Your firm is typically valued at up to £2m
This is a guide rather than an automatic qualification. Complexity and support requirements are considered too.
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Project Exit® Guided Sales
Lead your sale without navigating it alone.
Project Exit gives financial planning firm owners a more hands-on route to sale, combining the Project Exit platform with tools, guidance and support from the Melo team.
We help you understand your value, build your profile, explore suitable buyers from the platform and move the sale forward.
What is Project Exit Guided?
More control. Guidance when you need it.
Project Exit is Melo’s guided route for client bank and simple business sales.
Rather than Melo managing every stage for you, you use the Project Exit platform, templates and guidance to progress the sale, with support from the Melo team along the way.
Melo gives you the structure, information and access to buyers to help you do it with greater confidence.
Who it is for
Is Project Exit Guided right for your firm?
Project Exit is typically suited to smaller financial planning firms where the transaction is more simple and can be progressed through a guided, technology-enabled process.
Firm value is one consideration. We will also look at the complexity of the business and the level of support the sale is likely to require.
It may be suitable if:
You want greater visibility of buyers
You want to explore suitable buyers and decide who you would like to engage with.
You want to stay in control
You decide when to progress, who to speak to and whether an opportunity is right for you.
How it works
How Project Exit Guided works
- 1
Understand your value
Create your account and complete the information needed to receive a free indicative valuation estimate.
This gives you an initial view of what your financial planning firm could be worth before you decide how far you want to take the process.
- 2
Build your seller profile
Complete your confidential business profile with information about your clients, turnover, team, proposition and business.
The platform gives buyers the information they need to understand the opportunity while allowing you to keep your identity protected.
- 3
Explore buyer matches
When a buyer requests a match with your business, you can review their information through the Project Exit platform and decide whether you want to engage with them.
You stay in control of who, if anyone, you choose to progress with.
- 4
Progress the sale
Manage meetings, offers and the transaction with guidance, tools and support from Melo.
The Project Exit platform
Your sale, organised in one place
Project Exit gives you a structured way to prepare your business, explore potential buyers and manage interest without putting your firm’s identity in front of the whole market.
Through the platform you can:
- Build your confidential seller profile.
- Receive an indicative valuation.
- Explore relevant buyer matches.
- Review information about potential buyers.
- Decide when you want to connect.
- Compare buyer interest and offers.
- Access guidance and resources as you move through the process.
The current Project Exit proposition is specifically built around bringing buyers and seller information into one structured online process.
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Confidentiality and buyer access
Explore the market without putting your business on show
Selling a business requires sensitive information. Project Exit is designed to give you visibility of potential buyers without immediately revealing who you are.
Your business is presented under a project name and buyers initially see an anonymous profile. You decide when you are ready to connect and reveal more information.
Buyers are reviewed before joining
Project Exit is not an open directory.
Buyers are reviewed before they join the marketplace, including their funding, acquisition approach, integration strategy and transaction experience.
You decide who you speak to
Seeing a buyer match does not commit you to a conversation or a sale.
You can review the information available, decide whether there is enough alignment and progress only when you are comfortable doing so.
Your Guided exit journey
What Project Exit Guided looks like through the sale
Hover over or focus a numbered stage to see what happens.
Readiness for saleUse the online valuation, tools and guidance to understand your starting position and identify areas that need attention.
Preparing for saleBuild your confidential Project Exit profile and organise the information buyers will need, using Melo guidance and templates.
Buyer shortlistingReview relevant buyer matches through the platform and decide which businesses you want to explore further.
Buyer meetingsArrange and lead your buyer conversations, with preparation and guidance from Melo. More hands-on meeting support can be added if needed.
Opening offersReceive and compare buyer interest, looking at value, structure, conditions and the wider proposition rather than headline price alone.
Offer negotiationsLead negotiations with guidance from Melo. Additional support can be brought in where negotiations become more involved.
Heads of TermsWork with your legal adviser to agree the main commercial terms of the preferred transaction, with Melo guidance available through the process.
Due diligenceCoordinate buyer requests and provide the information needed to support their review.Due diligence support from Melo is not included within the standard Project Exit Guided service and can be added where required.Additional due diligence support: £150 + VAT per hour, or a fixed price of £18,000 + VAT for more complex due diligence processes.View the Due Diligence checklist
Purchase agreementWork with your legal advisers and buyer to agree the detailed terms and documentation.
Integration planningPlan how clients, employees, systems and responsibilities will transition after completion.Additional Melo support is available where required.
Exchange & completeFinalise the transaction and move into the agreed handover and integration period.
Readiness for sale
Use the online valuation, tools and guidance to understand your starting position and identify areas that need attention.
Preparing for sale
Build your confidential Project Exit profile and organise the information buyers will need, using Melo guidance and templates.
Buyer shortlisting
Review relevant buyer matches through the platform and decide which businesses you want to explore further.
Buyer meetings
Arrange and lead your buyer conversations, with preparation and guidance from Melo. More hands-on meeting support can be added if needed.
Opening offers
Receive and compare buyer interest, looking at value, structure, conditions and the wider proposition rather than headline price alone.
Offer negotiations
Lead negotiations with guidance from Melo. Additional support can be brought in where negotiations become more involved.
Heads of Terms
Work with your legal adviser to agree the main commercial terms of the preferred transaction, with Melo guidance available through the process.
Due diligence
Coordinate buyer requests and provide the information needed to support their review.
Due diligence support from Melo is not included within the standard Project Exit Guided service and can be added where required.
Additional due diligence support: £150 + VAT per hour, or a fixed price of £18,000 + VAT for more complex due diligence processes.
View the Due Diligence checklistPurchase agreement
Work with your legal advisers and buyer to agree the detailed terms and documentation.
Integration planning
Plan how clients, employees, systems and responsibilities will transition after completion.
Additional Melo support is available where required.
Exchange & complete
Finalise the transaction and move into the agreed handover and integration period.
What you manage and how Melo supports you
Market access with Melo Support
Project Exit provides the platform, guidance and tools, with additional hands-on support available where required.
| You lead | Melo supports |
|---|---|
| Completing and maintaining your seller profile. | Getting started and understanding what information buyers need. |
| Reviewing buyer matches and deciding who to engage with. | Providing buyer information and helping you understand your options. |
| Arranging and leading buyer conversations. | Guides and preparation for buyer meetings. |
| Comparing buyer interest and offers. | Tools and guidance to help assess offers beyond headline value. |
| Progressing the transaction with your professional advisers. | Guidance through Heads of Terms, due diligence and completion. |
| Keeping actions moving throughout the process. | Additional hands-on support where you need more help. |
The amount of additional support you need may change as the sale progresses. Some owners manage most stages themselves, while others bring additional support in for specific points in the transaction.
Fees
What does Project Exit Guided cost?
Project Exit Guided uses a buyer-funded success fee model.
Buyer success fee: 3% on completion
This means you can create your profile, explore buyer interest and progress through the Project Exit route without paying a seller success fee.
Additional hands-on services from Melo may carry a separate charge. We will make any additional cost clear before work begins.
Need a different level of support
Project Exit Guided is one of three ways to sell with Melo
The right route depends on the size and complexity of your firm and the level of support the transaction requires.
Melo Managed
For owners who want Melo to lead and manage the sale process from preparation through to completion.
Explore Melo ManagedMelo Corporate Finance
For larger or more complex firms requiring deeper financial, commercial and transaction support.
Explore Melo Corporate FinanceFAQs
Project Exit Guided FAQs
How do I know whether Project Exit Guided is right for my firm?
Project Exit Guided is typically designed for financial planning firms valued at up to £2m where the owner is comfortable taking a more active role in the sale.
Firm value is not the only consideration. We will also look at the complexity of the business and the support the transaction is likely to require.
Is Project Exit Guided free for sellers?
There is no seller success fee for the Project Exit Guided service. The buyer pays a 3% success fee on completion.
Additional hands-on support from Melo may be charged separately.
Who can see my business?
Your identity is protected while you explore the marketplace. Buyers initially see an anonymous business profile and you decide when you want to connect and disclose further information.
Are buyers checked before joining Project Exit?
Yes. Buyers are reviewed before they join the platform, including areas such as funding, integration approach and transaction experience.
Do I have to sell once I create a profile?
No. Creating an account, receiving a valuation or exploring buyer interest does not commit you to a sale.
Does Melo negotiate the sale for me?
Melo provides guidance and support, but you remain responsible for progressing the core process.
More hands-on negotiation support can be added where required.
Is Project Exit a separate business from Melo?
No. Project Exit is one of Melo’s three routes to sale. The Project Exit technology provides the platform used to create seller profiles, access buyers and manage matches.
The current Project Exit platform is operated by Melo Advisory Services Limited.
Where do I access the platform?
When you are ready to begin, you will continue from melo.co.uk into the secure Project Exit platform.
Ready to see what your options look like?
Start with a free indicative valuation and build a clearer picture of your business before deciding what happens next.
If you would rather speak to someone first, book a confidential Exit Consultation with one of our Exit Partners. We can learn more about your firm and confirm which Melo route is appropriate.
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