Phase 5 · Scale & Legacy · Beyond Growth — Towards Legacy
Exit & Legacy Planning
How you exit is as important as how you build. Too few founders plan it early enough.
Exit & Legacy Planning is the strategic work of preparing a business for the event that ultimately defines the value of everything the founder has built — whether that event is a trade sale, a management buyout, a strategic merger, an IPO, or a planned succession to the next generation. Most founders leave significant value on the table at exit, not because the business isn't good, but because it wasn't built to be sold. Exit & Legacy Planning ensures that when the moment comes, the business is structurally, commercially, and narratively ready to command the price it deserves.
The Pain We Solve
You may recognise yourself in one of these.
Three audience scenarios · because the same service produces a different transformation depending on where you are in the business journey.
Scenario 1
The founder planning to exit in three to five years
They know the exit is coming. They haven't started preparing. The business is profitable but founder-dependent — and they know that buyer-readiness means removing that dependency. They're not sure what buyers actually value, what the current business is worth, or what changes would move the valuation needle most significantly.
Scenario 2
The business that received a lowball acquisition offer
An acquirer came forward with an offer that was well below the founder's expectation of value. The gap between what the buyer offered and what the founder believed the business was worth was significant — and the gap probably reflects real structural issues that the business hasn't yet addressed. They rejected the offer. Now they want to close the gap.
Scenario 3
The business owner thinking about succession rather than sale
The business has been built over decades. The intention is not to sell to an outsider but to pass it to a family member or management team. But without proper succession planning, the transition is a commercial and operational risk. The next generation needs to be ready, the governance needs to be right, and the legacy needs to be protected.
The Impact It Creates
The Moment You Will Feel the Difference.
Enterprise value rises ahead of any specific capital event as value drivers are deliberately built
The business becomes structurally attractive to the specific type of buyer or successor being targeted
The exit or succession process is managed strategically rather than reactively
The founder's legacy — commercial, cultural, and personal — is protected and designed
What You Receive
The Specific Deliverables.
Tangible outputs · documented, dated, and yours to keep.
- Exit readiness audit — an honest assessment of the business through an acquirer's or successor's lens
- Valuation optimisation plan — the specific actions most likely to increase enterprise value before exit
- Buyer-readiness checklist — the structural, commercial, and governance requirements for a clean transaction
- Succession planning — if the path is internal, a structured framework for leadership transition
- Legacy framework — articulating and protecting the culture, values, and mission that define the business beyond the transaction
The Outcome
Where You Will Be on the Other Side.
After Exit & Legacy Planning, the business is on a deliberate trajectory toward a transaction or succession that realises its full value. The founder understands what drives enterprise value, what buyers or successors will scrutinise, and what changes to make in the time available. When the moment comes, the business is ready — and the outcome reflects the quality of the preparation.
Investment & ROI
Pricing Engineered Around the Value You Create.
Every engagement is sized against the value we believe we can create with you · the fee is always a fraction of the outcome. Four tiers · so the investment matches your stage of business.
Tier 1
Foundations
£5,000 – £15,000
Right for
Pre-startup, startup, and micro-business founders ready to build on evidence rather than instinct.
Typical Value Created
£100K – £500K in qualified pipeline and launch traction
Engagement
4 – 8 weeks
Target Return
5 – 10× ROI
within 12 – 18 months
Tier 2
Acceleration
£15,000 – £50,000
Right for
Growing SMEs and established small businesses ready to scale a working model into the next revenue band.
Typical Value Created
£500K – £5M in revenue impact from coordinated launch and demand generation
Engagement
8 – 16 weeks
Target Return
5 – 10× ROI
within 12 – 18 months
Tier 3
Transformation
£50,000 – £250,000
Right for
Medium enterprises and scale-stage businesses ready to commit to a multi-quarter, organisation-wide shift.
Typical Value Created
£2M – £25M in launch economics and multi-channel revenue acceleration
Engagement
3 – 9 months
Target Return
5 – 10× ROI
within 12 – 18 months
Tier 4
Enterprise
£250,000 – £2M+
Right for
Large enterprises, global operators, and complex organisations ready for a multi-year strategic partnership.
Typical Value Created
£10M+ in launch-driven revenue, market-share capture, and brand momentum
Engagement
12 months and onward
Target Return
5 – 10× ROI
within 12 – 18 months
Why We Price This Way
Every engagement is sized around the value we believe we can create with you. The fee is always a fraction of the outcome · typically 10 – 20% of the expected first-year return.
This is how we make sure pricing aligns with results. The conversation is never “what does this cost?” · it is always “what is this worth to your business?” We answer that together in the first call, transparently, and decide the right tier from there.
If we cannot articulate a credible 5–10× return for your specific situation, we will tell you in the first call. That honesty is part of why our clients trust us with the work that matters most.
Why This Conversation Matters
“Every founder who has built something of genuine value deserves to realise that value fully. The difference between a business that sells at a multiple that reflects its true potential and one that underperforms at exit is almost always preparation. Exit & Legacy Planning is the work that closes that gap — the deliberate, strategic process of building a business that is not just profitable today but optimised for the value it will create when the chapter ends.”
A 90-minute structured strategy session · produces a usable roadmap whether you engage further or not.
More in Phase 5