Exit-Readiness Checklist

Maximize value. Minimize risk. Plan your profitable exit.

1. Define Your Exit Goals

  • ☐ Identify your ideal timeline for exiting the business

  • ☐ Determine personal financial goals (retirement, lifestyle, legacy)

  • ☐ Clarify family or succession considerations

  • ☐ Decide preferred exit type: sale, transfer to family, ESOP, or management buyout

2. Assess Business Value

  • ☐ Conduct preliminary valuation (revenue, EBITDA, multiples)

  • ☐ Review historical financial statements and projections

  • ☐ Identify customer, supplier, and employee concentration risks

  • ☐ Evaluate competitive positioning and market trends

3. Optimize Operations

  • ☐ Document key processes and standard operating procedures

  • ☐ Address employee dependency on owner for critical roles

  • ☐ Implement performance metrics (KPIs) for departments

  • ☐ Review contracts, leases, and regulatory compliance

4. Strengthen Financials

  • ☐ Clean up balance sheet and resolve outstanding liabilities

  • ☐ Streamline accounting and reporting processes

  • ☐ Identify and reduce non-essential expenses

  • ☐ Coordinate with CPA for tax planning and entity structure

5. Prepare for Transaction

  • ☐ Develop a confidential information memorandum (CIM)

  • ☐ Create data room with all legal, financial, and operational documents

  • ☐ Identify potential buyers (strategic and financial)

  • ☐ Plan negotiation strategy and deal terms

6. Plan Your Transition

  • ☐ Develop leadership succession plan

  • ☐ Outline knowledge transfer and training for successors

  • ☐ Plan post-sale involvement (consulting, earnout, or exit)

  • ☐ Coordinate estate planning and personal financial strategy

7. Partner with a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®)

  • ☐ Assess readiness and value gaps

  • ☐ Build a 1–5 year action roadmap

  • ☐ Coordinate advisors (CPA, attorney, banker)

☐ Implement changes to increase business value and deal success

Tip:

The earlier you start, the higher the potential sale value and the smoother the transition. Most owners see measurable improvements when they begin exit planning 3–5 years ahead of their target exit.

Why Choose Us?

At Royce A. Belcher CPA, CEPA, our team brings over 150 years of combined experience in accounting, tax advisory, and financial planning. We leverage decades of industry knowledge to deliver strategic solutions tailored to your business and personal financial needs.