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.
How prepared are you to exit your company?
The transfer of your business is the most significant transfer of your financial life, and there are no do-overs. This free 10-minute assessment can help you gain further insight into what you need to do to prepare for what’s next.
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
Business Exit Planning FAQs
How does Anthem Wealth Advisors help business owners plan an exit?
Anthem Wealth Advisors helps business owners prepare for a sale, succession, or other transition through the Anthem ExitPath℠, a five-phase process. Discovery is a complimentary look at your exit readiness. Assessment evaluates your value, wealth, and profit gaps and produces a prioritized action plan. Preparation puts that plan to work with ongoing accountability. Transition helps you navigate the sale or succession in coordination with CPAs, attorneys, bankers, valuation specialists, and other professionals as needed. Stewardship helps you manage the wealth from your exit toward retirement, family, and generosity. Learn more about business exit planning.
Who is Anthem’s exit planning for, and when should I start?
Anthem Wealth Advisors’ exit planning is designed for Christian business owners who expect to exit successfully within the next two to five years. It typically fits businesses with $1 million to $20 million in annual revenue, adjusted EBITDA of $500,000 or more, or seller’s discretionary earnings of $250,000 or more. Starting several years ahead gives you time to strengthen the business and more options when you are ready to leave. According to the Exit Planning Institute (EPI), about 70% of businesses brought to market never sell, and 49% of owners have no written exit plan. You may not control when you exit, but preparing in advance can give you more time to consider your options.
What is my business worth, and does Anthem Wealth Advisors provide a valuation?
Yes. In the complimentary Discovery phase, Anthem Wealth Advisors provides an estimated valuation range for your business along with an exit readiness score. The Assessment phase goes deeper, looking at what drives value in your business, such as recurring revenue, profitability, your leadership team, and how well the business runs without you. Anthem also helps you determine the second number that matters: how much you need from the sale, after taxes and fees, to support retirement, family, and giving. When a formal valuation is needed for a transaction, Anthem can recommend vetted valuation specialists. Business valuations are estimates, and the final price depends on buyers and market conditions.
Is there a complimentary first step for exit planning?
Yes. The Anthem ExitPath℠ begins with a complimentary Discovery meeting, with no cost and no commitment. Discovery starts with a short survey about your business and your goals, followed by a review of select documents and financial data. The Discovery process provides a high-level view of where you stand today, including an estimated valuation range and a readiness score, and can help you consider whether a deeper assessment makes sense.
What is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA®)?
A Certified Exit Planning Advisor® has earned the CEPA® designation from the Exit Planning Institute by completing its training program and exam, which focus on helping business owners build value and prepare for a transition. Cavett Cooper, Anthem Wealth Advisors’ CEO, holds the CEPA® designation along with the CFP® and CKA® designations. That combination brings exit planning, comprehensive financial planning, and a faith-informed perspective together for Christian business owners. Learn more on Anthem’s CEPA® page.
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.