Business Succession

Building a successful business takes years of dedication, hard work, and sacrifice. When the time comes to transition out of your business—whether through sale, family transfer, or other arrangements—you deserve expert guidance to maximize value and ensure a smooth handoff.

At Strive Financial, we understand the emotional and financial complexities of business succession. Your business isn't just an asset; it's your legacy, your employees' livelihoods, and often your family's primary wealth source. Our succession planning process honors this significance while helping you navigate the practical steps toward a successful transition.

Company valuation provides the essential starting point. We work with qualified professionals to determine your business's true worth, considering assets, earnings potential, market position, and intangible factors like customer relationships and brand value. Understanding this value helps you set realistic expectations and make informed decisions.

Succession planning involves identifying and preparing the next generation of leadership. Whether transferring to family members, key employees, or outside buyers, we help you create transition timelines, develop leadership capabilities, and structure arrangements that protect your interests while setting successors up for success.

Transition plans detail the practical steps and timeline for your exit. We address critical questions: When will you step back? How will ownership transfer? What role, if any, will you maintain? How will you fund your retirement from the proceeds?

Our team coordinates with your attorneys, accountants, and other advisors to ensure every aspect of your succession plan works together seamlessly, protecting your financial future while preserving your business's legacy.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Valuation depends on your company’s financial performance (EBITDA, revenue, cash flow) and qualitative factors like growth potential, customer base, management team, and market conditions. Buyers ultimately pay what reflects both the numbers and the perceived future opportunity. 

  • Most sales take 6–12 months from start to finish, depending on preparation, market demand, and deal complexity. Having organized financials and a clear plan can shorten the process. 

  • Buyers lose interest when they find inaccurate financials, owner dependency, customer concentration, or unresolved legal or tax issues. Addressing these early builds buyer confidence and reduces surprises.

  • Yes. Strategies may include deal structuring, installment payments, retirement or charitable planning,  and timing the sale strategically. Coordinating with your CPA and financial planner is key, as there also might be investments that can help reduce or defer your capital gain. 

  • Negotiation is standard. Beyond price, buyers and sellers often negotiate earn-outs, payment terms,  non-competes, and post-sale involvement. Knowing your priorities helps keep the deal balanced.