Succession planning

Helping business owners navigate succession, maximise value and plan for life beyond the business.

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Successful succession planning starts long before you are ready to step away

Planning early gives you more time to strengthen the business, assess your options and achieve the best outcome for you, your family and the company.

A successful business exit is about more than the transaction itself. Taking time to define your personal and financial goals will help shape the right succession or exit strategy and ensure the outcome supports your longer-term ambitions. Whether your priorities include financial independence, lifestyle changes, market timing, tax efficiency or estate planning, our Private Clients team can help you develop a plan that works for both your business and your future.

Choose the right route

Compare the commercial and tax implications of a trade sale, family succession, management buyout or Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) to identify the best option for your goals.

Prepare and protect

Bring together advisors with the right experience to address potential obstacles, protect value and deliver a tax-efficient transition that serves the company’s best interests.

Life after exit

Put a strategy in place to protect and manage your wealth while creating the freedom and financial confidence to pursue new ventures, travel, hobbies or philanthropic goals.

Guide

Getting your business ready for sale or succession

Preparing your business for sale or succession means making it attractive to future owners and ready to thrive without you. Strengthening the management team, reducing reliance on key individuals, addressing operational risks and demonstrating sustainable performance can help protect value and give potential buyers or successors greater confidence.

Our step-by-step guide takes you from initial assessment through to exit, helping you understand the key decisions at each stage and prepare your business for a smooth, successful transition.

Establish your objectives, priorities and long-term aspirations for the business.

Consider the desired outcome of the transaction and the future requirements of the business.

Ensure shareholders are aligned on their objectives, expectations and preferred route to succession or exit.

Discuss business value, potential opportunities and key factors that could enhance buyer interest.

Outline a pre-sale plan for the next six to 24 months, including key priorities and value creation initiatives.

Assess whether an exit is achievable and identify the factors that will influence value.

Consider the timing for an exit based on market conditions, business performance and personal goals.

Review the group structure and tax position to support an efficient and effective transition.

Identify potential risks and put measures in place to protect value and support transaction certainty.

Assess market appetite and the buyer universe to identify opportunities and maximise value.

Strengthen leadership capacity and align key individuals with the business strategy.

Develop incentive arrangements that align key individuals with business objectives and future growth.

Identify the management team and determine their role in supporting the transition.

Plan for continuity after the deal to maintain stability and support long-term success.

Assess management capabilities and identify any gaps that may need addressing.

Prepare the business for due diligence and address issues before going to market.

Review business readiness across financial, tax, operational and legal matters before an exit.

Prepare the business for sale with robust data, documentation and vendor readiness planning.

Investigate potential issues through vendor due diligence and address findings proactively.

Develop a credible growth story that enhances value and buyer confidence.

Establish a clear growth plan aligned with business objectives and value creation goals.

Set ambitious yet achievable targets to support growth and maximise business value.

Analyse financial forecasts to assess performance and support informed decision-making.

Review and challenge assumptions to strengthen plans and improve future outcomes.

Execute the transaction and achieve a successful outcome for shareholders.

Promote the opportunity through targeted marketing and effective stakeholder communications.

Market the business to relevant buyers while maintaining confidentiality and control.

Negotiate offers and manage due diligence to achieve the best possible outcome.

Deliver the transaction efficiently through effective process management and execution.

PLANNING YOUR BUSINESS FINANCES

Business Cash Extraction Calculator

Entrepreneurs are acutely aware that they pay a lot of tax and are highly motivated to mitigate their liability where acceptable. One of the most popular ways to reduce tax liability has been to consider options for income extraction. Historically, the answer has almost invariably been dividends. Successive budgets, however, have narrowed the dividend advantage. Now, a better answer is, 'it depends.'

Our calculator helps approach this complex topic in a non-technical way. Used correctly, it helps you see the net spendable cash left after all taxes, which can then be considered along with other differentiating factors compared with a director/shareholder of a company, based on a chosen level of business profit.

Use the Cash Extraction Calculator