ServicesExit Planning
Exit Planning in Lockhart
Most owners think about selling once, usually when they're tired. We help you plan your exit early, so you know what the business is worth today, what would raise that number, and how to leave on a date you choose.
A plan for leaving, made while you still have choices
Exit planning is the work you do before a sale or handoff. We look at your goals, your timeline and the business as a buyer would see it, then lay out the steps that close the gap between where it stands now and where you want it to be.
For some owners that means a sale in two or three years. For others it means passing the business to a partner, a key employee or a family member. Sometimes the right answer is to keep running it a while longer, and we'll say so.
We sit down with you at our office in Lockhart or by phone and video. It's the kind of conversation you'd want from a neighbor who happens to know this work: honest, private and in plain language.
What exit planning with us covers
A starting valuation
We begin with a free, confidential valuation so you know roughly what the business would bring today. Every other decision builds on that number.
Your goals on paper
How much you need from the sale, when you want to step back, and whether you'd stay on for a transition period. We write it down so the plan has something to measure against.
A buyer's-eye review
We look for what makes buyers nervous: one customer carrying too much of the revenue, an owner who does every job, a lease that's about to run out, or books that mix personal and business spending.
A step-by-step timeline
You get a list of what to fix first, what can wait, and when it makes sense to go to market. Clean financials and a team that can run things without you usually come near the top.
Exit path options
We compare an outside sale, a partner buyout and an internal succession, including what each one means for your price, your timing and the people who work for you.
Signs it's time to start planning your exit
You've started picking a year
If you catch yourself saying "maybe in a few years," that's the best time to start. A plan made with three years of runway gives you far more options than one made in three months.
The business can't run without you
If every customer calls your cell and every decision waits on you, buyers will pay less or walk away. Planning gives you time to build a team that can carry it.
You don't know what it's worth
Guessing a value based on what a friend's business sold for is common. A real number tells you whether your retirement math works.
A partner or family member wants out, or in
When someone's role is about to change, an exit plan sorts out timing and price before it turns into a hard conversation.
An unsolicited offer showed up
A buyer calling out of the blue is flattering, but without a plan you can't tell whether the offer is fair. We help you weigh it calmly.
How exit planning works with us
- 1
A confidential first call
You tell us about the business and what you hope to get from leaving it. Nothing you share goes beyond us, and there's no pressure to list.
- 2
Valuation and review
We gather a few years of financial statements and tax returns, then prepare your valuation and a short review of what helps and hurts the price.
- 3
Your written plan
We meet again to walk through the plan step by step. You'll leave knowing what to work on, roughly how long each item takes, and which outside help, such as your CPA or attorney, you'll need.
- 4
Check-ins along the way
As you work the plan we stay in touch, update the valuation when things change, and tell you honestly when the business looks ready for market. When it is, our Sell a Business service picks up from there.
What shapes the cost of planning an exit
Listing with us costs you nothing up front, and we never ask for a retainer or slip in charges you weren't told about. Our fee comes out of the sale itself, so we're paid only after you are. The real costs of an exit are mostly the time and outside help it takes to get the business ready, and these factors drive that.
- How much runway you have
- A longer timeline spreads the work out and leaves room to fix issues. A short one means choosing which problems to address and which to price into the deal.
- The state of your books
- Clean, separated financials save time. If records need cleanup or recasting, your accountant's work becomes part of the effort.
- Real estate and partners
- Owning the building, sharing ownership or planning a family handoff adds legal and tax steps. Our Business and Property Sales and Partner Buyouts and Succession services cover those paths.
- How dependent the business is on you
- Training a manager or moving key relationships to staff takes months, but it often does more for the final price than anything else on the list.
Exit planning questions owners ask us
Something not covered here? (512) 337-8573
How far ahead should I start planning my exit?
Two to five years before you want to leave is ideal. That gives you time to tidy the books, reduce reliance on you and sell at a good point rather than a forced one. Even a year of planning is better than none.
Do I have to sell through you once we've made a plan?
No. The plan is yours to keep and use however you like. Many owners do list with us when the time comes because we already know the business, but that's your choice.
Will my employees or customers find out I'm planning to leave?
Not from us. We keep every conversation and document confidential, and we can meet by phone or video if you'd rather not be seen coming to our office. When it's time to tell staff, we'll help you decide how and when.
What if the valuation is lower than I hoped?
That's exactly why it helps to know early. We'll show you which parts of the business are holding the number down and what realistically moves it, so you can decide whether to work on it or adjust your timeline.
Can I plan an exit that keeps the business in the family or with my team?
Yes. We look at internal succession alongside an outside sale and compare price, timing and financing for each. If a buyer will need a loan, our Acquisition Financing Guidance service helps them understand their options.
Start with a clear picture of where you stand
Your first step is a private conversation and a free, confidential valuation. From there we'll help you sketch an exit that fits your timeline. We work with owners in Lockhart, Luling and the surrounding area.