Welcome to The ExitMap Express

Did you know that 4,000,000 business owners will seek to transition their companies over the next 10 years?

On average, 350,000 owners sell, transfer or close their businesses each year. Most believe they will follow the “traditional” route to retirement, which means listing their company for sale with a business broker and then waiting for a buyer.

The reality is that brokers in the U.S. list about 50,000 businesses for sale each year, and eventually sell about 20% of those. To assist the majority of business owners seeking transition alternatives, many professionals now offer exit planning advisory services.

The path you choose should consider your time frame, personal goals, financial objectives, legacy intentions, the needs of other stakeholders and your vision for life after the business. Your answer may be selling to a third party, but sales to employees and transfers to family can result in the same proceeds and security, with far less stress. Exit planning is the process of examining your options.

The first step in a journey is to decide how you will get there. For that, you need a map. The map doesn’t tell you how to go. It quantifies your options. How long will it take? What roads should you use? If you take a side trip, how far out of your way must you go? Can you get there in the time you anticipated, or do you need to plan for contingencies? ExitMap® ExpressTM helps owners examine their options.

Driven by standardized tools and technology, ExitMap® ExpressTM is specifically focused on the exit options that align with your goals. It does not create personal financial plans, estate plans, enterprise value enhancement strategies, management development, or continuity planning. Those issues will be discussed, but it will your choice whether to address them.

The process outlined here is designed for business owners working together with a qualified and trusted advisor. As such, only an ExitMap® Advisor can access the tools and online resources to com- plete an ExitMap® ExpressTM plan. The help of an experienced exit planning coach will prove invalua- ble when considering your choices.

Remember that planning isn’t the same as implementation. Creating a plan doesn’t force you into a specific time frame, but having defined objectives will materially influence your future business deci- sions. The first step is to understand your options. The implementation schedule is up to you.

Good luck on your journey. We hope it is the most rewarding stage of your business career!