Get your exit in order with our practical business exits checklist

Business exits, done right. Follow this simple framework to start developing your business exit plan today.

A business exits checklist is a type of due diligence checklist used by those who are preparing to sell or exit their business. It is a checklist of all the documents that need to be collated, verified, and reviewed as part of the due diligence phase of an M&A transaction. It outlines the critical business information that will need to be prepared by business leaders and their financial advisors, then provided to potential acquirers of the company during the sale process.

While exit checklists are often created as Excel spreadsheets or Word documents, modern dealmakers are increasingly turning to deal technology that can digitize these checklists, and facilitate due diligence without the risks associated with legacy tools, such as version control issues and human error

With the strain placed on global markets by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting - and ongoing - inflationary & supply chain pressures, many businesses are weighing up their options. One of these options is the potential sale of business.

In a high-stakes macroeconomic environment, it’s critical to start this planning as early as possible. Business owners need a comprehensive exit plan that surfaces issues and addresses those within the business prior to going to market.

Your main priority should be improving the business so that it is attractive to external buyers, allowing you to maximize valuation and sale price. But in order to optimize your business, firstly you need to bring order to the critical information that powers it.

Without a structured process, you risk succumbing to the chaos and hazards associated with poor exit planning when it comes to selling the business.

To eliminate risks, business owners need a comprehensive exit plan that surfaces issues and addresses those within the business prior to going to market. The priority should be improving the business so that it is attractive to external buyers. In fact, Forbes says you should consider your exit strategy to be the same as your growth strategy.

Ultimately it comes down to having your information in order; by having critical business information visible, organized, managed and structured in a way that not only improves business health and value in the short term, but that – in the long term – will give buyers full confidence in their decision.

Download the business exits checklist to see exactly what critical documentation you’ll be expected to provide to get your exit in order, and be confident your business is presented in its best light to potential bidders. It’s your practical tool for preparing for a high-value business exit with significantly less risk.

Since 2005, Ansarada has accumulated more than a decade’s experience on over 35,000+ critical business transactions and learned exactly what ‘good’ looks like.

By opening a Data Room today, you can start preparing for your exit for free using Deal Workflow - a project management tool that allows you to digitize all your work streams for complete oversight and control. Simply import your checklist from Excel into Workflow and turn it into a collaborative, real-time source of due diligence progress.

Say no to risky, insecure processes and get your exit in order. Start preparing today for free using your purpose-built exits checklist alongside your Data Room.