The Silent Risk in Your Client Base: Business Owners Who Aren’t Ready

The Secret Issue That Most Advisors Miss

As an accountant or financial planner, it’s your job to protect your clients’ money. But there’s one thing that could ruin years of good advice: they aren’t ready to leave their business.

Most business owners don’t realise how much time and planning it takes to exit successfully. Many think they can sell whenever they want and get what they want. The truth is very different:

• 70–80% of businesses that try to sell never do.

• Those that do often sell for less than expected, with rushed and stressful processes.

• Owners who don’t plan often put their retirement goals, estate planning, and wealth strategies at risk.

Important point: Even if you’ve made the best financial plan, it could fall apart if your client’s business—their biggest asset—isn’t ready to be sold.

Why Most Owners Aren’t Ready

Business owners are focused on running their business, not leaving it. Common mistakes include:

• No clear deadline — thinking “one day” is enough.

• Overreliance on themselves — buyers don’t want businesses that can’t run without the owner.

• Unrealistic expectations — assuming the business is worth more than the market will pay.

• Poor documentation — messy finances, missing processes, and legal gaps turn buyers away.

• Reactive exits — forced by health, burnout, or market pressure with no time to prepare.

When these problems collide, owners are often forced to sell at a discount—making it harder to stick to long-term financial plans.

The Risk for Advisors

Unprepared owners don’t just put themselves at risk; they put your client relationships at risk too.

• A failed or disappointing sale may make clients doubt your other advice.

• If the business sells for less than expected, retirement and succession plans can fall apart.

• Clients may liquidate investments early, abandon strategies, or disengage altogether.

Main point: If you don’t address exit readiness, you could lose both your client’s trust and their ongoing business.

How Our Programs Fix This Issue

The good news is you don’t need to be an expert in exit planning. Our Exit Planning & Readiness Programs give you a turnkey solution to fill this gap right away.

Program benefits:

• Customised paths for Sole Operators, Small Businesses, and Medium Businesses.

• Self-paced online modules with templates, checklists, and tools.

• Clear steps to increase business value, reduce dependency on the owner, and prepare for buyer scrutiny.

• Flexibility to sell with or without a broker.

Your role as advisor:

• Continue managing wealth, tax, and financial strategies.

• We provide the structured readiness framework.

• Together, you and your client ensure their financial plan is achievable because the business is ready to sell.

A Partnership That Works for Everyone

By working with Business Exit Solutions, you get:

• Peace of mind knowing client financial plans won’t collapse due to a failed exit.

• Stronger loyalty from clients who trust you with their biggest financial transaction.

• New revenue with a 20% commission on every program referral.

Main point: You protect client wealth, strengthen your advisory brand, and earn more—all while doing what’s best for your clients.

Go to the Next Step

Don’t let the silent threat of unprepared business owners undo years of planning. With the right tools, you can close the gap, protect client wealth, and secure your role as their most trusted advisor.

📌 Join us today. Learn more about how our programs integrate with your services and book a free consultation here:

https://businessexit.global/strategic-partnerships/

Meet with us today!