So You’re Never Leaving …Got A Plan For That?

Sponsored Content provided by Dallas Romanowski - Managing Partner, Cornerstone Business Advisors

We hear it all the time. Do any of these sound familiar?

“I’m never leaving my business. I love what I do.”

“I don’t intend to exit my business. I plan on working until the very end.”

“I can’t leave my business. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself!”

These are valid positions for a business owner to hold. But they could be vulnerable if there is not a plan to go along with the sentiment. Staying in your business forever requires planning to make it a successful experience.

If you have a similar intention to continue on with your business indefinitely, we suggest you develop a thoughtful plan to maximize your likelihood of success. Consider your objectives in this way:

You have no departure date in mind, but is there a year (or an age) when you might not be able to keep up your current pace?
Continued work means continued income, but what are the income needs of your family if or when you are unable to work?
You plan to hold on to your ownership, but when your ownership does eventually end (and we can guarantee that it will someday), who will be the next owner?

It is inappropriate to suggest that you, the creator of a business, should exit before you choose. But the reality is that a plan to stay still requires a plan. Think through the consequences of not planning for a successful "stay" and evaluate whether you are comfortable with the best and worst possible outcomes. This kind of self-evaluation may help reduce the tendency to procrastinate under the mistaken assumption that planning and action can be delayed or ignored. It prompts many owners to take action to stay in control of their own futures.

Exit planning begins when owners understand their ultimate objectives and what they have to do to pursue them. An owner who has a preference about what should happen to his or her business, employees, family, ownership, business reputation or legacy should take control to shape a successful future.

Start by thinking through the various paths that you, your ownership and your business might take and decide which of those paths are appealing to you.

It may sound like a contradiction, but we use a systematic process to help business owners develop and implement a successful Exit Plan, even those who don’t intend to exit. If you plan to stay in your business indefinitely, or if you hope to exit soon, contact us today to get started.

The Cornerstone team includes former C-Level executives, successful entrepreneurs and advisers who offer unmatched experience in delivering advanced, custom-tailored, results-oriented solutions for business leaders. As a member of the Business Enterprise Institute (BEI), Cornerstone is an authorized distributor of BEI’s content and Exit Planning Tools. We developed the Performance Culture System™ to help clients implement best practices and drive high performance throughout their organization. For more information, visit www.launchgrowexit.com, call (910) 681-1420, or email [email protected].

	What Small Businesses Can Do Now Jim Morton - Cape Fear Community College

	Trustees Can Face Tricky Technical And Personal Challenges Alyce Phillips - Old North State Trust LLC

	Innovation & Housing Panel Discussion Scott Byers - Majestic Kitchen & Bath Creations

OPENBIZ: April 2 Business Closures, Services, New Hours In Response To Virus Johanna Cano - Apr 2, 2020
	CastleBranch Buys Its HQ In Joint Venture Cece Nunn - Apr 1, 2020
	NHMRC Seeing Cash Crunch Over Coronavirus Vicky Janowski - Mar 31, 2020
SBA Lenders Prepare For A Wave Of Relief Program Applications Jenny Callison - Apr 2, 2020
	South Beach Grill, Sweet N Savory Adapt Jessica Maurer - Apr 1, 2020

So You’re Never Leaving …Got A Plan For That?

Other Posts from Dallas Romanowski

INSIGHTS

Trending News

In The Current Issue

Helping To Manage Change

MADE: Hooking The Fishing Market

Cashing In Wellness

Book On Business

Galleries

Videos