FREE Downloads

FREE
Downloads

By employing the internationally proven methodology of the Value Builder System™ we are able to offer the following free downloads:

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The exit checklist

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The Overlooked Owner

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The Freedom Point

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Exit strategy
consultants in Cheshire

We’re reliable, experienced exit strategy consultants based in Cheshire, UK. Since 2005, our honest approach has guided hundreds of business owners to successfully plan their business exit. Specialising in the manufacturing, engineering, facilities management and B2B service sectors, we understand how to add real value to small, medium and large businesses.

Let us show you how to create a strong business model that’s both attractive to buyers, and most importantly, delivers the exit you want.

Work with us to:

Design your exit strategy

Increase the value of your business

Build a business worth selling

Book a free 30-min discovery call to explore how we can help you to plan and prepare to sell your business.

Book here

About Uscita

Italian for ‘The Best Way Out’

Our Mission

Our mission is to help owners achieve the business exit they need. Every business is different. Every business owner is unique. We’re interested in getting to know the person behind the business so we can support you to achieve your exit goals.

Our Team

We’re Paul and Alex Dodgshon, trusted consultants recommended by many professionals across Cheshire and Manchester. We’ve both had successful careers in financial services before setting up Uscita together in 2005. If you’re looking to build business value, seeking honest and realistic valuation advice, or guidance on making your business more attractive to buyers, we’d love to hear from you.

Learn more

Recent Blog Posts

How-to-tell-staff-you-are-selling-your-business
How-to-tell-staff-you-are-selling-your-business
Business Sale

How to tell staff you are selling your business

Staff are a valuable business asset, especially during the business sale process. Your employees’ knowledge, skills and experience all contribute towa...
Learn More
How to evaluate an offer to buy your business.
How to evaluate an offer to buy your business.
Blog

How to evaluate an offer to buy your business

Congratulations, you’ve received a formal offer to buy your business! What happens next? How do you know whether the offer you’ve received is offering...
Learn More
strong foundations equal strong exit
strong foundations equal strong exit
Exit Strategy

Strong foundations equal strong exit.

At Uscita, we’ve recently collaborated on an article with Rock.partners looking at the equation between strong business foundations and the ability to...
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Read more blog posts

What people
say about us

We’ve been proving our worth with clients since 2005. Here’s a selection of what they had to say about working with Uscita.

Many thanks also for your help in guiding us through the twists and turns of the sale process. Your knowhow and pragmatic approach were invaluable to us.
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The Business Network
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South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry member 2024
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What is a Business Exit Strategy

A business exit strategy is an entrepreneur’s strategic plan to sell his or her ownership in a company to investors or another company. An exit strategy gives a business owner a way to reduce or realise their stake in a business and, if the business is successful, make a substantial gain. If the business is not successful, an exit strategy (or “exit plan”) enables the entrepreneur to limit losses. An exit strategy may also be used by an investor such as a venture capitalist in order to plan for a cash-out of an investment.

Business exit strategies should not be confused with trading exit strategies used in securities markets, which tend to be short term in nature.

Business Exit Outline Terminology

Ideally, an entrepreneur will develop an exit strategy with their initial business plan when they start in business. It should be one of the key goals of the business. The choice of exit plan can influence business development decisions. Common types of exit strategies for SMEs include open market sales, strategic acquisitions, management buyouts (MBO) and employee ownership trusts (EOT). Which exit strategy an entrepreneur chooses depends on many factors, such as how much control or involvement (if any) they want to retain in the business, whether they want the company to be run in the same way after their departure, often termed legacy, or whether they’re willing to support significant changes in the direction of the business alongside the financial value they might have received. 

A key aspect of an exit strategy is business valuation, and there are specialists like Uscita and Business Partnership that can help business owners (and buyers) examine a company’s financials to determine a fair value. There are also transition managers or exit strategists whose role is to assist sellers with their business exit strategies.

Different business exit strategies also offer business owners different levels of liquidity and cash on exit. Selling ownership through a strategic acquisition, for example, can offer the greatest amount of liquidity in the shortest time frame, depending on how the acquisition is structured. The appeal of a given exit strategy will depend on market conditions as well; for example, an open market sale may not be the best exit strategy during a recession, and a management buyout may not be attractive to a buyer when interest rates are high.

The best type of exit strategy also depends on business type and size. A partner in a medical office might benefit by selling to one of the other existing partners, while a sole proprietor’s ideal exit strategy might simply be to make as much money as possible, then close down the business. If the company has multiple founders, or if there are substantial shareholders in addition to the founders, these other parties’ interests must be factored into the choice of an exit strategy as well.

Whether you are an entrepreneur with a startup or a seasoned CEO, you need to consider which of these business exit strategies is the one for you. Agreeing goals and exit strategies between key stakeholders early in the business lifecycle often makes the choice of exit strategy clearer.

It’s not a case of if, but when. Everyone who runs a business needs to have an exit strategy in place – preferably several alternative options.

Sooner or later you will leave your business, since even if you never retire, you won’t live forever. But you may have many reasons other than retirement, such as the wish to try something different, extract the full value of your business, or pass over the helm to a new owner or family member. Equally, there may be other stakeholders in your business who wish to exit for their own reasons. That’s why planning in advance is essential, so that you can leave on your own terms.

A planned exit will always be preferable to one that is forced on you by circumstances. Planning lets you choose the means by which you leave, and also to groom the business for that specific strategy. This helps ensure the smoothest possible transition while releasing maximum value from the business. Just as importantly, it is the best way to safeguard the health of the business into which you have put so much time and effort. You don’t want to jeopardise its future with an unplanned exit.

Your business plan should include a section on exit strategies, preferably with both a Plan A and a Plan B if circumstances make your first choice difficult. These plans will prove useful in shaping your overall business strategy.

First decide what you’ll want to achieve from your exit. Do you just want to make as much money as possible, or are you also keen to see the business go from strength to strength? Do you hope to pass it on to family, or would you not mind if it ceased to exist? All of these considerations should influence your choice.

If your primary motivation is to make a profit, retire, or invest in a new venture, selling your business may be a good route. You need to decide what exactly is for sale: the shares in the business, or the goodwill (trade) and assets.

Then you need to find the right buyer. A good starting point is to approach competitors and companies in related fields. Consider your management (MBO) or employees (EOT). Explore multiple options, as having several interested bidders can increase your sale price.

Work with your Business Broker to maximise the value of your business in the run-up to the sale. Any flaws in the business will be revealed by your buyer’s due diligence, so conduct your own checks first to address these ahead of time. You may also need a solicitor during the due diligence and contractual negotiations. Selling may take anything up to two years, so plan well in advance and draw up a timetable for keeping the process on track.

About us

Uscita successfully helps business owners prepare, plan and implement their exit strategy to achieve the exit value they want. Working with engineering, manufacturing, facilities management and B2B service businesses in Cheshire and Manchester.

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Get in touch

Uscita Solutions Ltd t/as Uscita and t/as Business Partnership

Winnington Hall,
Winnington, Northwich
Cheshire, CW8 4DU

info@uscita.co.uk

01606 535 020

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