Exit planning is not a retirement activity, it’s a business strategy.
June 2, 2026 •
I recently earned my Certified Exit Planning Advisor designation, the CEPA. And the biggest thing I walked away with is this:
Exit planning is not a retirement activity, it’s a business strategy.
Everything revolves around keeping three things in balance: your personal readiness, your financial readiness, and your business readiness.
When one leg of that stool is shorter than the others, things get wobbly. And the data from CEPA backs it up.
According to some research, the most commonly reported reason deals fall through is that sellers get cold feet.
Another big lesson is that when most business owners hear “increase your value,” they think they need to increase revenue.
But the real lever is your multiple. Your business value is your profit times a multiple, and that multiple is a range, depending on industry, company size, growth and margins — actual multiples can vary materially.
Where you fall depends on the intangible stuff, like your systems, your people, and how dependent the business is on you.
That means spending a year tightening up your processes and building out your team might end up doing more for your multiple than just focusing on increasing your revenue.
The funny thing is that the stuff you do to make your business attractive to a buyer also just makes it a better business to own.
Some clients who start this process intending to sell have reported that, within a year, they earned more, worked less, and enjoyed their businesses more. Individual results will vary and are not guaranteed.
The thing is, you don’t have to be ready to sell tomorrow.
We walk through all of this in our BuiltWealth™ process before you even become a client. We look at what your business is roughly worth, where you might fall on the range of multiples, and what the gap is between what you have and what you need.
It’s a conversation, not a commitment.
If you’re ready to have that conversation, we’re here to help
-Jason
Book a JobWalk with me and we can start the conversation.
Interested in other Rungs? Check out:
- The full Ladder here or the audio edition here
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HFM Investment Advisors, LLC is a registered investment adviser. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice. Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. All investments involve risk and are not guaranteed. Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives and is not intended as a recommendation appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment advisor to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.
