In order to leave your business successfully, you must not only know what you want (when you want to leave, how much money you will need and who you want to sell to) you must know how much your business is worth. For example, if you told your advisors all about your objectives but you couldn’t tell them with any certainty what your company was worth, how could they help you reach your destination? It would be similar requesting a map but not knowing if you planned to take a plane, a boat, a car or walk to the destination.

Knowing the value of your business is critical no matter who you plan to sell or transfer to. The primary three exit paths are:
1. Transfer your company to a family member
2. Sell the business to one or more key employees or co-owner(s)
3. Sell to an outside third party
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