The First 90 Days: Your Pre-Exit Checklist for 2025

Welcome back to another edition of The Wise Exit!

In today's issue, we're covering:

1. The First 90 Days: Your Pre-Exit Checklist for 2025

2. 4 Key Business Valuation Models for M&A Success

3. How Your GTM Strategy Impacts Valuation

Let's dive in!

The First 90 Days: Your Pre-Exit Checklist for 2025

The new year has just begun, and you're thinking about an exit. But where do you start? Instead of getting overwhelmed, let's break down exactly what you need to do in the next 90 days to set yourself up for success.

Month 1: Get Your House in Order

Think of this as your business spring cleaning. It's time to tackle those tasks you've been putting off:

• Review and clean up your financials (messy books kill deals)

• Document your key processes

• List all contracts and commitments

My advice: Start with your books because nothing scares away good buyers faster than messy financials.

Month 2: Build Your Dream Team

Your exit team is just as important as your numbers. Here's where to focus:

• Identifying your leadership gaps

• Starting conversations with potential advisors

• Building bench strength in critical roles

Remember, a strong team isn't built overnight—start these conversations now.

Month 3: Test Your Readiness

Time for some honest self-assessment about where you stand:

• Can your business run without you for two weeks?

• Are your systems documented and repeatable?

• Do you have clear growth metrics to show buyers?

If you can't answer "yes" to these questions, you know exactly where to focus next.

Remember, these 90 days aren't about getting everything perfect. They're about identifying what matters most and taking action. Because when opportunity knocks, you won't have time to fix everything. You need to be ready.

Featured Blog 📰

Confused about business valuation models? Our latest deep dive breaks down the four key approaches you need to know.

From market-based to income-based models, we'll help you understand which one fits your business best.

We cover:

• The four main valuation models explained

• How valuations impact decision-making

• Keys to negotiating fair pricing

• Using valuations to raise capital

Read "4 Key Business Valuation Models for Mergers and Acquisitions" on our blog.

M&A Tips from Brian Dukes 💡

Want to boost your valuation? Start with your go-to-market strategy.

Smart buyers don't just look at revenue—they look at how you generate it. A solid GTM assessment could be the key to unlocking higher multiples.

Read the full post on LinkedIn.

That's all for this week!

Remember, the choices you make in Q1 will shape your exit story for the entire year.

Best,

Brian Dukes