1.
Bo Burlingham
Author & Speaker

2.
BoBurlingham.com

3.
The Elements
of a Good Exit
1 You feel that you havebeen
treatedfairly during the exit process
and appropriatelycompensated.
You havea sense ofaccomplishment.
You canlookback andknow you have
contributedsomething of valueto the world.
2
You areat peacewith what has happenedto
other peoplewho helpedbuildthe business.
3
You havediscovereda new sense
of purpose outsideof thebusiness.
4
For some people,a fifth element:
Thecompanyis going onwithout
you and doing better than ever.
5

4.
The Four Stages of an Exit
1 Exploratory
Investigatingthe many possibilities,doing the necessary
introspective
work, anddeciding whatyou do
and don’t care aboutinan exit.
2
Learning to view your company as
a product and buildingintoit the qualitiesand characteristics
that
willmaximize its value.
Strategic
3
The processyougo through to get
a deal done, whatever type of exit
you may be lookingfor.
Execution 4
It begins withthe completionof the
dealand ends when you’re fully
engaged in whatever comes next.
Transition

5.
1 Youknow who youare, what
you want,and why.
2
3
3
Seven (and a Half) Key Factors
Determining the Kind of Exit You’ll Have
Youbuilda business thatcan be soldwhen andto
whom you want tosell it—for an amountyou
consider fair.
Yougive yourself enough time to prepare —
measured in years, not months.
In choosinga successor, you give yourself enough time
to fail.
½
4 Youget help andadvice from people who’ve been
throughit themselves.
5
6
7
Youdo right by the people who’ve shared the journey
withyou.
Youanalyze why potentialbuyers wantto own your
businessandfigure outwhat they willdo with it.
Youfigure outand become fullyengaged with
whatever comes next.

6.
#7: Figure out and become fully
engaged with whatever comes next.