Articles
Exit planning, succession, valuation and building a business that runs without you.
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Sep 30, 2026
The Transition Trap: You Can’t Cash the Check and Still Run the Business
You sold the business. The check cleared. The wire hit your account. Then the buyer calls. A customer is upset. An employee wants approval. A supplier needs an answer. A major decision…
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Sep 29, 2026
Business Owner Retirement Planning: Your Retirement Number and Your Business Value Are Not the Same Number
You have a number in your head. Maybe it is $5 million. Maybe it is “enough to retire.” Maybe it is whatever someone told you your business might sell for. Those are…
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Sep 28, 2026
If You Died Tonight, What Would Your Business Be Worth Tomorrow?
Most owners think their business is worth what it earns. That is only half true. A buyer does not pay for yesterday’s earnings. A buyer pays for the earnings they believe will…
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Sep 27, 2026
Legacy Is Not a Plan: Why “My Kids Will Take Over” Is the Most Expensive Assumption You’ll Ever Make
“My kids will take over.” I hear it often. It sounds like a plan. It is not. It is an assumption about leadership, ownership, capability, motivation, family relationships, taxes, and timing. All…
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Sep 26, 2026
Sell, Pass It Down, or Close the Doors? How to Choose Your Exit Path
Every business owner eventually exits. You will sell it. You will pass it down. Or you will close the doors. There is no fourth option called “keep going forever.” Yet many owners…
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Sep 25, 2026
How to Prepare Your Business for Sale in 24 Months (A Plan That Builds Value Even If You Never Sell)
Most owners think preparing a business for sale means cleaning up the books, calling a broker, and hoping a buyer appears. That is not a plan. That is a fire drill. A…
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Sep 24, 2026
Only 14% of Owners Know Their Company’s Real Value. Here’s How to Join Them (in 5 Steps)
Most owners carry a number in their head. They may call it the value of the business. But often, it is a guess built from: Revenue Years in business Equipment A friend’s…
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Sep 23, 2026
90% of Buyers Expect Seller Financing. Only 29% of Owners Are Ready. Which One Are You?
The market is telling business owners something they do not always want to hear. Buyers expect flexibility. Owners expect cash. Those expectations do not match. According to BizBuySell’s Q2 2026 Insight Report,…
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Sep 22, 2026
Why the Average Owner Retires at 71 (And What Those Extra Years Cost Your Business Value)
The number is not exact. It is still revealing. Research from the U.S. Small Business Administration found that small business owners expected to retire at an average age of 72.6, compared with…
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Sep 21, 2026
The 5 D’s of Business Exit: Death, Disability, Divorce, Distress, and Disagreement
Most owners plan for a sale they choose. They picture a clean handoff. A strong buyer. A fair price. A few quiet months afterward. That is the preferred version. It is not…
