Is Your Business Ready for Sale? How to Know Before You Go

Is Your Business Ready for Sale? How to Know Before You Go

The other day, a client asked if I could help him sell his business.
I said I’d be happy to help — but first asked if it was ready.

He replied, “Yes sir, I’m ready.”

I smiled and said, “I’m not worried about you — I’m worried about the business.”

He looked puzzled. “How would I know if it’s ready?”

I asked, “If you left for a month, what would happen to your company?”

He paused. “It would completely stop functioning.”

There’s your answer — it’s not ready.

So… is your business ready?
You need to be objective when answering that question. That’s why we developed a simple tool — the Exit Readiness Scorecard.

This structured scorecard helps owners measure how prepared their company is for a transition. It evaluates key value drivers and risk factors across areas such as:

• Financial performance
• Leadership depth
• Customer concentration
• Growth opportunities
• Operational systems

Your score provides a clear, data-driven snapshot of where your business stands today. Think of it as a pre-flight checklist for your exit — ensuring that when you decide to sell, your business is attractive, transferable, and positioned to command maximum value.

If you’re planning to exit in the next few years — or just want to understand your current position — the GW-Legacy Exit Readiness Scorecard is a great place to start.

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👉 Download it HERE or contact us at www.gw-legacy.com or mwillard@gw-legacy.com.