As much as you might love running your business, you must have an end-goal. At the very least, an exit strategy keeps you from turning your business into a glorified job.
For many small business owners, the thought of transitioning out of their business may be years away, if ever.
But even if you never plan to retire or transition your business, understand that planning an exit strategy is like having a will in place. No one wants to get to that day, but it is inevitable.
Having an exit strategy in place ensures a long-term success for your business and your vision.
An exit strategy is an important consideration for business owners. Yet, they usually don’t think about it until they are forced into one.
Without an exit strategy that directs your business – you’re limiting your future options.
A good exit strategy should maximize profits for those businesses that are doing well and minimize losses for those that are struggling.
Benefits of an exit strategy
Planning an exit strategy in advance is more than preparing for unexpected circumstances; it builds purposeful business practices and focuses you on your biggest goals.
Even though an exit plan may not be used for years or decades, developing one benefits you in the following ways:
- You make your business decisions with a clear direction;
- You remain committed to the value of your business;
- You make your business more attractive to buyers;
- You guarantee a smooth transition;
- You make sure that you achieve your business AND personal goals after the exit.
Here are 10 steps you can take in creating an Exit Strategy:
1. Identify Your Goals
Set your business goals, and review them annually, keeping in mind your long-term vision for your company. You should consider what role you want to play in the company when you retire. You will want to carefully consider whether you want to sell your business or transition ownership to a successor.
2. Analyze Your Business
Many factors, including company performance, market conditions and your industry can impact the value and worth of your company. In your plan, you should research all those factors that will influence your transition.
3. Prepare Your Finances
Smart buyers will want to see at least two years worth of clean and dependable financial records. If your bookkeeping isn’t all it could be, get it fixed now. And if there’s something you can do to improve profitability, do it as soon as possible.
4. Choose a Target Buyer
There will be different priorities depending on who you’re selling to. If it’s family members, make everything transparent and fair. You don’t want the transaction to cause tension or conflict between children. If you’re selling to employees, be prepared for to accept payments. They’ll probably start with a deposit and pay you the rest from business income. If you sell to the highest bidder, then get all your records in order as otherwise they won’t have any idea how you operate, or what sort of money you make.
5. Decide How Fast You’ll Want Out
Some buyers (e.g. family or employees), won’t have the cash to buy you out straight away. You might have to keep an interest in the business and stay involved to protect your investment. If that’s the case, you’ll need to negotiate consulting fees. If you want a clean break, you’ll probably be better off selling on the open market. That may not work if you have a service-focused business. In this case, buyers will expect you to stay around to help ensure clients don’t leave.
6. Make Yourself Redundant
No one’s going to buy your business if it can’t survive without you. If you have employees, give them the training and authority they need to succeed. Scale back your involvement. Be less available to clients and employees. Delegate big decisions. Go into work less often.
7. Systemize Your Business
Create (and document) formal (and efficient) processes for getting work done. Who does what, when, and how? Potential buyers will be impressed if some things in your business happen automatically.
8. Write Down How Everything is Done
Write a “how to” manual for your business, so that a stranger could pick up the reins and run everything tomorrow. Record every process, including admin. Make a note of the steps you follow for each of these tasks. Write formal job descriptions for employees. And create templates for tasks that are repetitive.
9. Get a Valuation of Your Business
When you’re planning your exit strategy, you’ll want to know how much your business is worth. Strategists can help you do your due diligence for a business appraisal so that you can figure out how much your company is worth. This can help you set the price (and expectations) for potential buyers.
10. Find Ways to Increase the Valuation
What are the things that make your business great? Do you have a really outstanding product? Loyal customers? Amazing intellectual property? Find the strengths in your business and grow them, so that they become even more valuable. On the other side, figure out the biggest weaknesses in your business and fix them.
Now It’s YOUR Turn
For five minutes… think about your exit strategy… How would it look like, when, and what do you need to do to prepare?
Let's Brainstorm
Please share your ideas (all of them or just one) in the comment box below… and let’s get WOWing.
Live fully, stay awesome,
Nisandeh Neta
Top Commenters – last 30 Days




Let's Brainstorm
Please share your ideas (all of them or just one) in the comment box below… and let’s get WOWing.
Live fully, stay awesome,
Nisandeh Neta


94 comments


Haven't thought about it but I will agree with Gerdy, to have a strong name out there first.
5 comments

Read the book: Built to Sell, John Warrillow, that contains valuable lessons.
112 comments


At the moment my main service is Brain Gym and you have to be qualified to use this brand. An exit could be to sell it to another Brain Gym instructor. Or I come up with a concept in which Brain Gym is not the motor of the business and can more easily be sold combined with a Brain Gym instructor JV.
409 comments



create co-ownerschip with one or two other people.(few years befor you want to stop)
in my 'work'...train other people (train the trainer) so they can take the job further
47 comments

Despite the fact that I do not feel that I am really started with a business, I think many of the issues meant can be used to regularly give a status-report of how the business behaves. Since I am not that far yet, I cannot say much more about it, but I will read what the other participants mention.
160 comments

Like Gerdy, I just started a new company.
I want to brand the company that strong so that my initial why com to me: "me" can be forgotten.
412 comments



1. Don't be afraid to talk about it with other entrepreneurs.
2. Inform someone you trust completely with all the ins and outs of your exit plan; you never know ... .
3. Make some kind of plan for a goodbye celebration saying thanks to your most valued customers and so on.
4. Think about what your next step will be. Are you timing for retirement? Do you want to start a new business?
5. Figure out the best circumstances to leave.
576 comments



Before you read any further, just remember that the business I have now I just started. The exit strategy that I chose is that it will still run when I'm gone- there will be people running it for me with my methods. Before I can do this it needs to have:
* an established name that is known in the market
* engaged customers that can find me without me doing the effort for it (with a website that still attracts people because of the content)
* a method that is working and that I use for all my trainings and meetings
* as soon as I am growing, new people who will be able to run the trainings for me.
It looks very possible, although it will take me time to build it up.