An exit plan can help businesses determine their future success. Learn about the importance of planning ahead and how to choose the best strategy.
Business Planning and Exit Strategies
The scope of an exit strategy will depend entirely on who you want taking over the reins.
The ultimate relinquishing of such is often a staple and eventual goal present in the overall vision that’s built into a company’s roadmap.
You eventually want to step away – whether in exit to start your retirement, or to bow out from an industry, and let your brainchild grow to new levels in the hands of those who align with the business legacy you’ve always envisioned.
Assay is your premier advisor on business exit strategy – we’ll take you through how a strategy to exit can create a certain business alchemy in its own right. The alchemy of relinquishing ownership to a trusted successor who agrees with your vision and business philosophy, but who can take your business to new heights with their own brand of industry competence and experience as the driving force.
What is an Exit Strategy in Business?
But, what exactly is a business exit strategy? And what are the key elements and options for an exit that’s beneficial for all parties? Let’s get into it:
Simply, it’s precisely what the title suggests: a plan put in place by a company owner, to step down from his or her ownership by selling the business to potential and vetted investors, or other interested companies.
But, why?
The primary reason for an exit plan is for an owner to reduce involvement, either because he or she is ready to retire or move on to other endeavours, and in doing so, make a profit from the sale of that business.
What are the Key Elements of an Exit Strategy?
The elements of a profitable exit aren’t so much a compiled formula of what to do and how, but rather a strategy to a sale.
Each strategy is an option that will guide the transaction and the future business to the outcome that will potentially benefit all involved. Here are 3 possible, and savvy, business exit strategy options:
After you’ve voiced your intention to exit, watch your inner circle closely – it may be that the people who work for you are interested in buying. This is a sound strategic option because they’re the people in the mix. The people on the ground. They know your business, they know your vision, and they’ll be the smartest potential buying group to ensure healthy growth.
Most importantly, they’re the buyers most likely to honour your business legacy and keep it on track to your vision in your absence, while implementing their own expertise and ownership style.
The merger or acquisition is the tried and tested sale strategy that is often a win-win situation for an owner wanting to sell, and similar companies with complementary skills wanting to merge. Bigger companies will see this option as a sound investment strategy, because it’ll effectively be a way to grow their revenue quicker.
Assay will oversee the intricacies of a successful merger or acquisition.
For many proud business owners, the dream of keeping the business a family one, is all-important.
This is an obvious way to ensure your business legacy meshes with your family legacy, to become something of industry legend.
If you have interested relatives, this, above all else, is the best way to an exit that won’t involve too much grooming and will ensure your name remains associated with the business, and the heights it reaches.
Regent Assay will guide you on the path to a family transition that honours your name and legacy.
Are you ready to plan your successful business exit?
A business exit can be steeped in much emotion, and in many ways can be more complex than other purely straight forward corporate transactions.
Through sensitivity and only with your legacy and interests at the forefront, we’ll make the handing over of your business an exciting and prideful event.