Business transition services
For many business owners, business succession planning can be overwhelming. After you’ve poured countless hours and maximum effort into your life’s work, how can you even begin to answer “What comes next—and how do I get there?”
Well, for starters, your priorities are your compass. Whether your goal is to maximize financial returns, preserve the culture you've built or pave the way for family leadership, understanding your personal and professional priorities is essential.
Our advisors work with you to transition your company in a way that aligns with your values, protects your legacy and secures the futures of your employees and their families. After all, an exit can take many forms, including:
- A third-party sale to a strategic or financial buyer
- An employee purchase, such as an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)
- A family business transition
A well-thought-out plan allows you to explore more options and navigate complex trade-offs.
Business transition planning from all angles
Our comprehensive approach to business transition services features much more than just tax strategies.
Transitioning your business is a matter of when, not if. In a business transition or exit, one of the largest expenses is often tax. Much planning can be done to minimize this expenditure, but it often takes time to implement. By identifying your personal and professional priorities as soon as possible in our relationship with you, we align them to corresponding tax structures as part of your business transition plan.
In structuring your business transition, we help you preserve and transfer your wealth according to your wishes. By addressing succession strategies and the corresponding tax implications, you strengthen your legacy and secure the future for your beneficiaries.
We clarify the view of your company’s financial health and performance through a detailed and accurate assessment that adjusts for nonrecurring, nonoperational and noncash revenue and expenses. Not only is this crucial to an accurate valuation of your business, but it also identifies potential risks and areas for improvement so you can address them proactively and enhance the overall value of the business.
Accurate asset and business valuations are essential to determining the fair market value of your business, which in turn is central to negotiations and transactions supporting your business transition. Our advanced methodologies, deep experience and industry knowledge enable precise valuations, no matter how complex your company is.
In a business transition, a high-quality, industry-tailored financial statement audit can instill stakeholder confidence and strengthen peace of mind in your financial reporting. As a leading provider of assurance services for the middle market, we serve as your trusted auditor, leveraging technology to enhance efficiency and delivering business insights found during the audit process.
A successful business transition isn’t just about the exit—it’s about securing your financial future. For many business owners, a family office can be a powerful solution for preserving wealth, managing investments and ensuring long-term financial success. But is a family office the right fit for you? We help you assess your needs, explore the benefits and determine the best structure to protect your legacy, optimize tax efficiency and support your family’s evolving priorities.
Understand primary paths for your business transition
An employee transition focuses on purpose and legacy rather than a quick exit. Financial gain is often secondary to protecting the owner's legacy and ensuring employee wellbeing. This gradual transition is ideal for owners who prioritize long-term stability over immediate payouts.
Unlike strategic sales or private equity buyouts, employee transitions will likely preserve the company's character and culture, achieving comparable financial outcomes over time while reflecting a commitment to continuity and care for the people driving the business forward.
Owners often transition a company within the family to preserve their legacy and ensure continuity in values and culture. This path allows the owner to maintain influence and guide the business's future while securing the family's financial stability. It strengthens family bonds and provides a sense of pride in passing the business to the next generation.
However, owners may not receive the full enterprise value of the company due to prioritizing legacy goals ahead of maximizing the financial outcome.
A third-party sale is common for business owners without a suitable successor within the family or management team. This path allows owners to maximize financial returns. It provides access to external capital and expertise, enabling the business to reach new heights.
Owners can choose between strategic buyers, who may integrate the business into their operations, or third-party investors, who typically take a large equity stake and offer flexibility in management roles. The more professionalized the business and its team are, the higher the value that owners can expect from a third-party sale.
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