Business Exit Planning Services
Write your next chapter with business exit planning from Anthem Advisors, helping you envision life beyond your working years.
are you ready to step away from your business?
You’ve poured years, often decades, into building your business. When it’s time to step away, retire, or transition to the next generation, the stakes are enormous: your family, your team, your legacy, and your own next chapter. That’s why business exit planning isn’t a luxury. It’s essential.
At Anthem, we help business owners design and experience successful exits that can increase the overall value and efficiency of their business long before the business owner steps away.
why business exit planning matters
Most owners know they should plan, but the numbers tell a sobering story. 79% of owners* plan to transition within the next 10 years…yet nearly half have no written plan. 70% of businesses* put on the market never sell. About 30% of family-owned businesses* make it to a second generation…and only 12% survive to the third*.
Because a majority of businesses in our country are privately-owned, intentional exit planning is vital, whether you’re selling to an external third party, passing it to an heir, or arranging for an internal sale. Without a clear strategy, owners risk:
- Leaving significant value on the table
- Damaging family relationships
- Disrupting employees and customers
- Entering retirement without the financial freedom they expected
- Losing out on increased efficiency and productivity in their business
Work with a certified exit planning advisor (CEPA®)
Cavett Cooper, CFP®, CKA®, CEPA, is the founder of Anthem Advisors and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA). As both a seasoned financial planner and an exit planning specialist, he helps you navigate the financial, operational, and deeply personal decisions that come with leaving your business.
A CEPA serves as your quarterback, coordinating the right professionals and guiding you through a proven, step-by-step framework.
Professional collaboration
- What does “success” look like—for you, your spouse, your kids, your team, and your community?
- We make sure your goals are prioritized so the transition doesn’t just maximize value—it fulfills your why.
Business Readiness Assessment & Attractiveness
- Operational review
- Valuation drivers and risk factors
- Financial health and cash flow
Personal and Financial Readiness
- Wealth gap analysis (What do you need from the sale?)
- Estate and tax planning (VAM)
- Role transition and life-after-business planning
Building the Exit Plan
- Written roadmap with timing, structure, and method of transition (sale, internal succession, family transfer, etc.)
- Value acceleration methodology
- Tax and legal strategies
- Communication and confidentiality protocols
Assembling and Coordinating the Team
- Attorney
- CPA/Tax advisor
- Business broker or investment banker
- Operations/management consultants
- Your CEPA acts as the coordinating “quarterback” to keep everyone aligned.
Managing Execution and Adjustments
- Track milestones and maintain momentum
- Adjust the plan as the business, market, or family dynamics change
- Protect confidentiality to preserve value and trust
Ensuring a Successful Transition
- Meeting the owner’s personal, financial, and family goals
- Maximizing value at exit
- Preserving continuity for employees and clients
- Helping you thrive in life after the business
Don’t Exit Alone. Get a Guide and Exit Successfully.
It all starts with a conversation with our team. We’ll get to know you and your business and how we can help you create an ideal business exit plan.