ServicesExit Planning
Exit Planning in Taylor
Most owners start thinking about a sale about a year too late. We help you plan the exit early, then keep the business in good working order until you're ready. Cleaner books, steadier income and less riding on you mean more buyers and a smoother deal.
What exit planning is and when it makes sense
Exit planning is the work you do before you list. We look at your business the way a buyer will, find the weak spots, and give you a list of fixes to work through over the next one to five years. Some are quick, like separating personal spending from business accounts. Others take time, like training a manager who can run the place without you.
Think of it as upkeep. A business that gets steady attention holds its value and sells easier than one that gets cleaned up in a rush the month before listing. Buyers and lenders want two or three years of clean records. You can't create that history at the last minute.
It's the right call if you plan to sell, retire or hand things off in the next few years and want to leave on your own terms. If you need to sell sooner, our Sell a Business page covers that path.
What our exit planning covers
A starting valuation
We begin with a free, confidential valuation so you know where the business stands today. That number becomes the baseline we measure progress against.
A financial cleanup list
We go through your tax returns and profit and loss statements line by line. We flag add-backs, owner perks and messy categories that could make a buyer or lender nervous.
Owner dependence check
If every customer calls your cell and every vendor only knows you, buyers see risk. We help you write down how the work gets done and move key relationships to your staff.
Lease, contracts and paperwork
Short leases, handshake deals with big customers and missing permits can stall a deal. We point out what needs a renewal, a signature or a lawyer's look.
A timeline you can live with
You get a plain schedule of what to do and when, sized to your exit date. We check in along the way so the plan doesn't sit in a drawer.
Signs it's time to start planning your exit
- You want out in five years or less
- That's about the right window. It gives you time to build clean records and fix what drags the price down.
- The business can't run a week without you
- If a vacation means the phones go quiet, buyers will notice. That's one of the most common problems we see, and it takes time to fix.
- Your books mix personal and business
- Common for owner-run companies, and fine for taxes. It makes your real earnings hard for a buyer to see, though.
- You have no idea what it's worth
- Many owners guess high or low. A real number helps you decide if you need to grow first or can sell now.
- A partner or family member wants to take over
- Handing it to someone you know still takes a plan. Our Partner Buyouts and Succession page goes deeper on that.
How we work through your plan
- 1
A free consultation
We talk by phone, by video or at our office. You tell us your goals, your timeline and what keeps you up at night about selling. It stays confidential.
- 2
Valuation and review
We look at your financials, your operations and your contracts. Then we give you a value range and the main things holding it back.
- 3
Your written plan
You get a short list of priorities in order, with what each one should do for your sale. No thick binder, just the work that matters.
- 4
Steady follow-up
We stay in touch while you knock items off the list, and we rerun the numbers whenever something big shifts. Once you're ready to sell, the listing and the buyer search pick up right where the plan leaves off.
What affects the cost of exit planning
Your consultation costs nothing, and so does the valuation. When you list, there's nothing to pay at the start, no retainer to sign and no fees that show up later. Our pay comes out of the finished sale, so we earn it only when you get paid. What changes the scope of the planning work is how much ground there is to cover.
- How long until you sell
- A five-year plan has more check-ins than a one-year plan. A short runway means fewer steps, done faster.
- Condition of your records
- Clean, accountant-prepared books take less work to review. Shoebox receipts take more.
- Size and complexity
- More locations, more staff or real estate in the deal add pieces to plan around.
- How much rests on you
- The more the business depends on the owner, the more time goes into shifting that load to others.
Exit planning questions
- How early should I start planning to sell?
- Two to five years before you want out is a good range. That gives you time to show a few years of clean numbers and to train people to run things. One year can still work. It just limits what you can fix.
- Will my employees or customers find out?
- Not from us. Everything stays confidential. We meet by phone, by video or at our office, so nobody sees a broker walking through your door.
- Do I have to sell through you after the plan?
- No. The plan is yours. Most owners who plan with us do list with us, since we already know the business, but there's no obligation.
- What experience do you bring to this?
- We have sold over $5 million in businesses. That gives us a clear view of what buyers ask about, what lenders want to see and what tends to kill a deal late in the process.
- Can I serve customers in Hutto or Round Rock and still work with you?
- Yes. We work with owners across Taylor and the nearby area. Where your customers are doesn't change how we plan.
- What if the plan shows I should grow before selling?
- Then we'll tell you that straight. Sometimes waiting a year or two and fixing a few things is worth more than selling today. You decide.
Start your exit plan while you still have time
A short phone call gets you a free consultation and a clear idea of where your business stands. From there, you decide the pace.