Successful Exit Strategies for Small & Medium Businesses Are you relying on your business for your retirement, to pay off your mortgage or to move onto a new opportunity? Unfortunately, for most business owners this rarely happens! Planning your exit strategy will maximise your available options and help to secure the highest possible value for your business. Do not leave planning your exit too late or do no planning at all, if you do this will leave you with only three options: - Continue working in the business - Sell it for a fraction of what they had expected - Close the business down Creating a successful exit strategy and preparing your business for a profitable sale takes around 5 years. The earlier you start, the better! This will mean both you and the business are ready for exit, allowing you to achieve the best price for your business and make the greatest profits along the way.