When you start your business, all your energy goes into product or service development, marketing and sales; you certainly don't think about your exit strategy. 

As your business grows, your focus may move to building a stronger team and innovating to stay ahead of your competition. But at what stage do you start to plan your exit strategy?

We work with you to help you plan your exit strategy so that you have clear plans from the outset.

The importance of exit planning

The earlier you begin to work on your exit strategy, the better. There are several options you may wish to consider:

• The most common exit strategy, especially for sole traders, is to draw profits from the business over time and close the company down.
• Move your business to a family member if you have someone in the family with the skills and passion to take over the reins.
• If you have built an enthusiastic team and have the skills to take on the business, a management buy-out may be an excellent option.
• Selling on the open market is the popular exit strategy that profitable businesses opt for, as you can get the best return on your investment.
• You can position your business, so it is attractive for an acquisition by a company planning to grow through this route.

Why choose Watson Knipe?

We start by understanding your objectives, exploring all available options, and working with you to ensure your business is in the best possible position for you to exit successfully.  The planning process will give you the best financial gain on exit.

We can help you with your business exit strategy in the following way:

• Whether you decide to close your business and liquidate your assets or sell your business, you need to have all your accounts in order.
• If you plan to sell your business or are planning a management buy-out, you will need at least two years of financial records to show that you are profitable. 
• It's essential to get your business valued so you have some idea of how much it will potentially be worth if you sell it, we can help you through this process.

We work with businesses based in Derby, Nottingham, Leicester and across the UK. If you want to develop an exit strategy for your business, please contact us by calling 01623 490 120 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..