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Getting ready with structured exit planning
Starting to plan your business exit strategy around three to five years before a sale gives you the best opportunity to maximise its value and secure the personal outcomes you want. A well-executed and watertight business exit and tax structure is vital for a successful transition.
It is important to explore every potential path, understand which exit planning strategy best fits your goals and identify what you want and need from the sale. Taking the time to shape an exit planning approach around your ambitions ensures the process is built to support you, your family and the future of the business.
Defining your ideal exit
There is no single solution to exiting a business. Each owner’s circumstances are different, and the route must work for everyone involved now and in the future.
At S&W, we take time to understand what matters to you so we can develop a bespoke and practical approach to business owner exit planning: No wrong turns, just the right exit.
Together, we’ll explore each option and the associated tax considerations, including whether it is beneficial to transfer any wealth before a sale. In some cases, the best decision may even be to delay an exit until conditions improve. We provide clarity and expertise, so you can make informed choices.
Planning life after your business exit
A central part of exit planning for business owners is defining what the next chapter looks like. This means understanding how much you need to realise from the business to fund your future goals, whether those involve a new venture or a well-earned retirement.
Our specialists work closely with you to ensure your wealth supports your ambitions and the lifestyle you aspire to.
Ensuring your business is ready to sell
To achieve the strongest valuation, it is essential to assess whether your business is truly exit ready. This involves stepping into the mindset of potential buyers and understanding what they expect from a sound and investable proposition.
A thorough review of your business structure is a core part of pre exit planning. We assess whether your current structure is appropriate from both commercial and tax perspectives and ensure that available HMRC approved incentives and reliefs are maximised. Where restructuring is needed, we’ll support you in completing this efficiently and tax effectively, securing advance clearance where appropriate.
We work with you to examine your performance, the clarity of your strategy and unique selling points, the strength of your succession plan and the trend of your financial numbers. If any concerns arise, we will guide you through the steps required to address them and strengthen buyer confidence.
Our pre-exit planning services
Work with us to review exit options, develop a strategy and time the sale to achieve your objectives. Our corporate finance and transactions team works closely with clients to identify options and develop sales strategies, while our advisory consulting services get businesses exit-ready with bespoke services:
Vendor due diligence
Vendor due diligence and vendor assistance reports to maximise values, minimise risks and smooth the sales process
Restructuring
Restructuring to improve commercial performance and tax efficiency for businesses and shareholders
Tax reviews
Tax reviews to identify and address legacy tax issues that could arise in due diligence and impact the business value
Get into contact
S&W helps business owners to navigate complexities and create opportunities for themselves and the business they’re looking to exit.
The next step is to talk with our business exit experts. We’ll spend the time getting to know you and your business, discussing your personal goals and aims for the future. Get in touch today.
