Exit Planning in Sacramento

Exit Planning isn’t only about the final transaction. It’s about how you prepare your business, your leadership team, and your financial life long before that day arrives. For business owners across the Sacramento area, that preparation often shapes how much flexibility you have when it’s time to step away.

Consider these statistics

  • 100% of business owners will leave their businesses, whether planned or otherwise.
  • 79% of business owners plan to exit their businesses in the next 10 years.
  • 80% of owners believe that a successful exit will result from planning and the action items they implement.


Interestingly, only 17% of business owners have created a written exit plan … and it takes at least 3 to 5 years to develop one.

At Zeller Kern Business Advisors, we use a methodical process that can help business owners increase the value of their business over time while preparing for an eventual exit. Whether you’re years away from a transition or starting to think about timing now, the focus should stay on building value and aligning your business activities with your personal goals.

Exit Planning Matters More Than Most Owners Expect

Many business owners spend years focused on growth, operations, and hiring. Exit planning often gets pushed aside or postponed. As you begin planning your exit strategy, our experienced business advisor will help you understand and consider how these things can affect your plans.

The Value of Your Business

A business valuation can help you step back and look at your company with a more objective lens. That starts with understanding what your business is actually worth today, not just what you hope it may be worth in the future. A clear view of value can give you a stronger foundation for planning and help you make reality-based decisions.

Identifying Gaps

Identifying gaps that could affect a future sale or transition is crucial. This may include issues related to operations, leadership, customer concentration, financial reporting, or owner dependence. Planning and documenting these things don’t always seem urgent, especially when the business is running well, but they can matter a great deal when the time comes to transfer ownership.

Succession and Tax Planning

Exit planning also involves aligning leadership and succession planning with your long-term goals. If your business is meant to continue without you, the right people and processes need to be in place well before any transition happens. At the same time, tax considerations tied to a sale, transfer, or succession event should be part of the conversation early, not after decisions have already been made.

Building More Than One Path Forward

One of the biggest benefits of working with an advisor is building optionality instead of relying on a single outcome. Exiting a business doesn’t always mean leaving what you have spent years building in the rearview Mirror. Many owners choose to stay involved in a limited capacity, transferring the day-to-day operations to others. Properly planning your exit strategy provides you with choices you may not otherwise have.

Common Exit Strategies

There’s no one-size-fits-all exit strategy. The right exit plan depends on a mix of factors, including your timeline, your company's structure, the people involved in the business, and what you want life to look like after you step away.

For some owners, the priority is maximizing value in a sale. For others, it may be keeping the business in the family, rewarding key employees, or joining forces with a larger organization. Exit planning gives you a way to evaluate these possibilities more deliberately and practically, rather than feeling boxed into one option when the time comes. Here are a few options we will help you to consider:

  • Selling to a third-party buyer
  • Transitioning ownership to employees or partners
  • Family succession planning
  • Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
  • Merging with another company
  • Build the business as an asset class


Each path carries different timelines, tax implications, and levels of involvement after the transition. The earlier you start evaluating these options, the more flexibility you tend to have.

A detailed plan is crucial for the successful exit of your business

TAKE OUR FREE 15-MINUTE ASSESSMENT TO DETERMINE YOUR BUSINESS EXIT READINESS AND CREATE AN ACTION PLAN TAILORED TO YOUR NEEDS.

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Partner with an
Experienced Exit Planner

If you’re thinking about selling your business in Sacramento or transferring ownership to a family member, or key employees, Zeller Kern Business Advisors can help you plan and implement your business succession strategy.

Using an established planning process, we gather extensive data about your company, assess your personal needs and wishes, construct a comprehensive exit plan, and help you implement the plan. We partner with selected professionals as needed, such as CPAs, estate and business transaction attorneys, business valuation experts, business brokers, and mergers and acquisitions/investment bankers.

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It's Time For a
Purposeful Conversation

Ready to take control of your financial future? Connect with Zeller Kern Business Advisors today for a meaningful discussion about your goals, values, and business management needs. Let's work together to create an exit plan that helps you grow, protect, and manage your business with confidence. Contact us today. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

When should I start exit planning?
Many Sacramento business owners begin 3 to 10 years before a planned exit. Starting earlier generally provides more flexibility and more time to address gaps.

How does a CEPA help with exit planning?
A CEPA (Certified Exit Planning Advisor) helps structure the process, coordinate advisors, and focus on building business value over time rather than just preparing for a sale.

What is the difference between exit planning and succession planning?
Exit planning is broader. It includes financial, operational, and strategic considerations. Succession planning focuses specifically on leadership and ownership transition.

Do I need a business valuation before selling?
Yes. A current valuation helps you understand where you stand today and what changes may impact your future options.

*Exit Planning, Business Enterprise Institute, Inc., 28 May 2019, www.exitplanning.com/sites/default/files/documents/2019_business_owner_survey.pdf.
**Exit planning services offered by Zeller Kern Business Advisors, a Registered Investment Adviser, are separate and unrelated to Commonwealth. Tax, legal, and business valuation services provided by third-party CPAs, attorneys, and other professionals are separate and unrelated to Zeller Kern.