It takes a lot of time and financial investment to achieve
And, it’s absolutely fundamental if you’re seeking a good realisation at your exit
But, its only one of many things you need to get aligned for a successful exit
Get some experienced help to ensure you’re covering all the bases
We know we should be working ON it….but how the hell do you do that when the customers keep calling, and suppliers and staff need support, there’s HMRC, the landlord et al, and you’re already doing 24/7…at least that’s what it feels like.
Reminds me of that old saying that ‘when you’re up to your neck in alligators it’s easy to forget the original idea was to drain the swamp’.
I nearly achieved it. I’d grown a business from £300k to £3m in just 5 years. I lived in London during the week and had a home in the country for weekends. The plan was to gradually reduce my time down to 2-3 days a week spending ever more time out of London. The aim was to either sell the business, or draw a passive income through the senior team I’d built. Best laid plans and all that,
It was a competent Management. I had a Board including an experienced NED. Comprehensive management systems and financial controls delivered through a full time FD. I was all set.
But my plan didn’t work as I had intended.
The problem wasn’t with the senior team, but at the shareholder level. We were at different life stages and simply weren’t aligned. In the end things didn’t work out as I planned. Big learning.
As you might imagine I’ve spent time thinking how I might have done things better.
I was so close.
I have hands-on experience that it is possible to achieve working ON rather than IN.
I’m now painfully aware that the ON/IN issue is just one part, one very important part, of what you must do to make your business saleable.
I did eventually sell my business in 2018 and now work exclusively with a small number of business owners helping them plan their eventual exits from their businesses.
Whatever exit plan you adopt, the ‘ON it’ vs ‘IN it’ conundrum MUST be solved. Fail to solve it and liquidation starts to look like the prime exit option.
If you, your client, or a business owning friend needs advice as they approach this ‘once in a career’ dilemma I’m happy to meet on a no-obligation basis. That provides both parties the opportunity to assess chemistry.
I am an Exit Planning specialist with a deep understanding of running, growing and ultimately exiting an SME. I ran a sizeable SME business for 28 years and exited 3 years ago.
I focus on coaching those ‘baby boomer’ (50-70yo) entrepreneurs, like me, who’ve yet to formulate their exit plans. I work closely with owners to identify their aspirations and then coach them through development of strategies for their realisation. I then coach the owners and leadership teams through the implementing of the various tactics in order to make a meaningful exit a possibility.
With my coaching you’ll see…
– a clear identification what’s possible
– a step by step plan for implementing and managing the changes that will be required to make your desired exit a possibility
– personal hands-on support and encouragement throughout
Working directly with me is easy, here’s what you need to do
– go to adriancollins.co.uk/assessment
– take the time to use the assessment questionnaire to assess your current exit readiness
– use the contact form on the website, or email me direct on ac@adriancollins.co.uk to book in your free 2 hour face to face assessment meeting
It’s proven and it’s risk free, easy. ..check out my Linkedin profile….give me a call…”
Adrian Collins
Exit Planner, NED, Mentor and Business Advisor
Adrian runs his own Exit Planning consultancy.
AdrianCollins.co.uk
