Building a good company and building one to sell are parallel journeys. Businesses running smoothly attract better offers than those requiring restructuring.
Three Key Pillars
1. Building Strong Business Foundations
Successful enterprises master fundamental operations.
Establishing documented systems and processes compounds benefits over time. Financial records, team development, and sales procedures form critical building blocks.
The boring work creates the value.
2. Delivering Sustainable Growth and Profit
Consistent revenue generation and profitability appeal to future buyers.
While a 2015 vision document guided my company’s trajectory, the journey looked a lot different to our expectations. Maintaining focus during challenging periods remains essential.
Plans change. Discipline doesn’t.
3. Preparing to Sell Your Business
Many entrepreneurs fail to realize full value because they neglect sale-ready preparation.
Weaknesses discovered during buyer evaluation extend timelines and reduce valuations. It’s easier to sell a good business. They also command a higher value at exit.
The Key Takeaway
Adequate preparation begins immediately. It’s never premature.
Audit each department’s operational readiness, account accuracy, and staff documentation long before pursuing an exit strategy.
The time to prepare for sale is now, regardless of when you plan to actually sell.
Go deeper: Read the full Agency Exit Strategy Guide for a step-by-step plan to build exit-readiness into your business today.