Most entrepreneurs focus on building their business, not planning their exit. However, early exit planning is critical to protecting value, legacy, and what comes next.

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Melissa Houston covers financial issues that affect women in business. Most business owners are focused on growth, impact, and ...

To continue reading this content, please enable JavaScript in your browser settings and refresh this page. Exit planning is essential for every business owner—not ...

Exit strategies allow business owners and investors to sell or transfer ownership of assets or companies. They can use these strategies when seeking to retire, cash out or shift focus to new ventures.

According to a 2025 survey by the Exit Planning Institute, 58 percent of Baby Boomer entrepreneurs said they expected to sell their companies within five years. But just 14 percent considered creating ...

Selling to a private equity firm while remaining involved during the growth phase could be the strategy you need — if you’re willing to lose everything to try to hit that mark. Losing everything is ...

You wrote a business plan when you launched your company. Now, if it’s time to say goodbye, you need an exit plan — one that maximizes your return on your investment and limits your potential future ...

Few advisors have a formalized succession plan in place. But when advisors finally do commit to planning their exit, experts say the difference between a stalled exercise and a successful transition ...

Smart founders don’t wait until they’re ready to sell to think about an exit. They build companies designed to scale and create leverage long before a transaction is on the table. Exit thinking is not ...