Business exit strategy

Business exit strategy is a plan created by management to help determine the best way to exit a business. It involves analyzing the company’s current financial situation, analyzing current market conditions, and developing a timeline of events for the sale or closure of the business. The strategy must consider the company’s goals, resources, and the best interests of stakeholders. It should also include a plan for how the company will transition out of the business and how to handle any remaining financial or legal obligations.

Example of business exit strategy

• Business Divestiture: Business divestiture involves selling off parts of a company or its assets to another company. The goal is to maximize return on investment, improve competitive position, or reduce the cost of running the business. For example, a business might decide to sell off its manufacturing division in order to focus on research and development.
• Closing the Business: Closing a business involves winding down operations, selling off assets, and ensuring that any outstanding debts or liabilities are paid off. This is often done when a company is no longer profitable or no longer able to compete in its industry. For example, a business might decide to close due to market saturation or a shift in customer preferences.
• Spin-off: A spin-off is when a company creates a new company by transferring part of its existing business to a subsidiary. The goal is to create a new business with better prospects or a more profitable niche. For example, a business might decide to spin off its software division and create a new, independent company.
• Management Buyout: Management buyouts involve the sale of a company to its management team. This can provide the management team with greater control over the company’s operations and can be a way to maximize return on investment. For example, a business might decide to sell to its management team in order to ensure continuity and focus on growth.

Formula of business exit strategy

The formula for a business exit strategy is as follows:

1. Identify the company's goals: What does the company hope to achieve with the exit strategy? What is the desired outcome for the business and its stakeholders?
2. Analyze the company’s current financial situation: What are the company’s current liabilities, assets, and cash flows? How much money will be needed to complete the exit strategy?
3. Analyze current market conditions: What are the current market trends? What is the competition doing? How will the company’s exit strategy affect the market?
4. Develop a timeline of events: What are the key milestones that need to be accomplished in order to execute the exit strategy? What are the deadlines for each of these milestones?
5. Develop a plan for transitioning out of the business: What steps will be taken to ensure the smooth transition of the company’s operations and stakeholders?
6. Develop a plan for handling any remaining financial or legal obligations: What financial obligations will the company need to pay off and how will these be handled? What legal obligations will the company need to fulfill?
7. Develop a plan for communicating the exit strategy to stakeholders: How will the company inform stakeholders of the exit strategy, and what is the best way to do so?

When to use business exit strategy

A business exit strategy should be used when:

• The company’s owners are considering a sale or closure of the business.
• The company’s current financial situation is not ideal and needs to be analyzed.
• Market conditions need to be assessed in order to determine the best time to exit the business.
• A timeline of events needs to be created for the sale or closure of the business.
• The company’s goals and resources must be considered when developing the strategy.
• The best interests of any stakeholders involved must be taken into account.
• A plan must be created for how the company will transition out of the business.
• Any remaining financial or legal obligations must be addressed.

Types of business exit strategy

Business exit strategies involve various methods for exiting a business. There are many types of strategies, including:

• Sale of the business: This involves selling the business to a third party, either for cash or other considerations. The buyer could be another company or an individual. The sale of the business may include selling all or part of the company’s assets, such as real estate, equipment, and intellectual property.
• Liquidation: This involves selling off the company’s assets and using the proceeds to pay off creditors. This strategy is often used when the company is in financial distress and is unable to pay its debts.
• Management buyout: This involves the current management team buying the company from its current owners. This is often done when the owners are looking to exit the business and the management team wishes to continue running it.
• Succession planning: This involves passing ownership of the business to family members or trusted employees. This strategy is often used when the current owners are looking to retire or exit the business.
• Mergers and acquisitions: This involves combining two companies or acquiring another company by buying a majority of its shares. This strategy is often used when two companies wish to join forces or when one company wishes to expand its operations.

Steps of business exit strategy

A business exit strategy involves a number of steps to ensure the successful transition out of a business. These steps include:

• Developing a timeline for the exit: This should include a plan for when the business will cease operations, how the assets will be liquidated, and how the company’s debts will be handled.
• Assessing the financial situation: The company should assess its current financial situation to understand its obligations and liabilities, and to determine the best way to exit the business.
• Analyzing the market conditions: The company should analyze current market conditions to determine if there are potential buyers, and to understand the current value of the business.
• Developing an exit strategy: The company should develop an exit strategy that is in the best interests of the stakeholders and that follows the timeline developed in the previous step.
• Implementing the plan: The company should implement the exit strategy, which may involve selling the business, liquidating assets, or closing the business entirely.
• Transitioning out of the business: The company should plan for the transition out of the business, which may include transferring ownership, transferring employees to other roles, and transferring intellectual property.
• Handling any remaining responsibilities: The company should ensure that any remaining financial or legal obligations are taken care of prior to the business’s exit.

Advantages of business exit strategy

A business exit strategy can provide many advantages, including:

• Clarity and focus on the future of the business. A well-crafted exit strategy can provide clarity to the business owners and help them focus on their goals, resources, and best interests of stakeholders.
• Control over the process. Having an exit strategy in place can provide the business owners with control over the process, allowing them to make decisions that maximize the value of their business.
• Reduced risks. Having a plan in place can reduce the risks associated with exiting a business, as the owners will have a better understanding of the process and the potential outcomes.
• More attractive to buyers. An exit strategy can make the business more attractive to potential buyers, as it shows that the owners have thought through the process and taken the necessary steps to ensure a successful transition.
• Increased profits. An exit strategy can help to maximize profits by allowing the owners to choose the best course of action for the sale or closure of the business.
• Improved financial planning. Having an exit strategy in place can improve financial planning by providing a clear timeline of events and helping the owners understand the financial implications of the process.

Limitations of business exit strategy

Business exit strategies have their limitations. These include:

• Production and delivery disruptions - If the business is closing or changing ownership, there could be a disruption in production and delivery of goods or services. This could result in a loss of customers and revenue.
• Financial obligations - Depending on the structure of the exit strategy, the business may be required to pay out any remaining financial obligations to creditors, suppliers, and other stakeholders. This could reduce the amount of money available to invest in the company’s future.
• Tax implications - Depending on the structure or terms of the exit strategy, there may be tax implications for the company. These could include capital gains taxes, inheritance taxes, or other taxes.
• Uncertainty - An exit strategy can take a long time to execute and may involve a great deal of uncertainty. This can be stressful for the business owners and could delay the process of transitioning out of the business.
• Legal complications - Depending on the structure of the exit strategy, there may be legal complications that could delay or alter the process of exiting the business. This could result in additional costs or time investments.

Business exit strategy — recommended articles

Investment project — Capital allocation — Types of acquisition — Friendly takeover — Organizational strategy — Brown field investment — Speculative risk — Access to finance — Inorganic growth

References

• DeTienne, D. R., & Wennberg, K. (2013). Small business exit: Review of past research, theoretical considerations and suggestions for future research. Forthcoming chapter in" Small businesses in a global economy: Creating and managing successful organizations"(edited by S. Newbert). Westport, CT: Praeger.
• Lemley, M. A., & McCreary, A. (2021). Exit strategy. BUL Rev., 101, 1.