A Mid-Year Checklist For Your Business Exit Strategy

Mid-year is one of the best times to step back and assess the trajectory of your business. You have a clear picture of performance so far, and enough time remains to reinforce gaps, refine assumptions, and make strategic moves before the year-end rush.

Below is a mid-year diagnostic every owner approaching a transition should work through to strengthen their exit readiness.

Are you aligned with your team?

Your people rely on clarity about their future roles, especially as you prepare for your own. Are they equipped to support continuity and long-term success? If not, what training, leadership development, or operational handovers are needed?
If you haven’t revisited long-term plans with key employees recently, now is the time. They have their own career trajectories to consider, and competitive markets can tempt them elsewhere. Aligning with them today builds commitment and reduces transition risk.

Is your accounting in good shape?

Many small and midsize businesses operate with internal accounting that needs more structure. Mid-year is the perfect point to replace informal arrangements with proper documentation. Any future buyer or partner will expect clarity, clean records, and well-organised financials.

It’s also worth reviewing your outsourced accounting partners. Many firms are consolidating, and service quality can drop as teams grow. If you’re working with junior accountants unfamiliar with your industry, you may be missing tax efficiencies or strategic advantages that influence your exit outcome.

How is the business performing?

A strong exit strategy requires a realistic, zoomed-out view of the business. Study your core metrics. Are you over-reliant on one customer segment? Are your assumptions still accurate? Many companies that pivoted aggressively during the COVID era now face a necessary realignment to remain viable. Monitor external factors too. Competitors, regulatory changes, tax laws, demographic shifts, and evolving client expectations all influence exit timing and value. You can only adapt to what you’re actively observing.

This is the ideal moment for a thorough mid-year check of your exit plan. It’s not just about preparing the business for a future sale; it’s about ensuring it thrives leading up to the transition and long after you step back.
If you’d like clarity on your next steps, reach out - we’re always here to help.