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Your roadmap

From first thought to final handshake

Six stages, one clear path. Expand any stage to see what to do, the guides and tools that help, and the specialists who do it with you.

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1
Stage 1
Plan & set your goals
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Before anything practical, get clear on what a good exit means for you — the number you need, the timing that suits your life, and whether legacy or a clean break matters more.

What to do in this stage
✓Define your financial “enough” number with your adviser
✓Decide your ideal timeline and the role you want post-sale
✓Choose your exit path: sale, succession, or staged handover
▤ GUIDE
Setting your exit goals
⚙ TOOL
MAUS Exit SmartPlan
☻ SPECIALIST
Talk to an exit adviser →
2
Stage 2
Value the business
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You can’t negotiate from strength without knowing what your business is worth today — and what’s driving or dragging that number.

What to do in this stage
✓Commission an independent, accredited valuation
✓Understand your key value drivers and risks
✓Benchmark against recent sales in your industry
▤ GUIDE
What is my business worth?
⚙ TOOL
Clarious Valuation
☻ SPECIALIST
Find a business valuer →
3
Stage 3
Prepare to sell
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This is where value is made. Two to three years of preparation — reducing owner dependence and tidying the books — separates an average price from a premium one.

What to do in this stage
✓Reduce how much the business depends on you
✓Clean up financials, contracts and systems
✓Document processes so the business runs without you
▤ GUIDE
The value-readiness checklist
⚙ TOOL
MAUS Value Builder
☻ SPECIALIST
Engage an exit adviser →
4
Stage 4
Go to market
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With the business prepared, it’s time to find the right buyer — discreetly. A broker packages your business and runs a confidential campaign.

What to do in this stage
✓Appoint a broker and agree the strategy
✓Prepare the information memorandum
✓Run a confidential, qualified buyer process
▤ GUIDE
How a sale campaign works
⚙ TOOL
Listing & buyer CRM
☻ SPECIALIST
Find a business broker →
5
Stage 5
Negotiate the deal
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Offers are about more than headline price — terms, earn-outs, handover periods and tax all shape what you actually keep.

What to do in this stage
✓Compare offers on terms, not just price
✓Structure the deal tax-effectively
✓Agree handover and any earn-out arrangements
▤ GUIDE
Reading an offer properly
⚙ TOOL
Deal structuring worksheet
☻ SPECIALIST
Find an adviser or broker →
6
Stage 6
Settle & transition out
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The finish line: contracts exchange, funds settle, and you hand over. A planned transition protects the buyer, your staff, and your legacy.

What to do in this stage
✓Complete due diligence and legal settlement
✓Run a structured handover to the new owner
✓Put your post-sale wealth and life plan in motion
▤ GUIDE
Life after the sale
⚙ TOOL
Transition planner
☻ SPECIALIST
Talk to a wealth adviser →

Ready to take the first step?

Find out exactly which stage you’re in — and what to do next — with the free readiness quiz.

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