Selling Your Business
The sale of a business is often the largest financial event in an owner’s life.
Whether you’re considering a private equity transaction, ESOP, a sale to a competitor, or a family succession plan, understanding your options before entering a process can significantly impact your outcome.
Before You Sell: Key Questions Every Owner Should Answer
Your Exit Options
Strategic Sale
- Potentially the highest headline valuation
- Usually full liquidity
- Less ongoing control
Private Equity
- Partial liquidity
- Rollover equity
- Potential second bite of the apple
- Varying levels of involvement post-sale
ESOP
- Employee ownership
- Flexibility on transition timeline
- Tax advantages
Family Transition
- Family continuity
- Unique tax and governance circumstances
- Growth considerations
WHAT DRIVES VALUATION MULTIPLES
Two businesses generating identical EBITDA can trade at dramatically different multiples based on their risk and growth profiles. Understanding what drives multiples gives you a roadmap for building enterprise value long before you go to market.
Business Owner Guides
Ready To Start
The most valuable step you can take today is to understand your options.
Whether your exit is two years away or ten, the decisions you make now - on entity structure, estate planning, and advisor selection - determine the outcome.
