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The Internal Buyer Myth – Are Your Employees Really Buyers?
Part 8 of 10 in the Exit Strategy Series
So, you’re thinking of selling your business to someone inside the company.
Sounds perfect, right?
They know the business. They care. They’re already “invested.”
Except… it almost never works out the way you think.
💡 The Internal Buyer Trap
Many business owners assume:
“I’ll just sell it to my #2 when I’m ready.”
But here’s what often happens:
❌ They don’t have the capital
❌ They don’t have the risk appetite
❌ They’re not ready to run the show
❌ And worse—they don’t actually want to buy it
Internal transitions can work—but they require years of planning, leadership development, and financial preparation.
👎 Here’s What Doesn’t Work:
Waiting too long to have the conversation
Assuming interest without testing it
Expecting your employee to magically fund the buyout
Handing over a business they aren’t trained to run
Internal buyers aren’t a shortcut—they’re a long game.
✅ What to Do Instead:
Start developing leaders NOW using a clear Leadership Development Plan
Identify candidates early and assess their buy-in
Train and document operations so you’re not selling a personality cult
Bring in financing partners to help them fund the deal
Have a backup plan (external buyer, broker, or PEG)
🧠 Rule of Thumb:
If your business isn’t ready for an outside buyer, it’s probably not ready for an internal one either.
The key to ANY successful exit is making the business run without you. And that takes time, systems, and a transition plan—not just a handshake and hope.
📘 Want a roadmap to a confident exit?
Download my free guide at OptaProfit.com
Or book a 30-minute Exit Strategy Assessment and let’s talk about the real options.
About Don VanPool
Don VanPool helps business owners stop flying solo and start building companies that run—and sell—without them. He guides founders through leadership development, transition prep, and hands-off scalability.
The Internal Buyer Myth – Are Your Employees Really Buyers?
Part 8 of 10 in the Exit Strategy Series
So, you’re thinking of selling your business to someone inside the company.
Sounds perfect, right?
They know the business. They care. They’re already “invested.”
Except… it almost never works out the way you think.
💡 The Internal Buyer Trap
Many business owners assume:
“I’ll just sell it to my #2 when I’m ready.”
But here’s what often happens:
❌ They don’t have the capital
❌ They don’t have the risk appetite
❌ They’re not ready to run the show
❌ And worse—they don’t actually want to buy it
Internal transitions can work—but they require years of planning, leadership development, and financial preparation.
👎 Here’s What Doesn’t Work:
Waiting too long to have the conversation
Assuming interest without testing it
Expecting your employee to magically fund the buyout
Handing over a business they aren’t trained to run
Internal buyers aren’t a shortcut—they’re a long game.
✅ What to Do Instead:
Start developing leaders NOW using a clear Leadership Development Plan
Identify candidates early and assess their buy-in
Train and document operations so you’re not selling a personality cult
Bring in financing partners to help them fund the deal
Have a backup plan (external buyer, broker, or PEG)
🧠 Rule of Thumb:
If your business isn’t ready for an outside buyer, it’s probably not ready for an internal one either.
The key to ANY successful exit is making the business run without you. And that takes time, systems, and a transition plan—not just a handshake and hope.
📘 Want a roadmap to a confident exit?
Download my free guide at OptaProfit.com
Or book a 30-minute Exit Strategy Assessment and let’s talk about the real options.
About Don VanPool
Don VanPool helps business owners stop flying solo and start building companies that run—and sell—without them. He guides founders through leadership development, transition prep, and hands-off scalability.
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