Business Exit Strategy Planning

It’s your business. You have put your heart, soul and endless hours into it. And one day you will exit from your business.

Every owner will exit his or her business someday, yet far too many owners delay planning for this eventuality until that someday suddenly becomes today. This delay may result in unnecessary income taxation, the compromise of lifetime objectives or the inability of the business to survive the transition to the next generation.

The primary objective of business exit strategy planning is to maximize for you and your family, the value of your business in the event of any life cycle contingency and to ensure the future success and viability of this valuable asset for your employees, management team and business partners.

While many of Cherry Street Partners’ prospective clients have addressed, in some fashion, the risk management aspect of business succession planning (i.e., death and disability), adequate planning has not been done to address the more likely scenario of retirement. Strategic retirement planning issues that should be addressed include:

1. How much do I need to retire in style?

2. How much of this capital must be provided from the disposition of my business?

3. What steps am I taking now to best ensure that I realize this value?

4. What are the income tax consequences of a sale and how can I minimize that?

5. What business structure will net the highest dollar upon disposition?

6. Do I have the proper infrastructure and people to build value?

7. Is today’s management team the right team to take my business to the next level so I can meet my objectives?

8. How do I get my management team to better focus on my long-term strategies?

9. How do I cultivate and mentor the next generation of owner/managers?

10. Where do my children fit into all of this?

11. How can I realize my financial independence while realizing my objective of passing my business to my children?

At Cherry Street Partners, we have the experience to address these exit planning issues as well as your risk management objectives. We work with you and your other trusted advisors to help you clarify your goals and design and implement an orderly and efficient succession plan.