TL;DR – An exit planner (often a Certified Exit Planning Advisor, or CEPA) is the quarterback who aligns a business owner’s personal, financial, and enterprise goals so the company can be sold or transitioned on the owner’s terms. Using the Value Acceleration Methodology™ and modern tools such as exit planning software, the planner builds value, reduces risk, and drives a successful transaction.
Take-away: DIY exit planning is risky; a structured process led by a qualified advisor protects value and the owner’s post-sale happiness.
| Responsibility | Owner Value | Key Tools / Frameworks |
|---|---|---|
| Valuation Benchmarking | Establishes a credible baseline & sets the “number.” | EV vs. Equity analyses, multiples |
| Value Acceleration Roadmap | Applies the Protect → Build → Harvest™ cycle to close the Value Gap. | EPI methodology + Maus Attract / Engage / Build suite |
| Gate-System Coordination (Discover → Prepare → Decide) | Keeps the process on time & on budget while reducing deal-killers. | Readiness assessments, diligence sprints |
| Quarterbacking the Advisor Team | Aligns CPA, attorney, wealth manager & business coach around one plan. | Collaborative dashboards |
Your first move as an exit planner is to answer a simple question: “What is the company really worth?” That baseline anchors every goal, tax plan, and value-creation sprint that follows.
Enterprise vs. Equity Value. Make sure owners grasp the distinction (see our deep dive on Valuation Using Multiples).
Value Gap Analysis. Quantifies how far today’s valuation is from the owner’s Freedom Point — i.e., the number that fully funds post-exit life.
The Exit Planning Institute’s Value Acceleration Methodology™ revolves around three pillars:
| Pillar | What it means | Maus module that streamlines it |
|---|---|---|
| Protect | Shore up documentation, reduce key-person risk, tighten cash flow. | [Attract] – CEPA-branded emails, Score-Your-Business lead magnet, and CRM pipelines keep you top-of-mind years before a sale. |
| Build | Increase recurring revenue, diversify customers, professionalize leadership. | [Engage] – Discovery questionnaires, ValueMax gap analytics, and Project Pilot checklists give you a single workspace to run the Build phase. |
| Harvest (Decide Gate) | Trigger the exit when market timing and readiness converge. | [Build] – 3-, 5-, and 10-year OKRs, financial integrations, and investor-ready reports that keep everyone marching to the liquidity date. |
EPI structures Value Acceleration around three gates:
A strong exit planner schedules Gate reviews every 90 – 120 days. Inside Engage, the Project Pilot view auto-sends reminders, aggregates KPI updates, and shows Gate-by-Gate progress on one owner-friendly dashboard.
Owners rarely know how to corral the legal, tax, M&A, and wealth-management specialists they’ll need. You become the single point of truth:
👉 See the full details on the Exit Planning Institute’s CEPA page.
| Question | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Are you CEPA-certified? | Demonstrates mastery of Value Acceleration. |
| Do you use dedicated exit-planning software? | Creates a repeatable, data-driven process. |
| Will your exit plan involve quarterly Enterprise-Value benchmarks? | Shows accountability & progress. |
| Can you build and run our Advisor Team? | Reduces risk and ensures a smooth transition. |
| How do you charge? | Clarity up front helps guarantee a successful exit. |
A CPA focuses on financial statements and taxes; an exit planner integrates those numbers with leadership succession, lifestyle goals, and market timing to maximize sale price and_owner satisfaction.
Ideally 5–10 years before target exit. The sooner you start, the easier it is to close the Value Gap and navigate the Gate System without time pressure.
An investment banker sells the business once it’s ready; an exit planner gets it ready—building value, reducing owner dependence, and ensuring personal readiness.
Yes. Family successions still require valuation, tax strategy, leadership development, and wealth planning. A CEPA-led process reduces family conflict and protects enterprise value.
Look for platforms purpose-built around the Value Acceleration Methodology™. Maus exit planning software integrates client acquisition, engagement dashboards, and KPI-driven growth plans.