Welcome to the 10-Part Series on Mastering Your Business Exit

Selling your business isn’t just about finding a buyer—it’s about maximizing value and ensuring a profitable, strategic exit. Over the next 10 blog posts, we’ll walk through the critical steps every business owner must take to prepare for a sale, avoid common pitfalls, and cash out without leaving money on the table.

From closing the value gap to finding the right buyer to building a business that sells itself, this series will give you a clear roadmap to follow.

Let’s start with the brutal truth—most business owners have no idea what their company is really worth. Worse yet, they don’t realize that 80% of businesses never sell at all.

Most Owners Are Clueless About Their Business Value

When was the last time you valued your business based on real market conditions?

Here’s the reality:

• Only 20% of small and mid-sized businesses that go to market actually sell.

• Nearly 50% of business owners overestimate their company’s worth by at least 30%.

• Many businesses are just a job with overhead, not an asset a buyer wants to acquire.

If you don’t have an objective valuation, you can’t make smart decisions. If your business is dependent on you, you’re not selling a business—you’re selling yourself as an overworked employee.

Your First Step: Face the Facts

Before you think about exiting, you need to understand where your business really stands. This means:
✅ Getting a proper valuation (not just your accountant’s guess).
✅ Identifying the “Value Gap”—what your business is worth now vs. what you need it to be worth.
✅ Removing yourself from daily operations so it’s a business—not a job.

Your Next Step

If you’re serious about selling for maximum value, start by understanding what buyers actually look for. In Part 2, we’ll cover the 5 Steps to Freedom—the key stages your business must go through before it can sell at top dollar.

📘 Want a deeper dive? Download my free eBook at OptaProfit.com and learn how to turn your business into a sellable asset.

About Don Vanpool
Don Vanpool is a strategic operations expert who helps business owners scale, systematize, and sell their businesses for top dollar. With a background in turning chaotic businesses into well-oiled machines, Don’s expertise in operational efficiency is the key to a high-value exit.