Exit Readiness Assessment for financial firms
Why take an Exit Readiness Assessment when you’re thinking about selling?
Spot the problems before the buyer does
Nothing derails a sale faster than surprises in due diligence.
You go to market expecting a smooth process, only for the buyer to uncover issues that knock thousands (sometimes millions) off the offer, extend deal terms, or stop them completely.
At Melo, we’ve heard it happen too often. Sellers believing they’re on track to achieve their desired exit, only to find out mid-process that gaps in their business make the deal impossible.
That’s why we start every new exit process with our Exit Readiness Assessment.
131 questions across 14 areas of your business, designed to surface key things that could hurt your sale before you go anywhere near a buyer.
The earlier you know, the more options you have.
Due diligence will expose any gaps in your business. This assessment allows you to spot them and address them first.
How it works (and why it’s worth it)
The assessment is designed to be comprehensive, but practical. It digs into the critical areas that influence sale value and deal structure:
- Business Structure
- Governance
- Compliance
- Financial Planning
- Research & Recommendations
- Client Facing Documentation
- Client Data
- Training & Development
- Staff
- Client Attraction
- Third-Party Relationships
- Professional Indemnity
- Complaints
- Your Relationship with the Regulator
From here, three things can happen:
1️⃣ Minor tweaks needed – You’re in good shape. There’s usually the odd tweak or two, but you don’t need to pause the sale process.
2️⃣ Bigger issues uncovered – We’ll explain the impact these could have on achieving the sale you’re looking for. Sometimes we’ll recommend a pause on the sale, while we work with you and any external partners, to create a plan and implement the fixes to get you exit ready.
3️⃣ Major red flags – If the fixes are major, we’ll help you weigh up your options. Do you have the resource, time and energy to make changes necessary, or is a strategic “fire sale” a better outcome? We’ll work with you and your external partners to understand your position, plan or adjust your expectations accordingly.
Clarity and confidence
When you’ve done an Exit Readiness Assessment, you:
- Give yourself time to fix problems that could otherwise cost you dearly.
- Go into the sale process knowing where you stand.
- Set realistic expectations on price, deal structure and timeline.
- Show buyers you’re prepared and credible.
The buyer of your business will uncover gaps. Get ahead of the game by understanding your issues and fixing them first.
Ready to see where you stand?
Our Exit Readiness Assessment is the first step to achieving the exit you are looking for.
It’s detailed, honest and designed to put you in a great position to take control of your exit.
Are you interested in understanding what your business could be worth?
Would you like to understand how to meet your target valuation simply by playing around with some figures? Our free valuation calculator tool could be just what you need.
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