Selling your business is the biggest financial decision you will ever make. Preparation is what determines the outcome.

Most owners discover deal-killing issues during due diligence — when it is already too late. The buyer reduces their offer or walks. On a $10M transaction, poor preparation typically costs $2M to $3M. We fix the issues before buyers ever see them.

With private equity experience and multiple successful exits, we know exactly what acquirers look for in a target company and what unprepared sellers consistently leave on the table. The difference between an average exit and a life-changing one is starting your value-building journey now, not when buyers are already at the table.

The Math That Changes Everything

Every dollar of profit improvement multiplies at exit.

At a 5x multiple, every $100K in EBITDA improvement adds $500K to your sale price. That is not optimization. That is transformation. The example below illustrates what systematic exit preparation actually delivers versus going to market unprepared.

Unprepared Seller Going to market without preparation $5M revenue, $1M EBITDA Issues found in diligence: -20% haircut Distressed multiple: 3.5x $2.8M Prepared Seller With strategic exit planning EBITDA improved to $1.3M Clean diligence, no surprises Competitive multiple: 5x $6.5M

What We Deliver

Comprehensive exit preparation and due diligence support.

Exit Planning (12–24 Months Out)

Value gap analysis — identify what buyers will discount
EBITDA optimization — improve profits that multiply at sale
Financial clean-up — recast statements, normalize earnings
Risk elimination — remove red flags before buyers see them
Business documentation — contracts, processes, systems

Due Diligence Support (During Sale)

Data room preparation — everything organized before buyers ask
Financial defense — support your broker through buyer questions
Issue resolution — fast responses that maintain deal momentum
Recast justification — defend your adjusted EBITDA

The Exit Preparation Timeline

What preparation looks like across the hold period.

18–24 Months Out

Assessment and Strategy

Value gap analysis, identify quick wins, build the strategic roadmap for value creation before the sale process begins.

12–18 Months Out

Optimization

Improve operations, maximize EBITDA, reduce owner dependence, address risk factors that buyers will flag during diligence.

6–12 Months Out

Documentation

Clean financials, systematize operations, build the sale narrative. Everything a buyer will ask for, organized before they ask.

0–6 Months Out

Market Ready

Final polish, data room ready, positioned for premium multiple. Management team prepared for the diligence process.

Common Questions

What owners ask before starting the process.

When should I start preparing?

18 to 24 months before you want to sell. The earlier, the better. Every month of preparation can add hundreds of thousands to your exit value.

I am not sure when I will sell. Should I wait?

No. A sale-ready business runs better and gives you options. Build value now, choose timing later. The improvements pay for themselves even if you decide not to sell.

What issues kill value?

Customer concentration, messy books, owner dependence, weak management team, and no documented processes. All fixable with time. The problem is most sellers discover these issues in diligence when it is too late to fix them.

Can my CPA handle exit planning?

CPAs handle taxes and compliance. Exit planning requires operational improvement, strategic positioning, and understanding buyer psychology. Different expertise, different outcome.

Exit Planning and Sale Preparation