Preparing to Sell Your Business: 6 Actions to Take Now

1 – Craft a “No Sale” Contingency Plan: Game Delay or Rainout

In the game of entrepreneurship sometimes the market throws a curveball, and your business valuation is less than what you had expected. Instead of striking out, have a contingency plan in place. It’s good to hope for the best but be prepared to adjust your expectations downward if the valuation of your business comes in lower than expected.

Is it possible to remain with the business a few years longer to maximize cash flow and increase the value before selling? With the help of an investment banker, create a plan that outlines the steps and timeline that will impact the market price of your company and provide insight on achieving a higher valuation. On the other hand, although a lower valuation was not what you expected, it may be more than enough to fund all the goals for the remainder of your life.

A wealth advisor who specializes in “cash flow” planning will be able to run a series of financial scenarios that will show the probability of success for every goal and objective you have. Whether it’s adjusting your game plan or exploring alternative avenues, preparation is the key to staying in the game.

2 – Strategize for Potential Tax Increases: The Umpire makes the call

Ah, taxes—the umpire’s call that can change the game. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) is set to sunset on 12/31/2025. What actually happens is anyone’s guess and may depend on which political party controls the White House and Congress.

However, there are specific tax considerations of the TCJA that may make it more advantageous for a business owner to exit before the TCJA sunsets. With the “sunsetting,” individual tax rates are scheduled to increase. The “big one” is the $13.6 million lifetime estate & gift tax exemption ($27.2 million for married couples) that is scheduled to reset to ~$6 million (~$12 million for married couples) in 2026 — that’s a significant difference!

If your business sale is expected to be ~$12M or more, it may be strategic for you to explore selling before the TCJA Sunsets and update your estate planning to include legacy gifts to family while the exemption amount is elevated. This should be a key discussion point with your advisory team — a well-crafted estate plan and tax strategy can save you from getting tagged out at home plate.

3 – Draft Your Dream Team of Advisors

Every championship team has a few key players that impact the probability of winning. It is vital to have advisors who can shepherd you through the rest of your life both before and after a business sale is done. Build a team of advisors comprising a deal attorney, investment banker, CPA, trust & estate attorney, and a wealth advisor.

Certain team members will have a more lasting impact over time than others. While transactional advisors such as a deal attorney and investment banker are essential to winning the game, they are there to do one thing: get maximum value and terms for your business. After that, their job is essentially done.

Business owners also need a wealth advisor who can put a plan in place that will have a high likelihood of helping them achieve their lifetime goals for the capital from a business sale. Far too many business owners have become exceedingly wealthy after a sale, but do not have a permanent wealth advisor in place to help them navigate the next phase of their lives.

4 – Managing Your Cash Flow: Rounding Third and Heading to Home

Establish a cash flow plan that focuses on your goals as “liabilities” that must be funded. The key transition business owners must make after a business exit is to go from having a steady stream of income to making one lump sum last for a generation—and hopefully beyond.

This plan should map out all post-exit lifestyle goals and day-to-day concerns. Think of all goals as liabilities. For example, “day-to-day liabilities” would include the cost of basic necessities such as food, clothes, and health care. “Lifestyle liabilities” would include discretionary expenses such as travel, entertainment, and dining, while “legacy liabilities” would encompass inheritances, endowments and philanthropy.

These liabilities should be adjusted periodically to reflect market conditions or other variables. It’s important to chart out each goal and corresponding liability before a liquidity event. Information is power and if you know the pitcher is going to throw a fast-ball – you have the best chance of hitting a dinger!

5 – Select the Team Captain for Your Deal Team

Exit planning is a team sport, so make sure there is a designated “first among equals” point person to act as the Team Captain of your advisory team. This person should be part of the process from the beginning, taking the lead from the outset and being plugged in with the investment banker, deal attorney, CPA and trust & estate attorney, and wealth advisor as you move through the long season ahead.

In most cases, the wealth advisor should be the Team Captain since he or she is typically very aware of the client’s broad, long-term interests. As previously noted, investment bankers and deal attorneys fill temporary roles on the team. The CPA and estate attorney are more permanent fixtures and fill special roles, providing services largely on a seasonal basis or services for intergenerational planning.

This leaves the wealth advisor as the “all-weather” player, providing the client with continuity and consistency before and after the exit event is completed.

6 – Distribute Equity Gifts Like a Champion

Once a business is in play following a formal valuation process and/or signing of a letter of intent, the value of its equity may increase. Given the current $13.6 million lifetime estate & gift tax exemption ($27.2 million for married couples) cap for gifting to family members, and that those exclusions will be sunsetting in 2025, the sooner there is a plan for gifts, the better. Good planning allows for tremendous intergenerational capital preservation down the line via tax savings.

Selling your business may mean that you won the game, but it does not mean the season is over. After the business exit, the game changes to reflect a diverse set of financial planning and management decisions that are specific to each person and family.

Post Game Box Score

Remember that selling your business is not the final inning—it’s just the seventh inning stretch. With the right players, playbook, and a dash of financial finesse, you can navigate the next phase of life’s complexities like a pro. After all, it is not just about winning the game—it’s about building a dynasty that lasts for generations.