ServicesExit Planning
Exit Planning in Liberty Hill
Most owners decide to sell once and get one chance to do it well. We look at your business the way a buyer will, write down what we find, and give you a clear plan for the years or months before you step away.
A plan for leaving, made while you still have time
Exit planning is the work that happens before a listing. We study your financials, your reliance on key people and customers, your leases and your equipment, then tell you plainly what a buyer would pay today and what would raise that number.
Every finding is recorded. You receive a written summary of what we reviewed, photographs of the premises and major assets as a buyer would see them, and a short list of steps in order of impact. Nothing is vague, and nothing is left for you to guess at later.
The right time to call is usually earlier than owners expect. A plan made two or three years out gives you room to clean up the books, train a manager and choose your moment. A plan made in six months still helps; it just has fewer levers.
What an exit plan includes
- 01
A starting valuation
We begin with a free, confidential valuation so the plan rests on a real number. It shows what the business is likely worth now and which factors carry the most weight.
- 02
A buyer's-eye review
We read your tax returns, profit and loss statements and owner add-backs the way a lender and buyer will. Where something would raise a question in due diligence, we flag it in writing.
- 03
Owner dependence assessment
Buyers discount a business that only runs when the owner is in the building. We map which relationships, skills and decisions sit with you and suggest how to hand them off.
- 04
Asset and premises record
We photograph equipment, inventory and the space itself and note condition. You see exactly what a buyer will see on a first visit.
- 05
A timeline you can follow
The plan sets out what to do this quarter, this year and before listing. Each step is tied to the value or deal risk it addresses.
- 06
Exit route options
An outside sale, a sale to employees, a family transfer or a buyout by a partner each work differently. We lay them side by side so you can choose with clear eyes.
Questions about Exit Planning?
Call(512) 881-7058Signs it is time to plan your exit
You have a date in mind
Retirement, a move or a health matter has put a year on the calendar. Working back from that date tells you what has to happen and when.
The business runs through you
Customers call your cell, vendors only deal with you, and nobody else signs off on pricing. That concentration lowers what buyers will pay.
Your books mix personal and business
Common for owner-run companies, and fixable. It takes a few clean years of records for buyers and lenders to trust the numbers.
A partner wants out
When co-owners have different timelines, an agreed plan keeps the conversation calm. Our Partner Buyouts and Succession page covers that path in more depth.
You have had an unsolicited offer
An approach from a competitor or investor is a good moment to learn what the business is really worth before you answer.
How we build your plan
- 1
A confidential first conversation
We talk by phone, by video or at our office about your goals, your timeline and what you hope to walk away with. No one at your business needs to know.
- 2
Document review and valuation
You share financial statements and key agreements. We prepare the valuation and a written list of what we found, good and bad.
- 3
Walkthrough and photo record
We visit the business at a quiet hour, or review photos you send, and record the condition of the premises and major assets.
- 4
Your written exit plan
We sit down together and go through the plan line by line, including the steps that matter most and those that can wait. You keep the document.
- 5
Check-ins until you are ready
We revisit the numbers as you make changes, so you can see the effect. When you decide to sell, the groundwork is already done.
What exit planning costs
The opening valuation costs you nothing, and what you share with us stays between us. There is no retainer to sign and no charge tucked away in the fine print. Listing your business with us carries nothing up front either, because our fee comes only when the sale closes and you are paid. That arrangement keeps our attention on a well-prepared sale.
- Condition of the records
- Clean, accountant-prepared statements take less time to review than years of mixed accounts. The state of the books shapes how much preparation the plan calls for.
- Number of owners
- A single owner has one set of goals. Several partners or family members mean more conversations and sometimes separate valuations of each interest.
- Real estate in the picture
- If you own the building, the plan has to decide whether it sells with the business or stays with you. Our Business and Property Sales service covers that choice.
- Length of your runway
- A longer timeline means more check-ins and more chances to improve value. A short runway means focusing on the few changes that matter most.
Exit planning questions
When is the right time to begin an exit plan?
Ideally a few years before your target date, since buyers and lenders tend to study the most recent years of returns and statements. A plan started only months out is still worth having, because it heads off surprises during due diligence. The best moment is usually the first time you catch yourself thinking about leaving.
Does planning commit me to selling?
No. Many owners make a plan, act on it for a while and decide later. The work makes the business stronger whether you sell next year or never.
Will my employees find out?
Only if you choose to tell them. We hold first conversations by phone, by video or at our office, and any walkthrough can be scheduled after hours or handled with photos you send.
What should I have ready for the first meeting?
Three years of tax returns and profit and loss statements are a good start, along with your lease and any major customer or vendor contracts. If something is missing, we will tell you what matters and what can wait.
What if the valuation is lower than I expected?
Better to learn that from us now than from a buyer across the table. We point to each item that pulled the figure down and mark which ones can still change before a listing. Some owners use the extra time to close the gap, while others reset their timeline around a realistic number.
Can the plan cover passing the business to family or a partner?
Yes. We compare an inside transfer with an outside sale, including how a buyout might be financed. Our Acquisition Financing Guidance page explains the financing side.
Start with a clear number and a written plan
A free, confidential valuation is the first page of any good exit. We will walk you through what we found and what to do next, at your pace.