How to Make Exit Planning Part of your Operating Plan

Many business owners think about selling only when they’re ready to move on.

But here’s the hard truth:

By then, it’s often too late to shape the value you’ll get.

Buyers come armed with checklists, looking for reasons to discount your life’s work.

The businesses that command top dollar? They started exit planning 5–10 years in advance—embedding value drivers into their operations long before the first buyer calls.

What Buyers Really Look For

• Consistent Financial Growth
  Recurring revenue, strong margins, and minimal debt signal stability

• Market Differentiation
  Unique value, loyal customers, and high retention rates set you apart.

• Operational Maturity
  Documented processes, scalable systems, and a team that runs without you reduces perceived risk.

• Legal & Compliance Readiness
  Clean contracts and no pending litigation keep deals moving.

• Leadership Continuity
  Succession plans and a strong management team reassure buyers.
  
  

• Perfect Timing
  The right market conditions can multiply your valuation—but only if you’re ready.
  

Why Many Owners Leave Money on the Table

It’s easy to get caught up working in your business and lose sight of what makes it valuable to a buyer.

When you wait until the last minute, you’re forced into a reactive scramble—patching up processes, rushing to document systems, and hoping your team can step up.

That’s when buyers see risk, not opportunity.

How On the Floor Consulting Maximizes Your Valuation

Most consultants hand you a plan and walk away. I do things differently.

✔ Hands-On Execution - As your Interim COO, I work side-by-side with your team, uncovering hidden risks and building operational strength from the inside out.

✔ North Star Operating Model - Together, we set a 10-year vision, break it down into annual and quarterly goals, and build the systems to achieve them.

✔ Talent Optimization - The right people, in the right seats, with clear roles and growth paths.

✔ Process Maturity - Documented, repeatable, and scalable processes that drive efficiency and growth – setting you up to exit your business on the best possible footing.

✔ Proactive Risk Management - Identify and address issues before they threaten value.

✔ Performance Tracking - Real-time dashboards keep you on course and accountable.

The Bottom Line

You’ve built something great.
Don’t let last-minute planning leave money on the table.

Start building your exit value today—so when the time comes, you exit on your terms, at your price.

Ready to future-proof your business and maximize your exit with an effective operating plan?

or message me on LinkedIn to start the conversation.