Business tips: Setting your goals for a business exit

Here is some important advice on setting the right goals for your business exit.

Every business has a finite lifespan. Some may last for decades, and some may only last a couple of years. As the owner of a business, the life of your business is likely to be strongly aligned with your own life goals and personal plans for the future.

When the time comes to sell up, it’s important to know what your goals are for the sale. Are you looking to retire? Or do you have a burning ambition to start a new venture?

Define your exact goals from the sale of the business

At the point of planning an exit, you need to think carefully about WHY you’re selling up and WHAT you want to achieve. This is a huge change in your life, your business career and the fortunes of your company and employees.

Ask yourself what your true goals are from this exit:

  • Do you want to retire, ease the pressure and enjoy some freedom?
  • Has this business journey come to an end and you need a new challenge?
  • Do you need to free up your capital to invest in other business or personal projects?
  • Is there a worthy successor who’s itching to jump into the hot seat?

Whatever the motivation for a business exit may be, be sure to consider your options and decide on some concrete end goals.

Who is going to take over the business?

Business sales are rarely a simple process and by putting the company on the market you’re opening yourself up to a complicated process of negotiation, financial agreements and legal wrangling.

Knowing who will take over the business can be difficult to predict, but you do have several options when it comes to the end outcome.

For example, you could:

  • Sell the business outright to a new owner and remove yourself from the company
  • Sell the business but remain on as chairperson or a non-executive director (NED)
  • Merge the business with a sympathetic competitor to aid their growth
  • Agree to a partial or complete acquisition from a competitor or private equity firm
  • Pass the business on to the next generation of your family
  • Agree to a management buyout from your existing team.

Outline how the sale proceeds will be used

Once any sale, merger or acquisition is complete, you’ll be on the receiving end of a substantial amount of money. But what do you intend to do with this money?

The way you use the funds from the sale will vary, depending on your end goals for the business exit. As the vendor, this money can fund various different life goals for you, so it’s crucial that you have a clear understanding of what you want to do with the sale proceeds.

Will the funds be used to:

  • Build a nest egg for retirement – if your goal is to retire, the price you sell the business for will need to provide enough funds to see you comfortably through your retirement. This means understanding your life goals, your outgoings and budgeting accordingly.
  • Form the capital for a new business idea – you might be ready for a new business challenge. If so, your sale price needs to cover the startup costs needed to found a new business, while also covering your personal financial needs in the early stages.
  • Gift money to your family and the next generation – it could be that you want to pass on your wealth to your family. If that’s the case, you need to factor in the money you plan to gift, while also considering your own financial needs over the coming years.
  • Make donations to charities, social causes or political interests – if you have particular charities and causes that are close to your heart, you may want to donate some of your sale proceeds to these institutions. Whatever you decide to donate, make sure that you’re aware of the tax implications and how this affects your tax bill.
  • Invest the money to create a return – you may want to invest the sale proceeds to create a healthy return and increase your wealth. This could mean investing in other startup projects, buying shares in growing companies or putting your money into a pension scheme or high-interest savings account. Again, knowing the tax implications of any kind of investment is vital if you’re going to invest in a tax-efficient way.

Getting ready to exit the business

Selling your business is a big move, where it’s invaluable to have the best possible support and advice to guide you through the sale process.

Talk to your accountant, tax agent and other business advisers and run your exit goals past them. As a founder, it can be difficult to be objective about your business. External advisers have the advantage of being able to look from the outside in, with real objectivity. This helps you get independent, expert advice on your exit goals, your strategy and your tax planning.

And just in case you wonder how we can assist, check out our list of services here.

The Ultimate Bookkeeping Impact Checklist: The Top 22 Ways To Know If It’s Time To Level-Up Your Bookkeeping Support Team So You Can Achieve More Of Your Purpose

Is your current bookkeeping and finance
team helping you achieve more of your
organisation’s purpose… or are they holding
you back?

With the help of this quick checklist, you can stop
guessing and see for yourself what business could
look like with the right purpose-driven bookkeepers
on your side. Download it now for FREE to get started!

Download Now for FREE:

The Ultimate Bookkeeping Impact Checklist

Share this post

We’ve Helped These Clients Focus Less On Their Finances, And More On Their Purpose

Here’s what they had to say:

We have had an enduring
relationship because Clare goes
beyond being just a “service
provider”.

The team at Purposely are always
invested in my clients and my own
organisations success. They partner
with their customers, accountants
and auditors to deliver tailored
solutions and they are always
proactive in their approach. If you are
looking for dedication and a long-
term partnership, these are the guys
for you.

Varis K.

VLK Accounting

We engaged with Clare and the
team to bring our organisation
into the cloud and we haven’t
looked back since.

It’s now 4 years down the track and
the Purposely team continue to
provide such an invaluable service to
our business. They understand the
complexities of working with remote
organisations and they handle
everything we need with the greatest
sensitivity. From bookkeeping, to
payroll to assisting us with all our
audit queries. They have changed the
way we operate for the better.

Anna and Steve H.

Noonkanbah Aboriginal Corporation

Purposely has looked after my
business for a long time now and
I am very happy with the service.

They are very professional and I know
things are always up to date. Clare
and her staff are great to deal with
and I trust them, that’s important. I
would not be in business today if I did
not find them.

Les R.

Quic Dig (WA) Pty Ltd

Nothing is too much trouble!

I have never felt so supported in
business… Since joining forces with
Purposely, I have become more
financially aware, have a much better
understanding of my own business
and my cash flow has improved
tenfold. [They] really have my
business’s best interests at heart.

Kellie G.

A* Star Cleanings

Purposely have been 
(and remain) invaluable to us in
making sure that this part of our
business is handled efficiently 
and with careful attention
to detail.

Paying our casual workers on time is
critical to the success of our business.
Mistakes and delays are not easy to
absorb in a small business and it’s a
great comfort to us that Purposely 
feel the same way. Timely, accurate
advice to help our business run
smoothly!

Dirima C.

Dortch & Cuthbert Trading Trust

The integrity of the Purposely
team is beyond question and we
know we can always rely on them
to prioritise the best interests of
our organisation.

Marrugeku engaged with Purposely in
2017 to handle all our bookkeeping
and payroll requirements. They
consistently show up, week in week
out with efficiency and good humour.
Even during the challenging times
faced by the entertainment industry
due to COVID-19, Purposely supported
us all the way. The Purposely team
work hard to manage the complexities 
of payroll for staff in Live
Performance. And each year they
strive to achieve a smooth audit, 
showing their dedication.

Guy B.

Marrugeku Inc.

The team at Purposely has been
a crucial resource to our
business. When we first started
working with them our books
needed dedicated attention.

Purposely did an amazing job at
bringing them up to date, making
things tidy and accurate. The team is
always reliable and consistently get
the work done. While their persistent
reminders may sometimes feel like
hounding, we recognise that it is
precisely what our business needs.
We highly recommend them for their
professionalism and commitment to
delivering results.

Holly G.

Cameron Herbert Constructions Pty Ltd

I have been working with
Purposely for a couple of years
now and in this time the team
has shown significant support to
me and my business.

Their technical expertise has helped me get my business in order leaving me to focus on what I do best. They communicate on a weekly basis so I know where things are at and what is yet to be done. Everything is completed and lodged on time and in full. I trust that they handle my data confidentially and would recommend them to anyone who is seeking the “next level” in terms of a bookkeeper.

Luke D.V.

Swat Suspension Wheel & Tyre Pty Ltd

I’m an exercise physiologist,
extremely busy and very
successful and wouldn’t be
where I am today without the
help of Purposely.

They have saved me a lot of time and
money helping my business to become
more streamlined and efficient, which
has saved me a lot of stress. I would
highly recommend Purposely as they
are very professional and very easy to
deal with.

Chris A.

Chris Anastasios Exercise Physiology

We have been working with Clare
and her team for the last 6 years.

Our initial contact with them came
from the difficulties we faced in
integrating our point of sale system
with our accounting software. We
required someone with technical
expertise to fix this issue, and Clare
immediately got on with the job. Since
then, Clare and her team have shown
commitment to adapt to our evolving
needs and implement effective
systems and processes, all of which
have contributed to enhancing our
overall operations.

Vanessa A.

Think Water Broome

We had no second thoughts on choosing Purposely.

My biggest pain point was not having clarity on the business financials from the previous bookkeepers. It was frustrating to try to communicate with them regarding anything. That’s when we found Purposely (Clare), our first impression was she was very professional and knowledgeable on what she does. We now have clarity, trust and good communication whether it comes to processing the payroll or bookkeeping or even sorting out the invoices. Clare and her team are always there to support and help and simplify things for us.

Bikram P.

Dragonfly Cafe

We have been dealing with Clare and Purposely for over 4 years because they handle the bookkeeping for one of our clients.

We can thoroughly recommend them to anyone that needs an efficient, accurate and easy to work with bookkeeper. We have always found their work to be of the highest quality.

Peter W.

Accounting on Tap Pty Ltd

I have nothing but praise for Clare & the team, they have always bent over backwards to help.

Myself & my business have been involved with Purposely for many years now after our internal Book-keeper decided to retire & suggested I look into what was/is Purposely. Purposely are Kimberley locals & understand how difficult it can be working remotely to run a business in this part of Australia. The team adapted to my requests & business style very quickly and I have to admit I haven’t always been the easiest person to work with due to the remote nature of our work & my lack of computer skills. GND will continue to use Purposely for the foreseeable future of our business.

Sam C.

Great Northern Demolition Pty Ltd

Since we started working with Purposely in 2018, we’ve witnessed their unique approach to bookkeeping which sets them apart.

Their commitment to due diligence and technical expertise exceeds the standards of traditional bookkeeping models. Their thoroughness extends beyond skilful application and experience, encompassing excellent communication with both clients and their accountants/auditors. With an experienced staff member always at hand, they provide a reliable asset to any organization fortunate enough to collaborate with them. Purposely offers an outstanding solution for organizations seeking outsourced financial management, whether it be for partial or comprehensive support.

Desiree M.

Male & Co

You Might Be Also Interested In