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Business Exit Planning for New England Business Owners

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For every successful business owner, the question isn’t if you will exit your company—it’s when and how. Transitioning from the business you’ve spent years building requires more than just a sale; it demands thoughtful, strategic planning well before you step away.

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Effective business exit planning puts you in control. It ensures you leave on your own terms, maximize the value you’ve created, and have the financial resources needed for a fulfilling next chapter—whether that’s retirement, a new venture, or simply more time with the people and pursuits you care about most.

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At In The Money Retirement Planning, we partner with business owners across New England to navigate this complex journey. Our process integrates your exit strategy with your personal financial goals, so you walk away confident in both your business legacy and your financial independence.

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Why Strategic Exit Planning Matters

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Business exit planning is more than just finding a buyer—it’s a comprehensive, forward-looking process that prepares both you and your company for a smooth transition. It’s about intentionally designing your endgame rather than leaving it to chance.

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Without a plan, you risk:

• Accepting a lower sale price due to poor timing or lack of preparation

• Being forced into a rushed decision by burnout, health concerns, or market shifts

• Leaving employees, customers, and family members uncertain about the future

• Entering post-exit life financially or emotionally unprepared

 

A strategic plan gives you the runway to increase your business’s value, choose the right exit path, minimize taxes, and ensure the transition supports your long-term personal goals.

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Our Approach: Connecting Your Business Exit to Your Personal Future

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Exiting your business is one of the biggest financial events of your life—it has to be done right. We help you:

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1. Integrate Exit & Wealth Planning
Your exit plan isn’t just about the business—it’s about your life after the business. We analyze how different exit strategies will impact your retirement income, investment portfolio, estate plan, and tax picture.

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2. Provide Objective Fiduciary Advice
We’re not paid a commission on the sale, so our guidance is 100% in your best interest. Every recommendation is based on your goals, not ours.

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3. Navigate Complex Transitions
From third-party sales and management buyouts to family transfers and ESOPs, we’ve guided New England business owners through every type of transition.

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4. Coordinate Your Exit Team
We act as your financial quarterback—working closely with your attorney, CPA, and M&A advisor to ensure your deal is structured for maximum value and minimal taxes.

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Key Components of a Comprehensive Exit Plan

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• Clarify Your Personal & Financial Goals
  We define your ideal timeline, income needs, and post-exit lifestyle so your plan reflects both your business and personal aspirations.

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• Maximize Business Value
  We identify value drivers and help implement improvements—profitability, management depth, operational efficiency—to make your business more attractive to buyers.

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• Choose the Right Exit Path
  We compare scenarios like strategic sale, MBO, family transfer, ESOP, or liquidation, modeling the financial and tax impact of each.

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• Develop Tax-Efficient Strategies
  We work with your tax professionals to reduce income and estate taxes, analyze deal structures (asset vs. stock sale), and preserve as much of your proceeds as possible.

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• Plan for Management Transition
  We help ensure leadership continuity, knowledge transfer, and clear communication to employees and stakeholders.

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• Manage Post-Exit Wealth
  Once the deal closes, we create a strategy to invest proceeds, manage risk, and generate the income needed for your new chapter.

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Our 6-Step Exit Planning Process

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1. Discovery & Goal Setting – Understand your vision, timeline, and success criteria.

2. Analysis & Valuation – Assess your business’s readiness, coordinate valuations, and model exit scenarios.

3. Strategy & Roadmap – Create a step-by-step plan aligned with your goals.

4. Preparation – Implement value-enhancing strategies, assemble your advisory team, and prepare financials for due diligence.

5. Transaction Support – Analyze offers, advise on structure, and ensure terms align with your financial plan.

6. Post-Exit Integration – Transition proceeds into your wealth plan, update retirement income projections, and manage ongoing tax considerations.

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Secure Your Legacy and Your Future

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Exiting your business is more than a transaction—it’s a life transition. With the right plan, you can protect the value you’ve built, achieve your personal goals, and ensure a stable future for those who depend on you.

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If you’re a New England business owner thinking about the next chapter—whether that’s next year or five years from now—now is the time to start planning.

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📞 Schedule a confidential consultation today to explore how our integrated approach can help you exit your business on your terms.

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