Let us help you build your business exit strategy so you get paid fair value for your successful company.

It’s not easy to navigate the exit planning process. Where do you start? Who will run the company and take on your roles? Where do you find a buyer capable of financing the transaction and leading your team? How do you know that you will get paid fair value? What happens if something unexpected derails your plans?

The answers to these questions are too important to leave to chance. A comprehensive exit strategy for small business requires a thoughtful approach and clear strategy. When you are prepared to answer these questions, then you are on track to achieving your exit goals.

In our experience, a business that relies heavily on the selling owner for client relationships, new business development, day-to-day operations, or any other responsibility to maintain ongoing success, is a business that has limited transferable value. Many successful business owners, especially as they begin planning their exit strategy, are transferring the roles and responsibilities that they consider to be no fun, draining, tedious, boring, unfulfilling, the list goes on… These people recognize that the more time they spend working in the business, the more reliance the business has on them for its ongoing success, the less likely they are going to be able to sell it, get paid, and walk away. As you prepare for your transition out of the day to day, consider roles and responsibilities that can be delegated to someone more capable, better suited, or that will enjoy the opportunity. This will free you up to focus on what really matters as you prepare your exit plan and the progress your team is making along the way. You will have the confidence that you are not leaving any value on the table if your team is able to perform all of your roles. Any responsibilities that are kept should be yours because you enjoy them, they energize you, or you are well suited to them.

Your company valuation and your ownership value is only important if you also have an interested and capable buyer. Getting paid fair value requires readiness. For you to be ready, you need to know that the value you receive (after taxes) is sufficient to maintain your lifestyle for your lifetime and to accomplish your financial goals. For your company to be ready, you need to know that you are not obligated to personally guaranty any company debt and that you are not going to leave financial or operational uncertainty for your people. For your leadership team to be ready, you need to support their personal goals and incentivize them with meaningful rewards. When you have identified and prepared each of these, you will have significant transferable value and you will know exactly what a successful transaction means.

Of course, none of this really matters if a catastrophic event derails your plans. If you are like most business owners we work with, you know that unexpected events and their outcomes can disrupt and even destroy a company’s performance. Macroeconomic events, defecting key talent, the sudden and devastating death or disability of someone, the cascading impact of divorce, unprecedented weather events… you may find all of your progress dissolves in an instant. The McFarland Group knows how important contingency planning is in protecting your company and your family from these and other disruptive events. We look for planning inconsistencies that expose you to undesirable outcomes and create solutions that address and resolve these risks. We represent your company, your team, and you as we uncover and resolve concerns that could cause irreparable damage. We prepare you and your company so that if anything should happen, you are able to keep your promises, maintain the course, and achieve your goals. You should be confident that regardless of what happens, the outcome is in alignment with how it should be.

It is The McFarland Group’s mission to develop exit plans that meet and exceed our clients’ goals. We have spent countless hours navigating complex, industry-specific, and unique transaction journeys with our clients. We hope that you will trust us with your exit strategy and allow us to guide you to reach your planning goals.

The McFarland Group asks the very specific and sometimes difficult questions necessary to understand exactly where you need to focus for your Succession Journey. Our experience allows us to cut through the noise and identify the obstacles in the way of your success. We understand that you deal with complexity every day, so we simplify the complexity that comes with preparing for the biggest transaction of your life. Our mission is to set you up to make confident decisions. Our focus is to understand the best possible outcomes for you, your stakeholders, and your company. We are single-mindedly dedicated to making sure you reach your goals.

When you hire us to clarify your Succession Route and guide your Succession Journey, you get the peace of mind that comes with knowing someone is looking out for your best interests. You understand how your advisors are working together to implement your plans. You know your team has a vested interest in achieving your goals, and that the rewards they receive are meaningful and significant to them. When you hire us for your succession planning consulting services, you know that your decisions are setting your team up for success, and setting you free to enjoy the benefits of a well-designed and successfully completed plan.