Your business challenges

Exits are never smooth or stress free. Without advice you’ll find yourself with far more stress than you counted on. You may also find that the whole process fails to deliver your expectations.

Exit strategy – what’s the best option?

There are three main routes to disposal: Family succession, trade sale and management buyout.  All offer different advantages and disadvantages – our experts can talk you through each option and help you make the right decision for you personally.

How do I get the best price?

To get the best price for your business, you’ll need to:

• Ensure the business is in market areas that command high valuations.
• Focus on how to add value, not just sales.
• Make sure the value of the business isn’t tied up with you, the owner.
• Support, mentor and incentivise a successor management team.
• Implement good systems.
• Plan the timing – when your business is well invested not up against issues.
• Let go! Accept that you will no longer be in charge.

We can help you to track down the right people and systems and create incentives that encourage your team to stay when you sell.

Is my business valuation realistic?

Many business owners don’t accurately value their own business. Often they take advice from friends at the gym or golf club rather than professionals!

Our Corporate Finance team can provide an accurate and realistic valuation. This ensures the business is not over or under valued and gets you the best possible price.

How do I pay less tax on exit?

When you sell or exit you could be landed with some heavy tax liabilities unless you’ve done your tax planning properly. We’ll weigh up your personal and corporate tax liabilities to ensure your exit doesn’t cost you more than you bargained for.

How can Haines Watts help with succession planning?

We can help with all aspects of succession planning. We’re happy to dip in and out as you need us to during the whole exit planning process.

Here’s just a taster of how we could help:

• Plan the business strategy to drive maximum value.
• Identify potential buyers and management teams.
• Track down the right people and systems to move forward.
• Make sure your business is well positioned in the market.
• Make sure your business is correctly valued.
• Consider and prepare for the buyers needs and due diligence.
• Tax plan to ensure you pay the least tax possible on exit.
• Work through the transitional period to minimise work and stress.

Planning your exit, maximising business value and extracting capital tax efficiently could be the most important decision you make. To do this without professional help and advice could end up costing.