Submitted by Pam Hargis
Here's a number that should stop every business owner in their tracks: only 20–30% of businesses that go to market actually sell. The rest close their doors with no other options. The reason isn't the economy or bad timing - it's because the business wasn’t built with the end game in mind.
Most business owners spend years building something incredible and almost no time thinking about the future. When you're deep in the day-to-day, thinking about your exit feels premature, even uncomfortable. But here's the truth most business owners learn too late: your exit strategy isn't about leaving. It's about building something worth leaving and easy for new owners to jump right in.
Whether you plan to sell in three years, pass the business to your children, bring in a partner, or simply want the freedom to step back someday, the actions you take today are either building toward that future or quietly working against it.
According to the Exit Planning Institute, 76% of business owners plan to exit within 10 years, yet only 17% have a transition plan.
If someone makes you a serious offer tomorrow, would you know what your business is worth? Would your financials withstand due diligence? Could the business operate without you in the room?
For most owners, the honest answer is no, not because they haven't worked hard, but because no one ever helped them look at their business through the lens of enterprise value. That changes everything.
What Actually Drives Business Value
A business that commands top dollar isn't just profitable; it's built on critical value drivers that sophisticated buyers and investors look for every time: financial performance, growth potential, customer diversification, recurring revenue, operational systems, and more.
Perhaps most important is what I call the Valuation Teeter-Totter. Studies show that businesses, where the owner is deeply involved in daily operations, can lose up to 80% of their value when the owner exits. Ask yourself – when was the last time you took a week for vacation and COMPLETELY disconnected from the business? The more the business depends on YOU, the less it's worth to anyone else.
Building a business that runs without you isn't just a lifestyle goal; it's your most powerful financial strategy.
Find Out Where You Stand - For Free!
I've spent years helping business owners identify the gap between where their business is today and what it could be worth at exit. That's why I created the Business Health & Growth Assessment, a comprehensive tool that evaluates your business across all eight value drivers, four intangible capital arenas, growth strategy, leadership maturity, execution excellence, and exit readiness.
For the first 10 Daytona Chamber members who complete the online assessment, I am offering the full assessment AND a personalized debrief of your results, at no charge. This is a $1,500 value!
Click here -> FREE Business Health & Growth Assessment!
Your end game matters. Let's make sure your business is ready for it!
Pam Hargis
Certified Business & Executive Master Coach phargis@focalpointcoaching.com
386-847-8028 (o) 407-766-5539 (c) www.pamhargis.focalpointcoaching.com
