Create A Business Succession Plan & Sell Your Business

Considering the sale of your business in the next 3 to 5 years? We’ll provide the expertise and insights you need to move forward with confidence.

When you’re ready to sell your business, you want to maximize value while minimizing stress and uncertainty. As experienced business succession advisors, we guide business owners through every phase of the sale process – from initial planning to final closing. Whether you’re selling to internal successors, a financial buyer, or an industry partner, we provide strategic insights and execution support tailored to your goals.

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How to Sell a Business: Our Proven Process

1
Business Succession Planning and Strategy
We begin by understanding your timeline, financial objectives, and succession preferences. Our business succession planning process helps you prepare your company for sale while addressing tax implications, family considerations, and transition planning well in advance.
2
Business Valuation and Market Positioning
Before listing your business for sale, we conduct a comprehensive valuation to determine fair market value. Our analysis includes:
- Financial performance assessment
- Asset evaluation and working capital analysis
- Market comparables and industry multiples
- Growth potential and risk factors
- Strategic value identification
3
Business Preparation and Optimization
We help optimize your business for sale by addressing operational inefficiencies, financial reporting improvements, and documentation preparation. This preparation phase often increases business value by 15-30%.
4
Marketing Strategy and Buyer Identification
Our targeted marketing approach identifies qualified buyers while maintaining confidentiality:
- Strategic buyer outreach within your industry
- Financial buyer and private equity group engagement
- Professional business broker network leverage
- Confidential marketing materials development
5
Negotiation and Deal Structuring
When offers arrive, we negotiate terms that protect your interests:
- Purchase price optimization
- Deal structure and payment terms
- Representations, warranties, and indemnifications
- Transition and employment agreements
- Tax-efficient transaction structuring
6
Due Diligence Management
We coordinate the due diligence process to ensure smooth information flow while protecting sensitive data:
- Virtual data room setup and management
- Financial documentation preparation
- Legal and operational inquiry responses
- Timeline management and milestone tracking
7
Closing and Transition Support
From signed purchase agreement to final closing, we manage every detail:
- Legal documentation review and coordination
- Regulatory approvals and third-party consents
- Closing condition fulfillment
- Post-closing transition planning
- Escrow and earn-out administration

Business Succession Planning Services

Family Business Succession

For family-owned businesses, we provide specialized family business succession planning that addresses:

Next-generation leadership development
Family governance and decision-making structures
Tax-efficient ownership transitions
Conflict resolution and communication facilitation

Management Buyouts

When selling to internal management makes sense, we structure and negotiate management buyout transactions that benefit all parties while ensuring business continuity.

Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs)

We evaluate and implement ESOP structures that provide liquidity for owners while preserving company culture and employee jobs.

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Industries We Serve

Manufacturing & Distribution
Healthcare & Medical Services
Professional Services

Technology & Software
Retail & E-commerce
Food Service & Hospitality

Construction & Trades
Automotive Services
And more…

Rocklobs Advisory Partners Kevin T. Lewis (left) and Jordan Zach.

Why Choose Rocklobs as Your Business Succession and Business Sale Advisor

Deep Industry Expertise

Our team combines decades of experience in business valuations, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic planning. We understand what drives business value and how to position your company for maximum sale price.

Comprehensive Network

Through years of building relationships with strategic acquirers, private equity groups, family offices, and professional investors, we can identify the right buyers for your business – often before your company hits the open market.

Strategic Approach

We don’t just help you sell your business – we help you sell it at the right time, to the right buyer, at the right price. Our strategic methodology ensures optimal outcomes while preserving confidentiality throughout the process.

Transparent Fee Structure

Our fee structure is transparent and aligned with your success. We’ll discuss our compensation openly during your initial consultation.

Proven Track Record

We’ve successfully guided hundreds of business owners through successful exits across diverse industries. Our systematic approach and attention to detail have resulted in transactions that create lasting value for our clients.

Objective Guidance

As independent advisors, we provide unbiased counsel throughout the sale process. Our only goal is helping you achieve the best possible outcome for your business transition.

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Case Studies

Field Services Company | Acquisition and Strategic Growth

Challenge:
The company, a high-tech company specializing in cryo product services with $1M in annual revenue and a 5% EBITDA margin, attempted to sell to its employees to facilitate the 68-year-old owner’s retirement. The effort failed due to insufficient employee financing, limited revenue, and low profitability, which deterred buyer interest. Rocklobs Advisory’s initial assessment identified opportunities to grow the business through new cryo product lines, expansion into medical and industrial markets, and enhanced customer acquisition. However, the owner was unwilling to wait for succession planning and growth to take root, seeking an immediate exit with minimal ongoing involvement.

Solution:
Rocklobs Advisory acquired the company and implemented a growth strategy, leveraging its three-phase process:

Value Capture & Business Optimization: Conducted a comprehensive review, identifying opportunities to develop new cryo products (e.g., advanced cooling systems for medical diagnostics) and enter high-growth markets like industrial automation. Launched a targeted customer acquisition strategy, including digital marketing and strategic partnerships with medical and industrial firms, boosting leads by 35% within 12 months. Optimized operations by streamlining supply chain processes, reducing costs by 15% and improving EBITDA to 10% within 18 months, setting the stage for significant growth.
Succession Planning & Valuation: Valued the business at $1.1M–$1.4M based on market comparables and projected growth potential. To address the owner’s urgency, Rocklobs proposed acquiring the business directly for $1.2M, enabling an immediate exit while committing to grow revenue to $5M and EBITDA to 20% for a future sale. Structured a tax-efficient acquisition deal and prepared quality of earnings reports to ensure transparency and support the valuation.
Deal Execution & Transaction Management: Negotiated the acquisition, securing a deal that included a 6-month advisory role for the owner to ensure a smooth transition while minimizing their involvement. Managed due diligence, addressing profitability concerns and emphasizing growth opportunities in new markets.

Results:
Post-acquisition, Rocklobs executed the growth plan, expanding product lines and market presence to position the company for a future strategic sale.

Engineering Services Company | Choosing Growth Over an Undervalued Acquisition Offer

Challenge:
The company, a civil engineering and water treatment operations company with $2.5M in annual revenue and a 20% EBITDA margin ($500K EBITDA), was approached by a larger civil engineering firm interested in acquiring its specialized water treatment expertise and stable client base. Despite solid revenue streams and substantial cash reserves, the company had not invested these reserves for growth, limiting its scalability and perceived value. The larger firm’s initial offer undervalued the business, falling short of returns equivalent to external investment opportunities (e.g., 8–10% annual market returns). The owner, committed to staying with the business for 10 years, sought to evaluate the offer and maximize value, preferring a standalone growth plan if the offer did not meet expectations.

Solution:
Rocklobs Advisory applied its three-phase process to assess the offer, enhance the company’s value, and develop a robust growth plan as the primary strategy:

Value Capture & Business Optimization: Conducted a comprehensive review of financials and operations, identifying opportunities to deploy cash reserves into growth initiatives, such as expanding water treatment services into municipal and industrial sectors. Implemented a strategic marketing plan and partnerships with regional utilities, securing 25% more project contracts within 12 months. Optimized project delivery processes, reducing costs by 12% and increasing EBITDA to 23%, positioning the business for significant scalability.
Succession Planning & Valuation: Performed a detailed valuation, estimating a fair sale price of $5M–$6M based on industry multiples (10–12x EBITDA for engineering firms) and growth potential from new contracts. Benchmarked the larger firm’s offer against external investment returns (8–10% annually), confirming a valuation gap. Developed a standalone growth plan targeting $5M in revenue and a 25% EBITDA margin within 3 years, leveraging cash reserves to fund expansion while aligning with the owner’s 10-year commitment. Prepared quality of earnings reports to support negotiations and future growth.
Deal Execution & Transaction Management: Engaged with the acquiring firm to negotiate a revised offer, presenting enhanced financials and growth projections to justify a $5M–$6M valuation. When the revised offer remained below expectations, Rocklobs advised against the sale, prioritizing the standalone growth plan. Secured $1.5M in new municipal and industrial contracts to drive revenue growth, establishing a 10-year roadmap for the owner to lead expansion while maintaining control. Structured a contingency plan for future sale discussions if market conditions improved.

Results:
Rocklobs Advisory empowered the company to reject the undervalued acquisition offer, opting instead for a standalone growth plan that achieved 20% revenue growth to $3M and a 3% EBITDA margin increase to 23% within 18 months. The growth plan, funded by cash reserves, positioned the business to reach $5M in revenue and a 25% EBITDA margin ($1.25M EBITDA) within 3 years, projecting a potential $12.5M–$15M valuation (10–12x EBITDA) for a future sale, surpassing external investment returns (8–10% annually). The owner’s 10-year commitment was supported by a clear roadmap, ensuring long-term leadership and value creation while preserving the company’s legacy in water treatment services.

Get Started on Your Successful Business Succession or Sale

The sooner you begin to prepare, the better. Put our decades of experience to work for you and your future.

Contact us today for a confidential consultation.

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FAQ: Business Succession Planning and How to Sell A Business

How Much Do Business Advisors Charge to Sell a Business?

Our fee structure varies based on transaction complexity and business size. Unlike percentage-based business broker commissions that can range from 8-12% of sale price, we offer transparent, value-based pricing aligned with your transaction’s success.

How Long Does It Take to Sell a Business?

The typical business sale process takes 6-12 months from initial preparation to closing. However, businesses that undergo proper succession planning 2-3 years in advance often achieve higher valuations and smoother transactions.

What Documents Do I Need to Sell My Business?

Key documentation includes 3-5 years of financial statements, tax returns, customer contracts, employee agreements, operational procedures, and legal documents. We provide a comprehensive checklist during our initial consultation.

Should I Use a Business Broker or Business Advisor?

While business brokers focus primarily on marketing and finding buyers, business succession advisors provide comprehensive strategic guidance throughout the entire process. Our approach encompasses valuation optimization, tax planning, and post-transaction wealth management.