SME OWNERS CONSIDERING A SALE OR EXIT FROM THEIR BUSINESS!

Download our exit guide

Secure a life-changing sum £ when you sell, pass on (Exit) or step back from your business!

Whatever the situation, it is a fact that every owner exits one day, and in your case perhaps a recent health scare, the desire for more family time, or simply knowing you won’t run the business forever has brought you to the point of considering what the future looks like.The difference between selling for the financial rewards that you deserve for your years of hard work, and selling under price pressure is planning ahead – ideally 2–3 years before you intend to start.

Making a Successful Exit

Why plan your exit now

Maximise the business valuation

Well-prepared businesses command higher values, stronger multiples, which also attract better buyers.

More flexibility

Choose the right option for how and when you exit, not just what a buyer offers at a particular point in time.

Tax

Avoid missing out on the opportunity to structure your business tax efficiently, or take advantage of available tax reliefs

Less stress

Avoid the frantic 6-month scramble that leaves ‘money on the table’ and you burnt out.

Stronger business today

The same improvements that impress buyers also make your company easier and more profitable to run now.

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Blogs

THE ‘TRIGGERS’ THAT START A BUSINESS OWNERCONSIDERING A SALE OR EXIT?

The ‘triggers’ that start a business ownerconsidering a sale or exit?

For many business owners, the idea of selling or exiting their business doesn’t arrive as a lightning bolt. It starts during quieter moment, perhaps on a holiday or after a long week.

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WHY EXIT PLANNING TAKES 2 – 3 YEARS (AND WHY LESS TIME COSTS YOU MORE!)

Why exit planning takes 2 – 3 years (and why less time costs you more!)

“Do I really need years to plan?” It’s a question I hear often from business owners: “Surely we don’t need two or three years to plan an exit? Isn’t six months enough?"

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How To Get Exit Ready with Damian Connolly

What all business owners need to know

‘Exit’ planning shouldn’t happen at the last minute – it’s something you can build into your business from the very beginning.

Starting with the end in mind helps you to create a company that is more efficient and simpler to manage, and far more attractive to future buyers.

Whether you plan to sell, step back, or pass the business to family members, the earlier you start preparing, the more options you will have. This short guide outlines the essential habits and decisions every business-owner should adopt to ensure their company grows into a valuable asset, rather than a job with a lot of responsibility.

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Typical exit challenges

Owners who leave things to the last minute often face the same obstacles:

  • Owner reliance – if you can’t take a three-month break without things falling apart, you don’t have a business – you have a challenging job . . .
  • Messy or incomplete financials – inaccurate and incomplete financial information, or gaps within the prior 3–5 years that fail to explain or support your price to your Buyer
  • Weak systems and team – Team members that constantly require your input and critical know-how that still lives in your head.
  • Unresolved risks – HMRC queries, legal, customer or staff disputes, unclear IP ownership or shaky customer relationships will be identified by a Buyer during due diligence.
  • Sudden urgency – unexpected health issues, family changes or lifestyle goals making exit planning suddenly urgent.
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The Asset Rich & Exit Ready Programme for SME Owners

Our Asset Rich and Exit Ready programme is the solution for SME business owners.

It offers a clear, strategic but practical ‘roadmap through a structured ’3-Stage and 9 Step ’process,

that gets your business Exit Ready on your terms.
We guide you from first thought to final handshake as follows:

1. Clarify (first 90 days)

  • Identify your current business value.
  • Confirm your “magic number” for life after exit.
  • Prepare a clear ‘roadmap’ with milestones and responsibilities.

2. Optimise (next 12–15 months)

  • Strengthen management and delegate operations.
  • Standardise systems and implement the right software.
  • Sharpen financial reporting and resolve risks long before due diligence.

3. Accelerate (final 9–12 months)

  • Polish the numbers and strategic growth story.
  • Prepare your data room and due-diligence documents.
  • Engage and negotiate with the right buyers on your terms.

Remember it is estimated that up to 50% of successful SME sales were unexpected or unsolicited by the Vendor, so being Exit Ready is KEY!

Thanks to Damian’s advice and guidance, the finance team operates more efficiently and the financial visibility of the business has materially improved. We are now much more confident that we can achieve our 5 year goals.

Eamon Chawke, Briffa Legal

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