Frequently Asked Questions

Many businesses start out as family owned. As the company grows because of the hard work and dedication of the founders, internal operations and processes may be tested.

To continue the growth curve and achieve a succession or liquidity event, it is necessary to shift from the look and feel of a family-run business to professional managers.

The transition from a family run business to a professional managed company can be rocky and full of potholes, when there is lack of strategic business and legal guidance. Decisions made from a family run perspective do not ensure continued success when growth has to be managed. Internal processes are strained and procedures have not been implemented to ensure consistency and profitability.

Potential buyers devalue companies when there is a lack of professional, scalable and replicable processes. The Growth to Exit® process reveals the areas where buyers expect professional systems and processes, and guides you through the transition from family-run to professionally managed.

Be as strategic during the transition phase of your company, as you were during its growth years.

It can be summed up in three words: lack of stability.

When a buyer looks at a potential investment, they want assurance that the company's operations and processes are stable and consistent. If the business has the look and feel of a family-run company, a sophisticated buyer will drastically discount the value because of the lack of professional management.

Remember, buyers want predictability and certainty to continue after the sale. The best way to ensure that is to implement the Growth to Exit® strategies and processes inside your company before the sale.

If there is a risk of instability after the sale, a sophisticated buyer will pay much less.

Growth to Exit® was created by Jim Shields, a 30-year lawyer, entrepreneur and master strategist. He has sat on both sides of the table, representing both buyers and sellers in private transactions. Shields realized that sellers were not prepared for the intense scrutiny that sophisticated buyers would focus on their company. After seeing too many sellers not receive the true value of their company because they weren’t prepared, he created Growth to Exit.®

Single source vendors, such as lawyers and accountants, cannot provide the same, high level, strategic advice because their skill set is too narrow. They simply do not have the same level of experience, and have not been involved in the same volume of deals.

Learn from a master strategist how to elevate your company for a successful exit.

When you are the owner of a privately-held business, the day-to-day operations hold your focus and attention. Preparing your company to be sold requires an entirely different mindset. And remember, it is a process, not an event.

The beauty of the Growth to Exit® digital course is that it is available to you whenever your schedule permits. You can revisit any of the modules that you need, using the information to groom the areas of your company that a buyer will scrutinize for lack of professional systems, processes and management. Over 12-18 months, when you implement the strategies shared in this course inside your company, it will be more attractive to a serious buyer.

Growth to Exit® Digital gives you control over preparing your business for sale.