Why Timing Feels Uncertain
The best time to think about your business exit is long before you are ready to sell. Planning early provides more opportunities to structure the business, organize equity, and prepare the transaction in ways that reduce taxes and create a smoother path to closing. Many strategies work best when there is time to make thoughtful adjustments, and certain estate planning tools rely on valuation positions that are harder to support once a deal is near.
The Tension Between Planning and Certainty
Even so, most sellers want clarity before investing in planning. It’s understandable. Entrepreneurs are busy, and without a clear exit horizon, investing in complex tax structures can feel premature. The reality is that sellers often do not know the timing of a sale until a buyer approaches or market conditions shift. Planning often happens in parallel with uncertainty.
Why Planning Still Works Late in the Process
For many of our clients, meaningful planning begins close to closing. Opportunities still exist because many of the most impactful strategies turn on how a business is structured, how equity is held, and how income is recognized at the point of sale. When strategy and timing are aligned, these adjustments can be implemented efficiently and without slowing the deal.
Our firm is built for this stage. By combining technical depth with modern systems, we can design and execute high-impact structures in a matter of days or weeks. Many strategies remain viable after a letter of intent is in place, and some can still be applied late in negotiations.
Even Post-Sale Opportunities Exist
Some sellers reach out after the sale has already occurred. Options are more limited at that point, but opportunities still exist. When proceeds are deployed strategically, tax exposure can sometimes be reduced even after closing.
So When Is It Too Late?
If you are considering a sale in the next few years, preparing for a potential offer, or already deep into discussions, planning remains worthwhile. Even if the transaction is right around the corner, or already completed, the right time to start evaluating your options is now.
