Certified Business Exit Consultants ® (CBECs) are specialists who provide expert guidance and support to business owners during the exit planning process. Their comprehensive exit planning approach ensures a smooth, successful transition that aligns with the owner’s personal, financial, and business goals.
Here are twelve – (12) ways Certified Business Exit Consultants ® assist small, mid-sized, and middle market clients during the exit planning process, complements of James J. Talerico, Jr, CMC ® CBEC ® CEO & Founder of Greater Prairie Business Consulting, Inc. located Irving, Texas:
- Exit Strategy Development:
Certified Business Exit Consultants ® help business owners align their exit strategy with their personal, financial, and business goals, ensuring all aspects are considered, and then they develop customized exit strategies tailored to the unique needs and objectives of the business owner. To help business owners plan their exit, Certified Business Exit Consultants ® discuss the range of values for which the business could sell, and whether the client will have the assets needed to comfortably retire.
If the client does not have the assets they need to retire, Certified Business Exit Consultants ® can also help identify opportunities to enhance the value of the business before the sale, by improving operations, enhancing the value of the company’s intangible assets, identifying ways to increase the business’ profitability, reducing the owner’s risks, etc.
- Business Valuation:
Some Certified Business Exit Consultants ® provide business valuation services, while others work with valuation experts to determine an accurate value of the business. Because 80% of a business owner’s total assets are in their business, knowing what the business could sell for is necessary to determine whether the business owner will be able to comfortably retire.
- Succession Planning:
Certified Business Exit Consultants ® can help identify and evaluate potential successors, whether internal candidates – like family members or key employees – or external buyers – like a strategic buyer – and design a “leadership transition plan,” including training and development programs to prepare successors for their new roles.
- Financial and Tax Planning:
Certified Business Exit Consultants ® can advise a business owner about ways to optimize his or her taxes, by creating strategies to minimize tax liabilities associated with the sale, including capital gains, income taxes, and estate taxes and/or by bringing in specialists. Through strategic alliances with Certified Financial Planners, Certified Business Exit Consultants ® can also help business owners create a comprehensive financial plan, through investment strategies, retirement planning, and wealth management practices.
- Deal Structuring:
Certified Business Exit Consultants ®advise business owners about the most advantageous deal structure (e.g., “asset sale” vs. “stock sale”) based on the owner’s goals and tax considerations, and they can, furthermore, provide negotiation support to secure favorable terms and conditions in the sale agreement.
- Due Diligence Preparation:
Certified Business Exit Consultants ® can help a business owner prepare all necessary documentation and financial records to facilitate a smooth due diligence process, in addition to helping identify and mitigate potential risks or issues that could arise during the due diligence process.
- Legal Coordination:
Certified Business Exit Consultants ® work closely with legal advisors to draft and review contracts, non-compete agreements, and other legal documents, and ensure that all aspects of the exit plan comply with relevant legal requirements and regulations.
- Stakeholder Communication:
Certified Business Exit Consultants ® are constantly communicating with all stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, investors, and other advisors to keep them informed and engaged throughout the exit process and to build trust and reduce uncertainty among stakeholders.
- Post-Exit Transition Support:
Certified Business Exit Consultants ® can also help with “transition planning,” including the handover of responsibilities and integration of new leadership and provide ongoing support after the exit to address any emerging issues and ensure the long-term success of the transition.
- Employee Retention and Incentives:
Certified Business Exit Consultants ® can recommend strategies to retain key employees during and after the transition, through retention bonuses or equity incentives.
- Estate and Legacy Planning:
Certified Business Exit Consultants ® can bring in financial planning experts to assist with estate planning and ensure the efficient transfer of wealth to heirs and beneficiaries and/or help preserve the owner’s legacy through philanthropic initiatives, family foundations, or other means.
- Contingency Planning:
Last, Certified Business Exit Consultants ® can help the business owner develop contingency plans to address potential obstacles or changes in circumstances that could impact the exit plan and implement strategies to mitigate risks associated with the exit process.
In conclusion, Certified Business Exit Consultants ® help business owners navigate the complex process of exiting their business with confidence, by maximizing value, and to achieve their long-term personal and financial goals.
About Greater Prairie Business Consulting, Inc.:
Greater Prairie Business Consulting, Inc. is an award-winning, national consulting practice serving entrepreneurs, small to mid-sized privately held and family-owned businesses and middle market companies of any type with revenues between $1 million and $250 million. The firm helps small, mid-sized and middle market companies maximize their performance and exit.
About the Author
James J. Talerico, Jr. is an award-winning author, speaker, and a nationally recognized small to mid-sized (SMB) business expert.
With more than thirty- (30) years of diversified business experience, Jim has a solid track record and an A+ BBB rating helping thousands of business owners across the US and in Canada tackle tough business problems to improve the performance of their organizations.
His client success stories have been highlighted in the Wall St. Journal, Dallas Business Journal, Chicago Daily Herald, and on MSNBC’s Your Business. He was named “Texas Business Consulting CEO of the Year,” by CEO Today Magazine, identified as a “Top 10 Management Consulting Entrepreneur to Watch in 2023” by Entrepreneur Magazine, was listed among the “10 Most Visionary Companies to Watch in 2023” by Inc. Magazine, and has also been ranked among the “Top Small Business Consultants” followed on Twitter.
For more than half a decade, Jim was a regular guest on “The Price of Business,” a nationally syndicated radio program on Bloomberg Talk Radio and has also appeared as a subject matter expert on many FOX Radio interviews. He is a regular contributor to several blog sites and has frequently been quoted in publications like the New York Times, Dallas Morning News, Philadelphia Inquirer, The Entrepreneur’s Review, and on INC.com, in addition to numerous, other industry publications, radio broadcasts, business books, and Internet media.
Jim received a Gold “Stevie Award” for “Thought Leader of the Year,” a Gold “Stevie Award” for “Media Hero of the Year During Covid” and a Bronze “Stevie Award” for “Best Entrepreneur” in the Category of “Business and Professional Services” at the American Business Awards ® in New York City. The competition received more than 3,700 nominations and is the premier accolade for business excellence in the US honoring organizations of all sizes and industries. Jim also received an “Outstanding Leadership Award” at the Money 2.0 Conference for his contributions to the financial services industry.
Jim is the author of “8 Steps to Becoming an ETHICS FOCUSED ORGANIZATION,”™ a small business certification program that utilizes a unique eight – (8) step approach for strengthening ethics in any organization. The certification program won the Better Business Bureau’s “Torch Award for Ethics” for the North – Central Texas Region, the Better Business Bureau’s “International Torch Award for Ethics,” and a Gold “Stevie Award” for “Ethics in Sales” at the International Sales & Customer Service Stevie Awards ®. Participants who complete this certification program are eligible to receive eight – (8) continuing education units from the University of Texas’ Division of Enterprise Development.
He received his Certified Business Exit Consultant (CBEC) ® designation from The International Exit Planning Association (IEPA) to help entrepreneurs, small business owners, family businesses, and middle market companies maximize their business exit.
He is also a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) ® and an active member of the Institute of Management Consultants. The Certified Management Consultant ® mark is awarded by the Institute of Management Consultants USA (IMC USA) and represents evidence of the highest standards of consulting, a commitment to continuous development, and an adherence to the ethical canons of the profession. Less than 1% of all consultants in the world are Certified Management Consultants (CMC) ®
Jim has a B.A. in English & World Literature from Rutgers University, a B.S. in Business Administration from Thomas A. Edison University, and he is in the process of completing his M.B.A. from the University of Texas – Arlington.
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