For many founders, the word “exit” feels final - like something you only talk about when you’re ready to retire or hand over the keys. Here’s the truth: building a cash-rich exit starts long before you plan to leave.
On a recent episode of ‘The Cash-Rich Exit Podcast’, I spoke with Dr. Lindy Ledohowski, who describes herself as “acquisition-curious”. That phrase stuck with me - because it captures something I see often. Founders who are successful, scaling, and not looking to sell… but starting to wonder, What if someone came knocking? Would I be ready?
Spoiler: most aren’t. And that’s where a strategic exit mindset can change everything.
Being exit-ready doesn’t mean you’re leaving - it means you’re in control.
Having an exit plan involves more than maximizing value when the time comes. It’s about building optionality. When you understand your company’s true worth and structure it accordingly, you have more choices:
- you can entertain acquisition offers with confidence
- you can weather unexpected life events or economic shifts
- you can step back gradually without losing momentum
- you can build intergenerational wealth that lasts
Exit planning puts you in the driver’s seat. Without it, you’re always reacting to circumstances instead of shaping them.
The real costs of waiting too long
Many business owners miss out on life-changing opportunities because they weren’t prepared:
- Messy books that don’t reflect real profitability
- No clear shareholder agreements or succession strategy
- Unclear value drivers that make due diligence a nightmare
- Too much dependence on the founder, killing buyer confidence
Lindy brought up a great point - sometimes the founder is the brand. If you want to extract yourself from that equation, you need to build systems, a team, and IP (intellectual property) that stand on their own.
Start small: 3 things you can do now
- Know your wealth gap.
Get a handle on what you’ll need from the sale of your business to live the life you want after exit. Many owners don’t realize how wide this gap is until it’s too late. If you don’t know, and want to quantify your Wealth Gap, I can offer you a complimentary 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis. Connect on LinkedIn - Colleen O’Connell-Campbell - or reach out directly to schedule. - Separate yourself from the business.
Start identifying the roles only you can do - and begin delegating the rest. Buyers want sustainable businesses, not solo acts. - Document everything.
Systems, processes, team structures, financials. The more buttoned-up your operations are, the more valuable your business becomes.
Exit planning isn’t a task. It’s a mindset.
And it pays off - whether you sell in 1 year or 10. You don’t have to be “exit-ready” tomorrow. But if you’re even a little acquisition-curious, the time to start preparing is now.
You built something valuable. Let’s make sure it pays you back when it counts.
Listen to the full conversation with Dr Lindy here
Want to know your Wealth Gap?
Book a complimentary 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with me today.
Connect on LinkedIn or reach out directly to schedule.
TTFN - ta-ta for now!
Colleen
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