Exit preparation
Build a business someone wants to buy.
I exited my own business in 2021, so I understand both the practical steps and the emotional side of preparing a business, and yourself, for what comes next. The earlier you start, the more options you have.
- At a pace that suits you
- Alongside your accountant and solicitor
- Confidential, always
Sound familiar?
Thinking about what comes next.
Whether an exit is two years away or ten, the work that makes a business easier to sell takes time to bed in.
- You're thinking about selling or stepping back in the next few years
- The business still relies heavily on you
- You're not sure what a buyer would look for
- You haven't decided what life after the business looks like
- You want to step back without the business stepping back with you
What we work on
Getting the business, and you, ready.
What you want from an exit
A sale, a management buy-out, family succession or simply stepping back. Getting clear on the goal, the timescale and life afterwards.
Less reliant on you
A team and systems that run without you in the room. A business that doesn’t depend on its owner is easier to sell.
Stronger numbers, systems and team
Recurring revenue, clear numbers and documented processes: the things a buyer looks for first.
A road map at your pace
A practical plan from where you are today to the exit you want, with the steps in the right order.
Where I fit
Alongside your other advisers.
I’m not a corporate finance house, solicitor or tax adviser, and I don’t value or sell businesses. I help you get the business, and yourself, ready, and I work alongside the specialists you’ll need when the time comes.
- YouThe decisions: what you want, when, and on what terms
- MeGetting the business and you ready, and keeping the plan moving
- AccountantThe numbers, tax and compliance
- SolicitorThe legal side of a sale or transfer
- BrokerValuation, finding buyers and negotiating the deal
How it runs
From first thoughts to a clear road map.
At your pace, and in confidence. Nobody needs to know you’re thinking about it until you’re ready.
Conversation
A confidential chat about what you’re thinking, your timescale and what matters most to you.
Understand
An honest look at how the business would appear to a buyer today, and how much it relies on you.
Road map
A practical plan to close the gaps, with the most valuable changes first.
Follow through
Regular check-ins keep the plan moving, so you reach the point of sale ready, not rushed.
Why me
I've been through it myself.
I founded Alert Fire & Security Ltd in 1994 and exited in 2021. I know the practical work it takes, and I know it’s about more than the numbers.
Start-up to exit
From a spare bedroom to an award-winning business, and a successful exit.
Built to be valuable
Recurring revenue, customer retention and operational excellence were how we realised the value we’d built.
Accredited and audited
NACOSS Gold, BAFE SP203 and BSIA accreditations meant the business could stand up to scrutiny.
The personal side
Letting go of something you’ve built over decades is personal. I’ve done it, and I’ll be honest with you about it.
When should I start preparing?
Earlier than most people think. The changes that make a business easier to sell, like reducing how much it relies on you, take time to bed in. Even if an exit is years away, it’s worth starting the conversation.
Do you sell the business for me?
No. I help you prepare. When it’s time to sell, you’ll want specialists for the valuation, finding a buyer and the legal work, and I’ll work alongside them.
Will my staff find out?
Only when you decide they should. Many owners don’t want staff, customers or competitors to know they’re thinking about an exit, and nothing you share with me goes any further.
What if I just want to step back, not sell?
That’s a common goal, and much of the work is the same: a business that runs well without you is easier to step back from, and easier to sell later if you change your mind.
What does it cost?
Every piece of work is bespoke, so we agree scope and fees after our first conversation, once I understand where you are and where you want to get to.
Other ways to work together
Not thinking about an exit yet?
A trusted adviser alongside you, with regular accountability and honest challenge on the big decisions.
Hands-on help with one specific challenge or decision, with a clear scope and outcome.
Start a conversation
What do you want life after the business to look like?
Free, confidential and with no obligation. Nobody else needs to know we’re talking.