The steps that tend to make the biggest difference to value, and to what you keep.
Buyers pay for predictability
Clean, well-documented accounts, recurring revenue and a management team that can run the business without the owner all support a stronger price.
Structure and tax
The structure of the business and of your shareholding affects the tax on a sale. Business Asset Disposal Relief, for example, can reduce capital gains tax on qualifying disposals up to a lifetime limit, but the conditions must be met well before the sale.
The personal side of the deal
The personal side matters as much as the deal itself: what the proceeds need to do for you and your family, and how they will be held once the business is gone.
Start early
The best exits are usually prepared two to three years in advance. That leaves time to strengthen the business, put the right structure in place and plan your own affairs, rather than reacting to an offer.
General information only, not personal advice. Rules change and depend on individual circumstances. Investment Trust Limited is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Last updated 20 October 2026.