Whether your focus is on building your business now or planning for an exit down the road, there’s obviously a lot you need to know. As a business owner juggling a multitude of priorities, you may wonder… where do I even begin?

Every business owner needs a guide when it comes to planning for what is likely to be the single most important financial transaction of your life – the exit from your business. As a certified exit strategist and CPA with more than 40 years’ experience, my expertise is helping business owners achieve their long and short-term growth and exit goals with an eye on financials and tax implications.

Clients have often expressed the value they find in working with me one-on-one. Why?

As a foundation for our work together, I get to know you and your company in depth. My focus is not only on finances, but as a decades-long business owner and CEO, I help bring to light how personal AND business aspects are connected and affect each other: your family, your long-term goals for them, and your intentions for your business.

Following are examples of the work we’ll do together:

• Take an in-depth look at your financial statements, including financial ratios, to understand where your company stands.
• Determine the value of your business and your goals for its ultimate value.
• Identify the Key Performance Indicators that apply to your company and any actions that need to be taken.
• Review the value drivers that affect your company and determine which are priority and which need work.
• Develop a strategic plan to attain your goals and actions to implement the plan.
• Review and revise your budget for consistency with the strategic plan.
• Examine cash flow and implement cash flow forecasting if not already in place.
• Review your tax history and put a tax plan in place to minimize liability and best benefit your company.
• Get to know your trusted advisors and suggest additions if needed.
• Review policies and procedures and ensure they are adequately documented.
• Address other items and concerns that are unique to your business.

As a professional tax and exit planning guide, the one-to-one relationship I forge with business owners is invaluable. Working together on your unique set of circumstances gets you further – and faster – down the path. Here is what some of my clients had to say about the process.

“I’ve worked with Bob for several years. He has not only been my trusted CPA but is now a good friend. A few years ago, he helped me exit from my long-time granite counter supply and installation company, Avanti Granite and Marble, with a keen eye on the timeliness of my exit and maximizing revenues for the best outcome. The result was a successful exit, which enabled me to start another company. I trust him and value his years of expertise.”
–Todd Coday, TDC Marble Corp.

“After trusting Bob for years as my CPA, I turned to his expertise in exit planning when it came time to sell my company. He helped me sort out the weak offers from the solid ones. Bob could figure out more in a 5-minute phone call than most advisors could after a month of analysis. He made the process stress free by implementing a smooth, painless strategy. Once you’ve made the decision to sell, don’t go it alone. It’s not worth the hassle.”
– Dan Miles, Interstate Turbo, Inc.

“I have always valued Bob’s financial and business advice from the day I hired him as my CPA for my architectural practice. When it came time to start an exit strategy, I turned to Bob for advice and counsel. Bob helped me buy out one partner and add another in a way that considered the health of the practice, my tax liability, and the ability of the practice to fund the purchase of stock. I trust Bob’s advice because he is also a small business owner.”
– Ronald K. Abo, The Abo Group

With limited time and never-ending responsibilities, embarking upon a growth or exit planning project may feel daunting. Working with me one-on-one, you’ll find these endeavors become quite manageable. The end result is feeling more organized, more confident in your financial decision making, and empowered to achieve your ultimate goals.

I’d welcome the opportunity to help you grow your business while simultaneously preparing a strategy for your eventual exit. Contact me to discuss your specific situation and explore whether this is a good fit for you.

Bob Zarlengo is a certified exit strategist and CPA. More than four decades of experience in public accounting along with expertise in financial reporting, income and estate planning, and tax compliance makes him a valued and trusted advisor to his clients.