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Your roadmap

From first thought to final handshake

Seven stages, one clear path. Expand any stage to see what to do, the guides and tools that help, and the specialists who do it with you.

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  1. 1
    Stage 1
    Plan & set your goals
    +

    Before anything practical, get clear on what a good exit means for you — the number you need, the timing that suits your life, and whether legacy or a clean break matters more.

    What to do in this stage
    ✓Define your financial “enough” number with your adviser
    ✓Decide your ideal timeline and the role you want post-sale
    ✓Choose your exit path: sale, succession, or staged handover
  2. 2
    Stage 2
    Value the business
    +

    You can’t negotiate from strength without knowing what your business is worth today — and what’s driving or dragging that number.

    What to do in this stage
    ✓Commission an independent, accredited valuation
    ✓Understand your key value drivers and risks
    ✓Benchmark against recent sales in your industry
  3. 3
    Stage 3
    Build value & lift your multiple
    +

    Knowing your number isn’t enough — this is where you actively grow it. Work through every driver that moves the multiple: predictable sales, owner independence, recurring revenue, customer concentration and clean financials. Small gains compound into a materially higher price.

    What to do in this stage
    ✓Systematise sales so revenue is predictable — we recommend Clarious
    ✓Reduce owner dependence and lock in recurring, contracted revenue
    ✓Spread customer concentration, clean the books and protect your intangibles
  4. 4
    Stage 4
    Prepare to sell
    +

    This is where value is locked in. With the drivers moving, tidy everything a buyer will inspect — so due diligence confirms your price rather than chipping at it.

    What to do in this stage
    ✓Get three years of financials clean and review-ready
    ✓Tidy contracts, leases, licences and supplier agreements
    ✓Document how the business runs so it keeps running without you
  5. 5
    Stage 5
    Go to market
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    With the business prepared, it’s time to find the right buyer — discreetly. A broker packages your business and runs a confidential campaign.

    What to do in this stage
    ✓Appoint a broker and agree the strategy
    ✓Prepare the information memorandum
    ✓Run a confidential, qualified buyer process
  6. 6
    Stage 6
    Negotiate the deal
    +

    Offers are about more than headline price — terms, earn-outs, handover periods and tax all shape what you actually keep.

    What to do in this stage
    ✓Compare offers on terms, not just price
    ✓Structure the deal tax-effectively
    ✓Agree handover and any earn-out arrangements
  7. 7
    Stage 7
    Settle & transition out
    +

    The finish line: contracts exchange, funds settle, and you hand over. A planned transition protects the buyer, your staff, and your legacy.

    What to do in this stage
    ✓Complete due diligence and legal settlement
    ✓Run a structured handover to the new owner
    ✓Put your post-sale wealth and life plan in motion

Ready to take the first step?

Find out exactly which stage you’re in — and what to do next — with the free exit readiness report.

Get your exit readiness report →