Exit Planning

Exit Planning helps business owners set, sort through, and achieve their exit objectives. It enables owners to leave their companies when they want, to the successors they want, and with the amount of cash they need.  Without exception, every owner leaves his or her company. Whether you do it in style depends on the specific exit planning actions you take before you leave.

All closely-held and family-owned businesses will eventually lose their primary owner to death or retirement. Preparing in advance for the eventual change of ownership will help eliminate the negative financial impact and the struggles for control that frequently follow the death or retirement of the primary owner when there is a lack of planning.

If you are a primary owner of a business, it is advisable to have an exit plan in place regardless of your age.If you see an ownership change within the next 3 to 5 years due to retirement or an anticipated sale of the business, immediate planning is critical. We can help you plan a successful business exit. We can help you answer the seven planning questions located on this page and identify qualified advisors to help you through the process.

What we offer business owners:

  • Our experience in guiding numerous owners through the exit planning process.
  • No-cost initial consultations to explain how the exit planning process works.
  • Access to state-of-the-art exit planning resources.
  • We maintain relationships with professionals in other disciplines experienced in the exit planning process. We can help you to find the advisors you need.
  • We present seminars on a variety of exit planning topics.

Exit Planning requires that these 7 issues be addressed:

  1. Determining your specific retirement goals and the cash required to reach them.
  2. Determining the current cash value of your business
  3. Determining how to make the most of the income stream generated by your ownership interest.
  4. Determining what is needed to prepare the business for sale to a third party in a way that minimizes taxes.
  5. Determining how to transfer your business to family members, co-owners, or employees in a way that minimizes taxes and maximizes your financial security.
  6. Developing a continuity plan for your business in the event that something unexpcted happens to you.
  7. Developing a plan to ensure the financial well-being of your family if the unexpected happens to you.
To discuss a California business litigation matter confidentially or for information, please contact Rick Quinlivan, Attorney at Law @ 714.241.1919 or p.quinlivan@qwllp.com.

Business Law