Navigating Psychological Forces in Business Exits: Insights for Professional Advisors

In the realm of business exits, understanding the psychological mindset of business owners is paramount for professional advisors. Many times the aversion or hesitations advisors perceive from their owner clients have far deeper explanations that are worth consideration. From when and how to approach the conversation, to determining what services might benefit them most, there are a lot of considerations when entering into a planning engagement. Have you been faced with any of the following factors? If so, what advice can you share with us? 

Click here to download the guide below to learn tips on engaging owners before, during, and after their business transition!

Owners embarking on the journey of exiting their businesses by way of sale, insider transition, ESOP, or an alternate path, are often influenced by a myriad of psychological forces that can significantly impact their decisions and behaviors throughout the process. Recognizing these forces and knowing how to navigate them can greatly enhance an advisor’s ability to guide their clients towards successful exits. Let’s explore a few of these forces in more detail below. 

Fear of Loss: 

One of the most potent psychological forces influencing business owners contemplating an exit is the fear of loss. Owners haven’t only invested their money, they’ve committed their time, effort, and emotions into  building their businesses. The prospect of letting go of their business can trigger anxiety and uncertainty about the future. 

Advisors need to acknowledge and address these fears by providing reassurance, offering realistic assessments of potential outcomes, and highlighting the opportunities that lie beyond the exit. Many times, owners have not even begun to envision what their post-exit lifestyle could look like if they take the necessary planning steps ahead of time. 

Emotional Attachment: 

Businesses are often intertwined with the personal identities of their owners. Letting go of a business can feel like relinquishing a part of oneself. Emotional attachment can cloud judgment and lead to irrational decision-making. 

Professional advisors should approach these situations with empathy, understanding the emotional significance of the business to the owner. They can help owners detach emotionally by focusing on the strategic aspects of the exit and emphasizing the potential for personal growth and new opportunities.

Risk Aversion: 

Many business owners are naturally risk-averse, especially when it comes to significant changes like exiting their businesses. The fear of the unknown and concerns about financial stability can cause owners to hesitate or resist discussing the exit process. 

Advisors can mitigate this by providing comprehensive risk assessments, exploring alternative exit strategies, and implementing risk mitigation strategies such as contingency plans, incentive planning, and financial safeguards.

https://beiwp.itulbuild.com/event/bei-strategies-for-success-using-phantom-stock-incentive-planning-to-exceed-goals-and-roi
Register for an upcoming webinar at the above link where a case study will be reviewed detailing the success an owner had post-exit after implementing risk mitigation strategies.  

Overvaluation: 

Owners often have an inflated sense of the value of their businesses, which can hinder the exit process. Unrealistic expectations regarding valuation can lead to negotiations breaking down or deals falling through. Overvaluation can also provide for an unforeseen gap to present itself to the owner between what they actually have and what they need in order to provide for their desired post-exit lifestyle. 

Professional advisors play a crucial role in managing these expectations by conducting thorough and accurate valuations, educating owners about market realities, and guiding them towards realistic valuation targets. Clear communication and transparency are essential in aligning expectations with market realities.

Loss of Purpose:

For many business owners, their entrepreneurial ventures are not just about financial gain but also about fulfillment and purpose. Exiting the business can leave them feeling adrift and purposeless, especially if they are also exiting the workforce too.

Advisors can help owners navigate this existential transition by facilitating discussions around life goals, values, and personal aspirations. Encouraging owners to envision the next chapter of their lives and explore new avenues for fulfillment can ease the emotional burden of exiting the business.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding and addressing the psychological forces at play in business exits is essential for professional advisors seeking to guide their clients towards successful outcomes. By recognizing the fears, emotions, and biases that influence owners’ decision-making processes, advisors can tailor their strategies and interventions to support owners effectively through every stage of the exit journey. 

Through empathy, expertise, and strategic guidance, advisors can empower owners to navigate the complexities of business exits with confidence and clarity. A recent presentation by Dr. Allie Taylor of Clearwater Insights, LLC, shared that there is tremendous power in working with an owner’s natural inclinations, which are oftentimes viewed as resistance, rather than against them.

To watch the recording of Dr. Taylor’s presentation that expands on this topic of psychological forces in owners, follow the link below.

https://beiwp.itulbuild.com/webinars/?wchannelid=sw5zip1zi8&wmediaid=mhthkb9rv9

Using BEI’s New Planning Software & The Importance of Technology in the World of Business Planning 

Businesses are unique, not only in what they offer their customers, but in their operations, their use of technology, their culture, and the vision their owners have for the future. As a business advisor, you play a pivotal role in helping owners make decisions related to key areas such as cash flow management, business continuity, succession planning, and growth strategies. To help owners navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and make informed decisions, you need more than industry knowledge to become that trusted advisor. At BEI, we believe that providing advisors with the tools to deliver custom solutions to their clients and a tangible path forward to reach their goals is indispensable to streamlining your work and impacting your clients’ lives. That’s why we are excited to announce a new software and the ways we provide the most valuable business planning software on the market.

EPIC is Now PlanIt

The BEI team spent months collecting feedback and suggestions about our previous software, EPIC, and what areas needed improvement.  We brought in a talented technology team to build a brand-new platform called PlanIt to improve user-design, enhance planning functionalities, and implement features that would best benefit advisors like you. 

What’s New?

While much of PlanIt has the same functionality as EPIC, we have made a few improvements during development prior to launch. PlanIt has a new, sleek design with a more intuitive path for planning work. 

For a guided demo of PlanIt with BEI CEO Jared Johnson, watch the recording of his latest webinar!

https://beiwp.itulbuild.com/webinars/?wchannelid=sw5zip1zi8&wmediaid=uwo90stkjt

Data-Driven Decision-Making

One of the primary reasons for utilizing software in your planning practice is the ever-increasing importance of data in prioritizing tasks, managing teams, and executing on your clients’ plans. Having a software to manage multiple clients and multiple plans enables you to track progress with your clients and make decisions based on their specific recommendations. With this new software release, advisors will have a comprehensive view of their planning activities and better visualization of the progress being made. 

**For illustration purposes only**

Time Efficiency through Collaboration

Time is a precious resource, and business advisors often must juggle multiple clients and projects simultaneously. Utilizing the right software can significantly enhance your time management capabilities, especially through team communication. Within PlanIt, advisors can send messages to other advisors on the client team, enabling real-time communication without the need for phone calls or lengthy email exchanges. This streamlined approach fosters efficient collaboration while working on a plan, allowing advisors to free up time to focus on strategic thinking and value-adding activities for their clients and their practices.

Customized Recommendations and Reporting

Your clients are not looking for a “one-size-fits-all” strategy for their business. Being able to provide customized recommendations and planning documents is what sets you apart and builds that relationship and trust between you and your clients. PlanIt takes personalization to the next level by providing recommendations based on specific owner objectives and company requirements. Whether you are working with multiple owners, multiple companies, or a combination of both, you can create truly customized plans tailored to each owner and company’s unique needs.

Want to learn more? Book a meeting with a member of the BEI Team for a demo of the PlanIt software!

Taking a Step Back: Recognizing the Role of Technology as an Advisor 

We are confident that PlanIt will provide you with an efficient and effective planning tool to use with your business owner clients. However, it’s also worth noting the broader reason for the need to invest in a planning software such as PlanIt in that the role of technology in the advisory services space is increasing at a rapid pace. 

In an evolving business landscape with more owners than ever before thinking about their eventual exits, the role of business advisors is more critical than ever. Software has become an essential companion for advisors, enabling them to harness the power of data, streamline their workflow, and provide strategic guidance that drives success. By investing in the right software tools, business advisors can not only enhance their own capabilities but also deliver superior value to their clients. 

Consider the benefits that a technology solution would bring to your practice: 

1.    Data Driven Decision Making

One of the primary reasons advisors need specialized software is due to the ever-increasing importance of data in decision-making. Businesses generate vast amounts of data each day – from sales data and financial records to customer data and market trends. To provide the most effective advice, advisors must have the means to collect, analyze and interpret this data quickly and accurately. With the right software, data analytics and visualization capabilities allow advisors to make data-driven recommendations that drive success.

2.    Time Efficiency 

Time is a precious resource, especially because advisors often have to juggle multiple clients and multiple projects simultaneously. Specialized planning software can significantly improve time management capabilities helping advisors plan their workload, track progress, and meet deadlines. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software streamlines client communication, making it easier to stay organized and responsive. By automating tasks and processes, advisors can free up time to focus on strategic thinking and value-added activities. 

3.    Market Research & Competitive Analysis 

Successful advisors must stay ahead of industry trends and understand their clients’ competitive landscapes. Specialized software tools provide access to vast databases of market research and competitor information. Technologies can help advisors identify emerging trends, benchmark client performance against industry standards, and uncover new opportunities. By having real-time access to market data and analysis, advisors can offer proactive insights that drive competitive advantage. 

4.    Financial Modeling & Forecasting 

Financial expertise is a cornerstone of effective business advising. Specialized financial modeling and forecasting software empowers advisors to create detailed financial projections, scenario analyses, and budgeting plans. These tools enable them to assess the financial health of a business, identify potential risks, and devise strategies for growth and profitability. With accurate financial modeling, advisors can provide clients with a clear roadmap to achieve their goals. 

5.    Compliance & Risk Management

In today’s regulatory environment, businesses face an ever-growing list of compliance requirements and risks. Specialized software can help advisors keep up with changing regulations and be sure their clients are in full compliance. Moreover, risk management software provides tools to assess and mitigate potential risks, from cybersecurity threats to market volatility. This proactive approach safeguards both the advisor’s reputation and the client’s business. 

6.    Client Collaboration & Reporting 

Effective communication is vital in the client-advisor relationship. Specialized software often includes collaboration and reporting features that make it easier for advisors to share insights, progress reports, and recommendations with clients. These tools enhance transparency and foster stronger client-advisor relationships, leading to greater trust and long-term partnerships.

Conclusion

In this digital age, staying ahead means staying equipped with the right technology. At BEI, we’ve worked with hundreds of advisors over the years, listening to how their challenges and roadblocks evolve with the emergence of technology and the nature of working with the modern-day business owner. That is why it was so important to us to design PlanIt in a way that works best for the advisor, allowing you to provide the most effective guidance to your clients in the most efficient and manageable way. 

https://beiwp.itulbuild.com/event/live-demo-planning-solutions-made-simple-with-bei/

Transforming Owner Resistance into Opportunities with Proven Strategies

See how BEI helps professional advisors like you overcome owner objections to business planning conversations.

When BEI engages with new and prospective professional advisors, some tell us about a common hurdle that prevents them from having the success they want: “Owners don’t want to talk about succession planning with me.” Even though advisors want to provide their important services and business owners know they should have a plan for their eventual business exits, there’s still resistance to the planning conversation.

The reasons why business owners feel this way can be numerous. They may misinterpret Exit Planning as someone ripping them away from their businesses against their will. They may also think that developing a plan for transition will take up too much of their time. 

While these reasons are the result of misunderstanding the point and process of Exit Planning, it doesn’t mean that advisors should disregard them as there is a large opportunity to capitalize on with owners just like this. Typically, advisors just need to frame the offer of talking about Exit Planning differently. One of the most effective ways to do this is for advisors to rely on their core expertise.

Keep Planning Conversations in Your Wheelhouse

All successful advisors have exceptional credentials in their respective professional fields. The obstacle that falls in their way is often related to balancing their technical expertise with the relationship-building skills necessary to become a successful advisor. 

For many business owners, the idea of an advisor coming to them to talk about leaving their businesses can be jarring. After all, it’s likely that they see their businesses as an extension of themselves. So, having someone suggest that they should plan for when it’s time for that extension to go away can be confusing and even threatening.

The way to overcome objections about business planning is for advisors to talk to owners in the owners’ language, using their core advisory expertise.

For example, we recently spoke with a CPA who uses the BEI Premium License to attract, engage, and eventually develop a plan with clients. When this advisor first started out, he would open his planning discussions with both current and prospective clients by asking, “Would you like to talk about exiting your business?” Usually, business owners would decline. He started to get frustrated, so he reached out to BEI. We suggested that, at least initially, he focus on how his core expertise fits into succession planning rather than focusing on outright Exit Planning.

This meant that rather than asking his clients if they’d like to specifically talk about leaving their businesses, he would ask them questions like, “What kinds of tax-minimizing retirement planning have you done?” or “How do you think taxes might affect you and your business when you eventually sell and retire?” These kinds of questions do two things:

  1. They probe at business owners’ pain points without directly talking about their business exits. By asking questions about their futures without implying there is a problem, advisors can let business owners identify areas that they consider to be issues. When business owners identify a problem with how they see the future of their business, they’re more likely to commit to a conversation.
  1. They let advisors guide the conversation toward Exit Planning using their core expertise. By leading with what they know, advisors can talk about aspects of Exit Planning with full confidence and help business owners identify what might be bothering them about their business exits. As a bonus, those advisors are more likely to offer products and services already being sold within their firm. 

How BEI Helps Facilitate Planning Conversations

One of the major benefits of BEI’s tools, strategies, and content licensing is that these aspects help advisors use their technical skills on a larger playing field. Exit Planning Advisors use their core expertise to open the conversation about Exit Planning on terms that both they and their business-owning clients understand and are comfortable with. 

It’s easy for advisors to over leverage their expertise without asking themselves why owners would care about what they’re telling them. BEI helps advisors balance their technical expertise with the relationship-building skills they need to establish the Exit Planning conversation properly, resulting in success not only for the client, but for the advisor as well.

From assessment tools and documented methods to show their expertise, to lists of questions to ask and access to advisors who have had proven success in breaking through resistance to Exit Planning, BEI knows how to help advisors start the Exit Planning conversation successfully.

Niche Marketing: The Indispensable Advisor

In the realm of business and transition planning, carving a niche isn’t merely a marketing strategy; it’s an avenue to becoming indispensable. 

At our recent BEI National Conference, BEI Members, David Jean, CPA, CCIFP, CExP, of Albin Randall & Bennett and Matthew DiFrancesco, CExP, CAA, of High Lift Financial, hosted a session that shed light on the power and process of engaging in a niche market for advisors, especially those aiding small business owners in transitioning their ventures smoothly to the next generation. 

Throughout this blog, we’ll highlight key aspects of niche marketing and insights aimed to equip advisors with a renewed perspective on engaging clients in niche sectors.

Transitioning into a Niche: A Natural Progression

A recurring theme among small business owners is the concern about the legacy of their business, particularly when it involves family. Many owners ask themselves, “What will happen to my company when I’m no longer here?” In niche markets, owners typically want to transition their businesses to their children. 

Across the country, passionate, independent owners are looking for ways to grow their businesses and eventually pass it on. As owners realize the options within business transitions, advisors have the opportunity to establish themselves as the knowledgeable source in succession planning. 

So, what can you do as a business advisor to establish yourself in a niche industry? 

Longtime BEI Member David highlighted his experience working with contractors and his seamless transition into Exit Planning for this specific sector. His firm’s established reputation in accounting and taxation in their area presented a solid groundwork for marketing succession planning services to contractors. 

As you begin to research niche industries in your area, are there opportunities to leverage your existing reputation and clientele as you venture into expanding your services by adding Exit Planning? Are there common trends with your clientele that you can lean into and use in your marketing message to usher these businesses into the next generation? 

Find Your Passion 

David and Matt both emphasized the importance of being passionate about the chosen industry. What is it that drives you? What types of clients do you want to be working with?  They cited examples from the collision industry, where independent owners are deeply invested in their businesses and are scouting for growth and transition strategies amidst a surge in industry consolidation. Such real-world scenarios are fertile grounds for advisors to plant their expertise, grow relationships, and reap the rewards of being a go-to advisor in that domain.

The journey from general financial planning to becoming an authority in Exit Planning for a particular industry is not devoid of challenges. It entails starting with a small client base, dedicating time to understanding the industry intricacies, and progressively building a voice within that sector. 

David Jean was spurred into becoming a Certified Exit Planner (CExP) after encountering a client with a severe health condition. The family’s unpreparedness in managing the business post-crisis illuminated the necessity of Exit Planning, consequently reshaping David’s practice to better serve his clientele.

The Benefits of Niche Marketing

As you become the expert advisor in your industry, you’re better able to understand the intricacies and special considerations involved. Furthermore, diving into a niche market allows you to:

  • Do what you’re comfortable with by combining your passion with your skillset 
  • Develop customized cross-selling solutions across your industry
  • Identify risk and key issues early on in the planning process

Furthermore, with a niche, you have the opportunity to expand your message by getting onto industry specific podcasts to network and foster relationships with industry influencers. You can also look at trade publications and associations to provide written content and bring awareness to the importance of transition planning and how your expertise is invaluable to those business owners. 

Building Credibility in a Niche Industry 

Transitioning into a niche might feel like a dive into the deep end, but remember, ‘people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care’. Building a competent team, engaging with the industry stakeholders to understand their pain points, and offering services geared towards the goals and challenges of a specific industry can help in establishing yourself in the market. 

The roadmap to becoming an expert Exit Planner in a niche industry, as portrayed in the session, hinges on a blend of passion, leveraging an existing reputation, understanding the industry deeply, and employing strategic networking and knowledge-sharing platforms like podcasts and articles.

The Bottom Line 

Delving into a niche isn’t just about a narrowing focus; it’s about amplifying your impact and value in a way that resonates profoundly with clients in need of expert guidance on possibly one of the most critical transitions in their business lifecycle.  

The BEI Advisor Network is an excellent resource for professionals like you, connecting advisors with the right industry or expertise, enabling a collaborative approach towards offering more value to clients. Schedule time with the BEI Team to learn more about becoming a member of our network.

Business Continuity: Protecting Client Value

In our contemporary business world, unpredictability seems to be the only predictable element. Business owners, from fledgling startups to well-established enterprises, find themselves navigating an ever-changing landscape, teeming with unforeseen challenges and obstacles. 

This fluid environment makes having a robust business continuity plan not only invaluable, but essential. These instructions are a blueprint for safeguarding the hard-earned legacy of business owners. So, why is business continuity planning a non-negotiable facet of a successful relationship with your client? Let’s explore why you should engage your clients in conversations about business continuity and how it relates to their financial security. 

Beyond Immediate Concerns: The Long-Term Vision of Business Continuity

In a recent survey conducted by BEI, we found that only 26% of business owners have created a business continuity plan as a step towards their Exit Plans. However, 61% responded that they have determined what their financial needs are at the time of exit. This presents an opportunity for advisors to engage clients in a discussion of their long-term financial goals. Further, advisors can share how to protect those goals should something unforeseen happen to them in the short-term that would jeopardize their financial security and business stability. 

It is here that the role of business continuity planning becomes paramount. It provides a solid foundation to begin the planning process, regardless of when the owner is planning to exit, or even if they have engaged you to do a full Exit Plan. This planning goes beyond immediate concerns, encouraging business owners to view the bigger picture, focusing on both the preservation and growth of their businesses and the protection of their wealth.

Safeguarding Legacy and Fostering Peace of Mind

At the core of business continuity planning lies the goal of protecting the business should an event happen in the lives of business owners that prevents them from continuing to work in the business. It not only offers a safeguard for the businesses they have painstakingly built, but also promises peace of mind, knowing that their loved ones and employees will have a pathway to navigate through uncertain times.

Business continuity plans and instructions encompass critical components such as initial contacts to be made, actionable steps to be taken in the aftermath of the owner’s sudden departure, and outlines for management responsibilities. This roadmap aims to prevent a vacuum of leadership and direction, providing clear guidelines to steer the business through potentially turbulent phases.

Bridging the Gap to a Secure Post-Business Life

We mentioned previously that a majority of owners have determined their post-exit financial needs. Interestingly, business owners often harbor a misconception regarding their financial outlook. There seems to be a common belief that expenditures will reduce once they step away from their business roles. However, the reality often paints a different picture, with many finding that life post-business demands financial planning akin to, if not exceeding, their current spending patterns. When this misconception is combined with the other assumption that business owners make regarding the value of their businesses, it’s a recipe for financial disaster. 

Once owners have a plan started based on realistic financial expectations and business value, and know how they are going to work with advisors to bridge that gap, it’s imperative to start asking the “what if” questions.

What if 3 years into a 10 year plan, the owner suddenly becomes ill and can no longer work in the business? What if the business has two owners, and one dies unexpectedly and the buy-sell agreement doesn’t address this type of departure? Is there a plan in place to keep the business running profitably so that the owner’s family is taken care of financially when there is a sudden loss of income? As you can see, it becomes imperative for business owners, even those who are reluctant to exit in the near future, to combine business continuity planning with a realistic and forward-thinking financial strategy. 

Creating a Resilient Business: The Role of Advisors in Business Continuity Planning

Advisors play an important role in helping business owners develop a plan that is both flexible and resilient, able to withstand the challenges that might lie ahead.

Creating business continuity instructions is a critical step in this journey. In an ideal scenario, an Exit Plan unfolds seamlessly, transitioning ownership smoothly at the planned juncture. However, real-life is rarely that straightforward, with unexpected eventualities like death, incapacitation, or disputes throwing a wrench in the works.

Business advisors equipped to help business owners foresee these potential hiccups and formulate strategies to mitigate them effectively can show immediate value to their clients, leading to more comprehensive planning engagements. These strategies encompass a set of instructions that serve as a guide for family members and other stakeholders, addressing both personal and business challenges that may arise due to the sudden absence of the business owner.

The Bottom Line: Envisioning a Protected Future

Irrespective of business transitions timelines, business continuity planning emerges as a tool of empowerment, offering stability and foresight amidst uncertainties. It’s a clarion call to business owners to rise above the immediate hurdles and carve out pathways that ensure the protection of their legacies, fostering a future where their businesses not only survive but thrive in the hands of those who follow in their footsteps. Are you prepared to assist owners with this level of planning? Schedule some time with us to view how BEI supports advisors with content and tools to attract, engage, and plan with owners on the topic of business continuity. 

Getting Good at What You’re Bad at

The Challenge at Hand

As a business owner, understanding your competitive advantage and leveraging your strengths are the catalyst behind business success. To sustain that success and grow to new heights, many business owners at some point must confront the things that they’re not so good—or even bad—at. Join us as we take a look at the following hypothetical story of a business owner who had to bolster some of her weaknesses in order to supplement her strengths and find success.

Jill Stork’s remarkable journey in the realm of online security software made her renowned among local accounting firms. Being a small business with a product she believed spoke for itself, she relied heavily on word-of-mouth referrals. This business model combined with her reservations about sales and financial management, spelled challenges for the future of her business and for her own financial future. 

Enter you, the business advisor. 

The Advisor’s Value Proposition

Jill’s situation is a classic case many advisors often encounter. Entrepreneurs possess a profound depth of knowledge in their craft but might lack the comprehensive overview to navigate the complexities of expanding or transitioning their businesses.

Her first step was meeting a financial advisor. While Jill loved to say, “I just want to program”, her dreams were broader: a life of retirement in Wyoming, ensuring her children’s higher education, and the joy of flying.

For business advisors, understanding a client’s core aspirations can be the foundation of a transformative strategy. The true value-add of working with an advisor skilled in Exit Planning is that you can help owners like Jill identify the gaps between her weaknesses and her future goals and plans. 

While in this case Jill’s strengths were highly technical and specific, in order for her to make progress towards the post-exit life she desires she must broaden her scope. Owners like Jill need the guidance of a trusted advisor to be able to take a step back and look at the bigger business picture to include alternative sales models, additional revenue streams, and ways to improve business value.  

Crafting a Blueprint for Success

Motivated by a recommended Exit Planning Advisor, Jill’s journey took a turn for the better once she placed a higher emphasis on development in the areas she was lacking. 

As an advisor, here’s what you can offer to clients like Jill:

  • Vision and Expansion: Hiring a proficient sales manager can lead to building an efficient sales team, essential for business growth.
  • Operational Efficiency: Streamlining processes and scaling teams is another avenue to explore, ensuring a seamless business operation.
  • Financial Foresight: Directing investments with an eye on retirement and other personal goals can mean the difference between dreams achieved and opportunities missed.
  • Planning for the Long-Term: Instituting an estate plan and creating a business continuity blueprint can safeguard against unexpected challenges.

Why Every Business Owner Needs an Advisor Team

Jill’s success story, from expanding her clientele to the eventual sale of her company, highlights the monumental impact of having the right advisory team.

As a business advisor, your role in shaping, guiding, and executing such transitions is paramount. To learn more on the impact that an advisor team can have, check out our blog on Why business advisors are essential in planning for a successful future.

The Bottom Line: Elevate Your Advisory Role

Being a business advisor in today’s ever-evolving landscape means more than just offering advice. It’s about understanding, strategizing, and pioneering transformative journeys for your clients.