Planning Your Next Chapter
Every business journey ends with a transition. And how you exit matters.
Whether you want to retire, hand over to your team, or release some value and stay involved, understanding your options helps you take control of the process rather than being driven by it.
If you haven’t decided already, we can help you look at your options and decide what is right for you.
It's not always about maximising value, it about what works for you and your business. We get it. We've been there.
Common Exit Options:
It's not always as straightforward as these scenarios, but they are a good starting point.
Trade Sale
Sell your business to another company — often a competitor, supplier, or investor looking to expand.
Good for: Owners seeking a clean break and strong financial return.
Key watch-outs: Maintain confidentiality and plan early to show clear, transferable value. Be careful of earn outs.
Management Buy Out
Your senior team buys the business, often with help from banks or investors..
Good for: Keeping continuity for clients and staff, rewarding loyal managers. Good option if you can't achieve a trade sale.
Key watch-outs: Maintain confidentiality and plan early to show clear, transferable value. Earn outs....
Employee Ownership Trust
Ownership transfers to a trust that benefits employees collectively — a route encouraged by government tax incentives.
Good for: Owners wanting a fair exit that protects culture and long-term stability.
Key watch-outs: Needs careful setup and communication to keep engagement high.
Family Succession
Passing the business to a family member or next generation.
Good for: Preserving legacy and values.
Key watch-outs: Requires fair valuation, open discussion, and professional advice. Personal tensions. Ability of successor.
Partial Sale Or Investment
Sell a share of the business to an external investor, strategic partner or existing employees.
Good for: Releasing capital while retaining control. Enables a step back without full exit.
Key watch-outs: Choose the right partner — alignment of values and goals is critical
Closure Or Wind Down
If selling isn’t viable, a structured closure can still protect your reputation, customers, and finances.
Good for: Businesses that rely heavily on the owner or have limited resale potential.
Key watch-outs: Plan early to manage costs, contracts, and obligations properly.
Want a confidential, no obligation chat about your options?
Your Main Exit Routes
1. Trade Sale
Sell your business to another company — often a competitor, supplier, or investor looking to expand.
Good for:
Owners seeking a clean break and strong financial return.
Key watch-outs:
Maintain confidentiality and plan early to show clear, transferable value.
1. Trade Sale
Sell your business to another company — often a competitor, supplier, or investor looking to expand.
Good for:
Owners seeking a clean break and strong financial return.
Key watch-outs:
Maintain confidentiality and plan early to show clear, transferable value.
2. Management Buy-Out (MBO)
Your senior team buys the business, often with help from banks or investors.
Good for:
Keeping continuity for clients and staff, rewarding loyal managers.
Key watch-outs:
Requires a capable, committed management team and access to finance.
3. Employee Ownership Trust (EOT)
Ownership transfers to a trust that benefits employees collectively — a route encouraged by government tax incentives.
Good for:
Owners wanting a fair exit that protects culture and long-term stability.
Key watch-outs:
Needs careful setup and communication to keep engagement high.
3. Employee Ownership Trust (EOT)
Ownership transfers to a trust that benefits employees collectively — a route encouraged by government tax incentives.
Good for:
Owners wanting a fair exit that protects culture and long-term stability.
Key watch-outs:
Needs careful setup and communication to keep engagement high.
4. Family Succession
Passing the business to a family member or next generation.
Good for:
Preserving legacy and values.
Key watch-outs:
Requires fair valuation, open discussion, and professional advice to avoid personal tensions.
5. Partial Sale or Investment
Sell a share of the business to an external investor or strategic partner.
Good for:
Releasing capital while retaining control; bringing in expertise to scale.
Key watch-outs:
Choose the right partner — alignment of goals is critical
5. Partial Sale or Investment
Sell a share of the business to an external investor or strategic partner.
Good for:
Releasing capital while retaining control; bringing in expertise to scale.
Key watch-outs:
Choose the right partner — alignment of goals is critical
6. Closure or Wind-Down
If selling isn’t viable, a structured closure can still protect your reputation, customers, and finances.
Good for:
Businesses that rely heavily on the owner or have limited resale potential.
Key watch-outs:
Plan early to manage costs, contracts, and obligations properly.