--- title: Exit Planning Guides for UK Founders | Stratworth Advisory url: https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/ description: Plain-English guides for UK founders on preparing a business for sale, what drives value, owner dependency, customer concentration and exit routes. last_updated: 2026-09-29 publisher: Stratworth Advisory Ltd --- Insights # Insights for founders: *growth, value and exit* Plain-English guides for UK founders and owner-managers on preparing a business for sale, what drives its value and the routes out. Written for general information, and sourced only from authoritative UK bodies. **Guides**: Ten, and a glossary **Reading time**: 89 minutes in all **Sources**: GOV.UK, HMRC, British Business Bank, ICAEW, Acas **Updated**: 7 October 2026 [Start with the first guide](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/how-to-prepare-a-business-for-sale/) [Take the free Readiness Assessment](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/readiness-assessment/) Start here · Guide 01 ## [How to prepare a business for sale: *a guide for founders*](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/how-to-prepare-a-business-for-sale/) Most of what decides the price, the terms and the stress of a sale is settled long before a buyer arrives. This guide sets out what to prepare, in what order, and where to bring in professional advice. Inside this guide 1. [Why preparation matters more than timing](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/how-to-prepare-a-business-for-sale/#why-preparation) 2. [Start with what you want: your number, your timing, your role afterwards](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/how-to-prepare-a-business-for-sale/#your-goals) 3. [Look at the business the way a buyer will](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/how-to-prepare-a-business-for-sale/#buyers-view) 4. [Get your financial story straight](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/how-to-prepare-a-business-for-sale/#financial-story) 5. [Reduce reliance on you and on any single customer](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/how-to-prepare-a-business-for-sale/#reliance) 6. [Put your legal and commercial house in order](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/how-to-prepare-a-business-for-sale/#legal-housekeeping) 12 min read13 sourcesIncludes a first-quarter plan you can tick off [Read the guide](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/how-to-prepare-a-business-for-sale/) The library ## Every guide, *by topic* Ten guides that follow one founder question from start to finish: will this business reward you today, and let you exit on your own terms? Each one maps to [the SCALE2SELL® framework](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/scale2sell/). Guide 01 12 min read ### [How to prepare a business for sale: a guide for founders](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/how-to-prepare-a-business-for-sale/) Most of what decides the price, the terms and the stress of a sale is settled long before a buyer arrives. - Preparing to sell - Building value - Timing and process Guide 02 10 min read ### [What makes a business worth more? The value drivers buyers look for](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/what-makes-a-business-worth-more/) Two businesses with the same profit can sell for very different prices. - Building value - Reducing risk Guide 03 9 min read ### [How to make your business less dependent on you](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/reduce-owner-dependency/) If the business cannot run without you, a buyer is really buying your time, and they will price it accordingly. - Reducing risk - Succession and exit routes - Building value Guide 04 9 min read ### [Customer concentration risk: what it is and how to reduce it](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/customer-concentration-risk/) When a large share of your revenue depends on a few customers, whoever takes the business on inherits that risk, and they will allow for it. - Reducing risk - Building value Guide 05 9 min read ### [Exit routes explained: the main ways to sell, pass on or step back](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/exit-routes-explained/) There is more than one way out of a business. - Succession and exit routes - Preparing to sell Guide 06 9 min read ### [How long does it take to sell a business?](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/how-long-does-it-take-to-sell-a-business/) The honest answer is that it depends, and mostly on how prepared the business is before the process begins. - Timing and process - Preparing to sell Guide 07 8 min read ### [Exit planning vs succession planning: what is the difference?](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/exit-planning-vs-succession-planning/) The two terms are often used as if they mean the same thing. - Succession and exit routes - Preparing to sell Guide 08 8 min read ### [Management buyouts explained: selling to your own team](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/management-buyout-explained/) Selling to the people who already run the business can protect its culture, its customers and the team you built. - Succession and exit routes - Timing and process Guide 09 8 min read ### [Due diligence: what a buyer will check, and how to prepare](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/due-diligence-checklist-for-sellers/) Due diligence is where a buyer tests everything you have told them. - Timing and process - Reducing risk - Preparing to sell Guide 10 7 min read ### [How to write an exit plan: a template for founders](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/how-to-write-an-exit-plan/) An exit plan does not need to be long. - Preparing to sell - Succession and exit routes Quick answers ## Questions *founders ask* Jump straight to the part of a guide that answers the question on your mind. 1. [When is the best time to sell a business?Guide 01](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/how-to-prepare-a-business-for-sale/#why-preparation) 2. [What should I do first if I might sell in a few years?Guide 01](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/how-to-prepare-a-business-for-sale/#plan) 3. [How do buyers put a price on a business?Guide 02](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/what-makes-a-business-worth-more/#how-buyers-price) 4. [Is valuation mapping the same as a valuation?Guide 02](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/what-makes-a-business-worth-more/#valuation-mapping) 5. [How do I know if the business depends too much on me?Guide 03](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/reduce-owner-dependency/#map-it) 6. [How do I hand over customer relationships?Guide 03](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/reduce-owner-dependency/#relationships) 7. [How do I measure customer concentration?Guide 04](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/customer-concentration-risk/#measure-it) 8. [Is there a safe share for my largest customer?Guide 04](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/customer-concentration-risk/#why-it-matters) 9. [What is an employee ownership trust?Guide 05](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/exit-routes-explained/#eot) 10. [How does a management buyout work?Guide 08](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/management-buyout-explained/#what-it-is) 11. [How is a management buyout funded?Guide 08](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/management-buyout-explained/#funding) 12. [Is exit planning the same as succession planning?Guide 07](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/exit-planning-vs-succession-planning/#two-questions) 13. [What will a buyer check in due diligence?Guide 09](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/due-diligence-checklist-for-sellers/#the-strands) 14. [What is a data room?Guide 09](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/due-diligence-checklist-for-sellers/#data-room) 15. [What is vendor due diligence?Guide 09](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/due-diligence-checklist-for-sellers/#vendor-dd) 16. [What should an exit plan include?Guide 10](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/how-to-write-an-exit-plan/#why-write) 17. [What are the stages of selling a business?Guide 06](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/how-long-does-it-take-to-sell-a-business/#stages) 18. [What slows a business sale down?Guide 06](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/how-long-does-it-take-to-sell-a-business/#what-slows) Reference ## Selling a business: *the words explained* [All 46 terms](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/glossary/) Heads of terms, earn-outs, warranties, TUPE: the vocabulary of a sale, defined in plain English, each term linked to the guide that covers it in depth. - [Heads of terms](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/glossary/#heads-of-terms) - [Due diligence](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/glossary/#due-diligence) - [Earn-out](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/glossary/#earn-out) - [Locked box](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/glossary/#locked-box) - [Warranty](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/glossary/#warranty) - [TUPE](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/insights/glossary/#tupe) At work in the Stratworth Advisory office Our editorial standard ## How we write *these guides* 1. 01 ### UK sources only Every figure we use links to an authoritative UK source: GOV.UK, HMRC, the British Business Bank, ICAEW or Acas. 2. 02 ### No invented numbers Where we cannot source a figure, we leave it out. That includes the rules of thumb on multiples, percentages and average sale times that circulate online. 3. 03 ### General information, not advice Our guides explain; they do not advise on your circumstances. Take independent legal, tax and financial advice where appropriate. 4. 04 ### Written from the founder’s side of the table Stratworth Advisory is led by Nik Spencer: 34 years of founder experience and 3 successful business exits. [Read Nik’s story](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/about-nik/) Next step ## Where does your business *stand today?* [Take the free Readiness Assessment](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/readiness-assessment/) to score your business across the eight pillars, then talk it through with Nik on a complimentary Founder Conversation. [Take the free Readiness Assessment](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/readiness-assessment/) [Book a complimentary Founder Conversation with Nik](https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/contact/) --- Stratworth Advisory Ltd. Registered in England and Wales, company number 16078743. Registered office: Avon View Offices, 90 High Street, Bidford-on-Avon, Alcester, England, B50 4AF. ICO registration number ZB932222. Stratworth Advisory provides strategic business guidance only and does not offer regulated financial, legal or investment advice. Clients should seek independent professional advice where appropriate. Contact: nik@stratworthadvisory.com. Book a complimentary Founder Conversation: https://www.stratworthadvisory.com/contact/