The 9-Month Pre-Exit Handoff Calendar for Busy Owners
You've run this business for decades. You know every customer's first name, every machine's quirk, every bank covenant by heart. And now you're supposed to hand it over—to a buyer, a child, a key employee—without breaking it. Most owners think the exit starts when the offer letter lands. It doesn't. It starts now. Nine months out, to be exact. That's when you have enough time to fix the things that scare off buyers, but not so much that you lose momentum. This isn't a theory. It's a calendar, built from watching owners fumble the handoff and watching others glide through it. You'll want a notebook, because this is going to get specific. Why an Exit Calendar Matters More Than a Valuation The Cost of a Rushed Handoff Most owners obsess over the valuation number. They polish financials, trim costs, rehearse the pitch.