WealthTalk - money, wealth and personal finance. The Exit Roadmap: How to Sell Your Business for Maximum Value w/ Chris Spratling
Jul 30, 2025
59:29
In this episode, Christian Rodwell welcomes Chris Spratling—seasoned entrepreneur, advisor, and author of “The Exit Roadmap: The Insider’s Guide to Selling Your Business Profitably.” With over 30 years’ experience in scaling, buying, and selling businesses, Chris shares vital insights on preparing for a successful business exit, maximising value, and planning for life beyond the sale.
Key Topics & Takeaways
- Chris’s Background & Relationship with WealthBuilders
- Over 30 years’ experience in business exits and scaling
- Longstanding collaboration with Kevin Whelan and the WealthBuilders community
- The Seven Pillars of Wealth & Business as a Pillar
- Importance of integrating business, property, and intellectual property in wealth strategies
- Using SSAS pensions and commercial property for long-term planning
- Who Chris Helps
- Focus on ambitious SME owners (turnover £2M–£30M)
- Chalk Hill Blue’s approach to scaling and preparing businesses for exit
- Why Most Business Owners Struggle to Exit Successfully
- 80% of personal wealth often tied up in the business
- Less than 20% of businesses listed for sale actually sell
- Common pitfalls: overestimating value, lack of preparation, misunderstanding buyer motivations
- Stages of Preparing for a Business Exit
- Seller Readiness: Clarifying motivations, financial needs, and post-exit plans
- Business Readiness: Building value through 10 key drivers (growth, scalability, recurring revenue, differentiation, reduced reliance on individuals/customers, strong processes, etc.)
- Process and Systems: Importance of automation, AI, and streamlining tasks to ensure business runs without the owner
- Quick Wins for Business Owners
- Assess current financial position and retirement gap
- Use Chalk Hill Blue’s free Exit Readiness Survey for personalised feedback
- Focus on one or two value drivers for immediate impact
- The Role of AI and Automation
- Embracing AI for efficiency, productivity, and future-proofing business operations
- Real-world examples from Chris’s clients and his own accountancy practice
- Family Business Transitions
- Importance of education and tailored succession planning
- Creating freedom and options before selling or stepping back
- Timeline for Selling a Business
- Realistic prep: 2 years to get “sale-ready,” plus 9–12 months to complete a sale
- Most deals involve staged payments and handover periods
- Finding Buyers and Structuring the Deal
- Importance of assembling a deal team (IFA, tax, legal, corporate finance)
- Different exit routes: trade sale, management buyout, employee ownership trust, family office, etc.
- Creating competition to maximise sale price
- Life After Exit
- Planning for the “next chapter” to avoid post-sale regret or loss of identity
Practical Tips
- Start exit planning early—ideally at least 2 years in advance
- Focus on building recurring revenue and reducing reliance on the owner
- Use automation and AI to streamline processes and increase business value
- Educate and engage the next generation for family business continuity
- Assemble a strong advisory team for the exit process
Resources Mentioned
- Grab a copy of Chris Spratling's book: “The Exit Roadmap: The Insider’s Guide to Selling Your Business Profitably”
- Check if you are you truly ready to exit. Take the Exit Readiness Survey It's a free, personalised exit readiness report.
- Contact Chris:
- WT103 - Employee ownership trusts w/ Chris Budd
- WT38 - The 8 Drivers Of Business Value - Richard Perry
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