Is Your Business Exit Really Planned—or Are You Flying Blind?
You might be great at running your business day-to-day. But when it comes to exiting, many owners say: “I’ll think about that later.” Big mistake. Because one day the “later” arrives—and if you’re not ready, opportunities get missed.
Why an Exit Plan Isn’t Just a Nice-to-Have
Think about it like this: You’ve built value for your business over time. A great exit doesn’t happen by accident. Having a written exit plan gives you a guide and framework for when your time comes.
Different Ways to Exit—Know Your Options
There’s no one-size-fits-all—there are several common exit paths:
An IPO (going public—rare for a small business)
A simple sale to a buyer
A merger or acquisition
Each option has trade-offs: control, time, liquidity, and complexity. The key is to pick the one that matches your goals and business realities.
Start With “What If?” — Because Something Will Happen
The article urges you to run scenarios: “What if I sell in five years?” “What if an emergency forces a sale tomorrow?”
By thinking about best- and worst-case situations, you’re better prepared when life (or the market) throws a curveball.
Homework You Should Do Now
To move from thinking to doing, you’ve got some homework:
Review any agreements: shareholders, partners, buy-sells, by-laws. Make sure your exit plan aligns with these.
Define your goals: Are you going for the highest sale price? Transferring to family? Minimizing taxes? Whatever your motivations, be explicit.
Choose your “players”: Who’s involved in executing your exit plan? Legal advisor, tax advisor, buyer group, internal leaders? Identifying people now avoids scrambling later.
An exit plan isn’t about selling tomorrow; it’s about ensuring you’re ready when your time to move on arrives, and it’s about selling under your terms.
At Sunbelt Las Vegas, we are experts at helping business owners to prepare for exit. Contact us today so we can help you prepare for your optimal tomorrow.