If you are a grow and exit owner, an advisory board (with outsiders, not family) can be beneficial to helping you chart a path to exit on your terms. smartbrief.com/original/in-un…

Optimizing cash flow means managing your working capital, your capex, and operational cash flow. It's important because this is the lifeblood of your organization. news-leader.com/story/news/bus…

1) Performers--Improve core capabilities, the systems of the business. 2) Investors--Figure out what products/services work and double down on investing in them. 3) Creators--Build new products, services, business models (think Steve Jobs). mckinsey.com/capabilities/g…

Are you a creator, investor, or performer? ideally, you'd like to be at least 2 of 3 to outperform.

“The emotional toll—you know, selling a business isn’t just a financial transaction. It’s an emotional process. I hired most of the people that I work with, and I underestimated how attached I was to the staff and the environment,” he said. businesstransitionsforum.com/blog/former-bu…

An exit plan should consider: Client Continuity, Operational Resilience, Scalability, Key Person Risk, and Cultural Fit. mercercapital.com/dont-punt-on-s…

Too often I hear business owners find reasons not to do planning, as though planning a business sale and executing one should happen simultaneously. Planning takes time. You need the right mindset and the will to make the necessary changes. prometispartners.com/youre-not-sell…

1) Have a goal in mind. 2) Don't get too important. 3) Lean on your peers. 4) Be ready for change. inc.com/brian-contrera…

We just passed Canada Day, the half way point of the year. A good time to slow down and reflect. Where are you in meeting your goals for 2025? On track, ahead, or behind? Taking time to reflect and PIVOT, if necessary, is an important part of the process.

Recasting financials (or normalization) is an important part of the process for valuing companies, along with preparing yourself for an exit. bizbuysell.com/learning-cente…

Whether you are creating a business plan, an exit plan, or a growth plan, there are some key things to consider: 1) Cash flow forecasting; 2) Income statement projections; 3) Balance sheet; 4) Break-even analysis; 5) Expense management bankrate.com/loans/small-bu…

The three goals of a business owner thinking about exiting: 1) Increase the value of the business 2) De-risk the business 3) Ensure business continuity exitplanning.com/maximize-busin…

One of the real killers is not understanding your true costs. Failure to do so may mean you continue to do activities that are not only not creating value for the business, they are destroying it. bdc.ca/en/articles-to…

"...many family-owned businesses find that formalizing governance mechanisms can help mitigate conflicts, streamline decision-making processes, and align the interests of family members with strategic business goals." deloitte.wsj.com/cfo/family-own…

Not everyone's estate is as complex as Rupert Murdoch, but estate planning is still a key aspect of business exit planning. wealthprofessional.ca/business-news/…

Selling a business under pressure isn't a good idea. You have no leverage and it will cost you money. Exit planning can help mitigate the risks and give you some leverage back. worldwidebusinessbrokers.com/selling-a-busi…

Numbers are important, but so are qualitative aspects such as repeatability of business and the strength of management team prometispartners.com/is-your-busine…

Sometimes, it's not all about the money. There may is a strong purpose behind your organization that overrides just profit. Make sure those goals and aspirations outlive your leadership with proper exit planning. fa-mag.com/news/why-succe…