You've spent decades building this business. Don't leave the transition to chance.
A complete guide to preparing yourself and your company for an ownership transition, on your timeline.
We understand
You know this conversation is coming. You've been putting it off because the whole thing feels too big, too permanent, and too loaded with consequences. That's normal. Every owner we've worked with has felt the same way before they started.
Why this kit exists
Byron McFarland has guided closely held business owners through over $3B in ownership transitions across 30 years. This kit contains the frameworks, checklists, and thinking he uses with clients before a single decision gets made.
After reading this kit, you'll know how to
1
Know whether your business is transferable today, or what needs to change before it is
2
Understand the three paths forward (management buyout, external sale, or gradual transition) and which one fits your situation
3
Have a clear picture of your personal, financial, and leadership readiness, so you can start planning from a position of clarity, not pressure
What's in the kit
2 white papers + 7 articles, free
White Papers
Succession Planning: The CEO's Guide to the Future
A research-based look at why most succession plans fail and what separates the companies that get it right, drawing on data from Vistage CEO peer groups.
Are You Ready to Sell?
A checklist of the risks that reduce business value at sale, and what to fix before you go to market.
Articles (7)
Buy-Sell Agreements — What Every Business Owner Should Know
A buy-sell agreement protects your ownership, your partners, and your business when life changes. Here's how they work, what they cover, and the mistakes that make them worthless.
Is It Better to Sell or Gift Your Business to Your Children?
Selling and gifting your business to your children both carry real trade-offs. Here's how to think through the financial, tax, and family dynamics before you decide.
Succession Planning Checklist for Closely Held Businesses
A practical succession planning checklist covering business readiness, personal readiness, leadership readiness, and legal and financial steps. Built for closely held business owners who want to prepare on their terms.
+ 4 more articles included
Owners who wait lose options. Every year without a plan, the business becomes harder to transfer, key people get restless, and your leverage narrows. This kit costs you nothing but an hour of reading. Not having a plan could cost you years.
Get the Exit Planning Kit
Two white papers and seven articles. Everything you need to start thinking through this with confidence.
You'll know where you stand, what to work on, and when to start. No pressure to make a decision. Just the clarity to make a good one when the time comes.
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