishing a business valuation reference point
• Clarifying "Life After Business" goals
• Working with a team of specialist advisors
• Executing any necessary positioning or preliminary strategies
• Executing the selected exit strategy

Exiting is a complex subject with many moving parts. No single advisor is an expert in all aspects. The process should involve inputs from a team of experienced advisors, and should address the possible need to re-position the business before going to market.


For more information on Exit Planning, Valuations, M&A, and Business Brokerage, please call or email Joan Young, President of Sunbelt Business Brokers, Greater Bay Area at 408-436-1900 or jyoung@sunbeltbayarea.net.