Exit Planning
Go out on your terms and pass the torch successfully for yourself, your company, and its new leaders. It’s time to cement your legacy.
How to Plan Your Business Exit and Maximize Value
Whether you’re 5 years out or 5 months, we help you build a business worth buying.
Most business owners spend decades building value but only weeks thinking about how to capture it. Exit planning is the process of preparing your business — and yourself — for a successful transition, whether that means selling to a third party, transitioning to family or management, or recapitalizing for growth.
Icon helps owners with $3M to $50M in revenue develop and execute exit strategies that maximize business value and align with personal financial goals.
Who Exit Planning Is For
- Owners considering exit within 1–5 years
- Founders who want to understand their options before making decisions
- Businesses that need value-building work before going to market
- Owners navigating succession, partner buyouts, or ownership transitions
What Exit Planning Includes
Exit Readiness Assessment
We evaluate your business across the key dimensions buyers care about: financial performance, customer concentration, management depth, operational systems, and growth trajectory.
Business Valuation
Understanding what your business is worth today — and what it could be worth with targeted improvements — is the foundation of smart exit planning.
Value Enhancement Roadmap
We identify the specific changes that will increase your business value before you go to market. This might include cleaning up financials, reducing owner dependence, diversifying revenue, or strengthening management.
Exit Strategy Development
Full sale, partial sale, recapitalization, management buyout, family succession — we help you evaluate each option against your financial goals and personal priorities.
Timeline and Execution Plan
A clear roadmap with milestones, accountability, and regular check-ins to keep you on track toward your target exit date.
Frequently Asked Questions About Exit Planning
When should I start planning my exit?
Ideally, 2–5 years before you want to exit. The businesses that sell for the highest multiples are the ones that have been intentionally prepared. That said, it’s never too early or too late to start.
How do I know if my business is ready to sell?
Key indicators of exit readiness include clean financial records (3+ years), documented processes, management depth beyond the owner, diversified customer base, and consistent profitability. Our Exit Readiness Assessment can help you evaluate where you stand.
What can I do to increase my business value before selling?
The most impactful value drivers include reducing owner dependence, growing recurring revenue, diversifying your customer base, documenting key processes, and building a strong management team. Most owners can significantly increase their exit value with 12–24 months of focused preparation.
Ready to Start Planning?
Whether you’re years away or months from your exit, a conversation now can save you significant value later.