Are You Really Ready to Exit Your Business?

Too many business owners wait until it’s too late to prepare for the biggest financial and personal event of their lives: exiting their business.

The “Are You Ready?” Exit Readiness Checklist helps you evaluate whether you’re actually prepared to transition—not just financially, but personally, operationally, and strategically.

Based on proven CEPA principles and Exit Planning Institute best practices, this self-assessment gives you a quick but comprehensive reality check—and highlights the first steps to take if you’re not yet ready.

✅ What You’ll Evaluate:

This 10-point checklist helps you assess your readiness across:

• 🎯 Personal, financial, and business goal alignment
  
• 🧠 Succession team formation (CPA, attorney, advisor, spouse, etc.)
  
• 📝 Written transition plans with goals, timelines, and budgets
  
• 💼 Strategic valuation, risk assessment, and deal structure review
  
• 🛡️ Contingency and buy-sell plans in case of the unexpected
  
• 🏗️ Value enhancement and due diligence efforts pre-sale
  
• 👥 Post-exit management and leadership readiness
  
• 🔄 Post-business life plan and wealth continuity strategy
  
  

Each “yes” moves you closer to readiness. Each “no” points to your next priority.

Who It’s For:

Perfect for:

• Business owners 1–10 years from a potential exit
  
• Entrepreneurs who want a reality check before transition
  
• Advisors guiding clients through readiness conversations
  
• EOS-run companies preparing for succession, sale, or recap
  
  

Why It Matters:

Most exits fall short of expectations—not because the numbers don’t add up, but because the owner wasn’t truly ready.

This checklist helps you get honest about where you are—so you can confidently plan where you’re going.