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An exit strategy that’s part of a contingency plan or a business roadmap is essential for any thriving business. An exit strategy secures a business’s future, protects revenue streams and provides security to employees, suppliers and consumers alike.
While most exit strategies stand the test of time, they are occasionally reviewed to ensure that they remain relevant in the face of changing trading conditions, such as economic uncertainty or changes to tax legislation.
Shaun Barton, a company liquidation specialist at Company Closure, explains why exit strategies must evolve to maximise business value.
The art of exit planning
Exit planning involves devising a plan for the business owner to exit from the business while maintaining the highest possible value. As part of exit planning, the owner can take many routes, such as:
- Closing the business
- Selling the business as a whole or in parts
- Passing the business down for a family member to inherit
- Management buy-out
- Merger or acquisition
- Listing the business
An exit plan lays a potential ownership and management structure after the proprietor’s exit to minimise operational disruption and protect shareholder interests as the business starts a new chapter.
An exit plan is a roadmap for business continuity and plots a clear path for the business post-exit. It minimises exposure to avoidable risks that could compromise business value and brand reputation.
What factors to consider when exit planning
Planning an exit strategy is crucial for any business to ensure that trading continues without interruption following the owner’s exit. A business exit plan may be fast tracked due to changes to trading conditions, such as updated tax rules and trading agreements.
Business tax – Two factors that often result in a change in the goalposts for business taxes, a new government or deteriorating public finances. This year saw a combination of the two, the election in July 2024 and the Autumn Budget in October 2024.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, claimed to have discovered a £22 billion black hole in the UK’s public finances. To plug the black hole and replenish the public purse, a record £40 billion of tax-raising measures were unveiled at the Autumn Budget.
This includes significant changes to Capital Gains Tax and Business Asset Disposal Relief which primarily determine tax liability when disposing of assets or selling a business.
Trading conditions – Changes to international relationships and trading agreements can determine how lucrative it is for businesses to trade with selective countries. If the business depends on international trade, any significant rule changes can have a knock-on effect on the financial health of the business.
Family succession planning – The success of a family business is often contingent on family members forming part of the ownership and management structure. As family lines grow and shrink, this directly influences the future of the business.
Management buyout – A management buyout (MBO) may be considered as an exit plan if employees are well positioned and desire to take over the business following the owner’s exit. This route involves gradually transferring knowledge and skills to the new owners so the business can be preserved following the owner’s exit.
Seasoned employees with a lengthy service record, appetite for leadership and values aligned with the business may be considered a worthy successor, leading to a Management Buyout.
Personal circumstances – Deteriorating personal health may result in a fast-tracked exit strategy, such as company liquidation, while a planned, gradual exit due to the likes of retirement may consist of a timed sale.
Loss of consumer demand – The value of a business hinges on consumer demand, so if the industry is in decline, an exit plan may be initiated earlier, rather than later.
The seamless transfer of a business
An exit strategy can provide a saving grace to businesses in the event of an unexpected turn of events. It must be suitable for application at any point in time which is why regular revisions are crucial.
The key to a successful business exit strategy is that the business can operate without the owner. This means that ownership can be seamlessly transferred without disrupting service lines or compromising service standards.
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