What’s the last step of the journey towards a successful exit from your business?
> It’s taking time to craft the most strategic and profitable exit you can.
And it takes more than a few weeks to do that.
Here’s why partnering with investors and M&A specialists (especially those with skin in the game) can help you maximise your exit value:
⚙️ FREE UP YOUR TIME. As an owner, your focus should be on running your business, not on the exit itself. The right kind of investor allows you to keep your eyes on the operational stuff at a critical moment.
⚙️ BECOME MORE SELLABLE. More than simply achieving a high paper valuation, your business needs to be attractive to the market. And that means being Due Diligence ready and the business being independent from the owners. It takes time to do properly – and partnering can deliver this cleanly and efficiently.
⚙️ ACCESS MORE BUYERS. Don’t be fooled into believing that brokers who spam inboxes will provide access to significant numbers of genuine acquirers. I’m talking about access to PE and PLCs, as well as other exit routes. Playing at a higher level, in terms of scale, will also increase the number of interested parties, when it comes to an exit. Partnering with specialist investors can help you acheive the necessary scale.
⚙️ LEVERAGE THEIR SPECIALISM. Choose investors who live and breathe deals, are well connected and can navigate complex negotiation landscapes. Above all, they must be able to help drive your company’s VALUE, maximise the END-VALUATION and guide you during the EXIT PROCESS.
⚙️ CUSTOM DEAL STRUCTURING. An experienced investor with M&A expertise won’t just get you a higher valuation – they can also structure the deal in a way that’s tax-efficient, minimises risk and aligns with your personal goals.
⚙️ MAKE IT PERSONAL. Let’s face it, exiting your business is an emotional process. Plenty of owners I work with, see the business as their baby. So as an owner, you also need it to be personal for the investors helping you exit. Having skin in the game achieves that objective.
⚙️ LIFE BEYOND. The exit value is more than the financial outcome for owners. Maintaining continuity for staff and customers is high up the list for owners planning an exit. And so too is the next chapter in their life. Whenever I put a deal together, factoring in what owners want to do afterwards is ALWAYS part of the equation, It’s that important.