Exit Planning and value building

Build a more valuable, lower-risk business and create exit options, whether you sell soon or later

Exit planning is not just about selling. It is about building a more valuable, resilient business with clean numbers, reduced risk and a credible story. Whether your horizon is near-term or several years away, we help you improve the drivers of value and prepare for scrutiny.

We work across sectors. We have particular depth in operationally complex environments including manufacturing, engineering, industrial products, advanced manufacturing, textiles and apparel manufacturing, and food and beverage manufacturing (including brewing).

Who it’s for

Typically when:

  • Owners are thinking about succession or exit options

  • You want to increase valuation and reduce key risks

  • You want stronger reporting and governance

  • You want to be ready for buyer or investor diligence, without disruption

What you get

Value driver plan

  • Identify the few drivers that will increase value

  • Build a practical plan to improve performance and reduce risk

Exit readiness

  • Reporting and forecasting uplift to buyer-ready standard

  • Due diligence preparation and vendor data readiness

Options and planning

  • Timeline planning and decision support

  • Introductions to trusted specialist support where needed

Exit readiness assessment

A practical review of the areas that most often affect value and deal confidence:

  • Reporting quality, speed and consistency

  • Margin clarity by product, customer, or project

  • Working capital and cash predictability

  • Governance and decision support

  • Customer concentration and founder dependency risks

  • Diligence readiness and information gaps

Common value drivers we focus on

  • Margin improvement and pricing discipline

  • Working capital discipline and cash conversion

  • Customer concentration and quality of revenue

  • Management depth and reduced founder dependency

  • Reporting credibility and governance

  • Risk reduction across contracts, compliance, systems and process

How we work

  • Clarify goals and options: personal objectives, timeline, risk appetite, and what a good outcome looks like

  • Pin down what drives value: strengths, risks, and market reality, and the few drivers that will make the business more valuable and easier to sell

  • Assess readiness: quality of numbers, working capital, governance, systems, and key dependencies

  • Build the value plan: actions to improve cash, margin, reporting credibility, and reduce risk

  • Put a delivery routine in place: measures, owners, and a buyer-ready reporting pack to track progress

  • Prepare for a process: diligence materials, financial narrative, stakeholder plan, and management Q&A readiness

Specialist support (via associates)

Where appropriate, we can coordinate additional support such as:

  • Business valuations

  • IHT and insurance planning for family businesses

  • Off-market sale support

  • Risk management and operational assessment.

Representative outcomes

  • Rebuilt trust in the numbers by fixing historic issues, tightening close routines and controls, and introducing board-ready reporting suitable for group and investor scrutiny.

  • Simplified the group by exiting three non-core underperforming subsidiaries, reducing distraction and sharpening focus on the main value drivers.

Related services

Exit readiness is easier when reporting, cash and leadership routines are already strong.

Exit Planning FAQs

  • Exit planning is about building a more valuable, resilient business and creating options for the owner. A sale is one possible outcome, but the work improves cash, control and performance regardless of timing.

  • Earlier than most people think. Starting at least 36 months ahead of any potential exit usually gives the best results, but even a shorter runway benefits from improved reporting credibility and reduced risk.

  • No. We start by clarifying your personal goals, timeline and risk appetite, then build a practical value plan that improves the business and keeps your options ope

  • Clean, credible numbers, faster close and reporting, predictable cash, stronger governance, and a coherent narrative that explains performance and value drivers. It also includes preparation for diligence requests.

  • Late or inconsistent reporting, unclear margins, working capital surprises, customer concentration, founder dependency, and unresolved risks that buyers price in.

  • Yes. We work alongside accountants, lawyers, and corporate finance advisers to help coordinate inputs, improve readiness, and keep delivery practical and joined-up.

Book a call
Exit planning and value building for business owners

If you want to build a more valuable, exit-ready business, contact us to book an introductory call.