Exit, Restart, Partnership? Have You Truly Defined Your Goals?

Selling a business is not just a financial decision – it’s also a personal one. Many entrepreneurs enter the process without clearly defining their own goals. Do I want to exit completely – or grow further with a partner? Do I want to retire – or stay involved for a few more years? These questions are crucial for finding a buyer and structuring the deal.

Buyers often have clear expectations: equity participation, earn-out, transition period. If these don’t align with the seller’s goals, things get complicated. Honest self-reflection at the start of the process helps avoid later conflicts – and ensures the right buyer group is targeted.

Tax and family considerations also play a role: What happens to the proceeds? How will the wealth be structured?

An experienced advisor helps raise these questions early – and translate them into an appropriate buyer search and deal structure. Because the best deal isn’t the one with the highest price, but the one that fits your life plans. Those who recognize this early negotiate more clearly – and more successfully. Sellers who have a transparent and clear vision for their future and the company’s future are also perceived more positively by buyers during the sales process.