--- title: Business Exit Planning for Small Business Owners | ENWS description: Plan your business exit strategy with our Certified Exit Planning Advisor team. Start preparing for a successful transition 5-10 years before retirement. Maximize valuation, communicate, and execute your sale effectively. image: https://en-ws.com/hubfs/perpetuation.png --- [Skip to content](https://en-ws.com/business-exit-planning#main-content) [![Ellerbrock-Norris Wealth Strategies logo](https://en-ws.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ellerbrock-Norris-WealthStrategies%20Logo.png?width=1940&height=320&name=Ellerbrock-Norris-WealthStrategies%20Logo.png)](https://www.ellerbrock-norris-ws.com) - [Services](https://en-ws.com/#services) Show submenu for Services - [Business Exit Planning](https://en-ws.com/business-exit-planning) - [Wealth Management](https://en-ws.com/wealth-management) - [Tax Planning](https://en-ws.com/tax-planning) - [Charitable Giving](https://en-ws.com/charitable-giving) - [Retirement Planning](https://en-ws.com/retirement-planning) - [Estate Planning](https://en-ws.com/estate-planning) - About Show submenu for About - [Meet ENWS](https://en-ws.com/about) - [Careers](https://en-ws.com/careers) - [Client Access](https://en-ws.com/client-access) - [Insights](https://en-ws.com/insights) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Services](https://en-ws.com/#services) Show submenu for Services - [Business Exit Planning](https://en-ws.com/business-exit-planning) - [Wealth Management](https://en-ws.com/wealth-management) - [Tax Planning](https://en-ws.com/tax-planning) - [Charitable Giving](https://en-ws.com/charitable-giving) - [Retirement Planning](https://en-ws.com/retirement-planning) - [Estate Planning](https://en-ws.com/estate-planning) - About Show submenu for About - [Meet ENWS](https://en-ws.com/about) - [Careers](https://en-ws.com/careers) - [Client Access](https://en-ws.com/client-access) - [Insights](https://en-ws.com/insights) - [Contact us](https://en-ws.com/contact) [Contact us](https://en-ws.com/contact) ![perpetuation\_icon](https://en-ws.com/hubfs/perpetuation_icon.png "perpetuation_icon") # Business Exit Planning ## Perpetuation Planning for the Local Business Owner Five to 10 years before you retire, you should start building out your perpetuation plan, also known as a business exit plan. Sometimes it’s easy – you know you’re going to sell, who you’re selling to, and when that’s going to happen. Often, however, it’s more difficult. Selling to family carries an emotional component, and a conversation around a discounted valuation. Selling to an internal key employee or employees can cause confusion and require extensive capital to take chips off the table. And if you have no one penciled in as your successor, you’re starting from square one. No matter where you’re at in the process, our Certified Exit Planning Advisor team can help. ![Asset 5](https://en-ws.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Asset%205.png?width=218&height=250&name=Asset%205.png "Asset 5") ## What is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor? Our in-house team includes CEPA® designated financial advisors who specializes in perpetuation planning. They'll help you plan your exit, whether you're selling to a family member, internal team members or an external buyer.  [Meet our Team](https://en-ws.com/about) ## Six Steps to Your Business Exit Plan [Take the First Step](https://en-ws.com/business-exit-planning#contact) ![icon1](https://en-ws.com/hs-fs/hubfs/icon1.png?width=100&height=100&name=icon1.png "icon1") ### Maximize Your Valuation We will walk you through which levers to pull to get the most out of your business. ![icon2](https://en-ws.com/hs-fs/hubfs/icon2.png?width=100&height=100&name=icon2.png "icon2") ### Take Chips Off the Table You don’t need to sell everything at once. Find a transition plan that works for your timeline. ![icon3](https://en-ws.com/hs-fs/hubfs/icon3.png?width=100&height=100&name=icon3.png "icon3") ### Communicate Your Plan If needed, we’ll help facilitate the conversation with your successor and work with them to create capital or financing.  ![icon4](https://en-ws.com/hs-fs/hubfs/icon4.png?width=100&height=100&name=icon4.png "icon4") ### Prepare Your Successor If needed, we’ll help facilitate the conversation with your successor and work with them to create capital or financing.  ![icon5](https://en-ws.com/hs-fs/hubfs/icon5.png?width=100&height=100&name=icon5.png "icon5") ### Execute the Sale If needed, we’ll help facilitate the conversation with your successor and work with them to create capital or financing.  ![icon6](https://en-ws.com/hs-fs/hubfs/icon6.png?width=100&height=100&name=icon6.png "icon6") ### Manage Your Assets in Retirement If needed, we’ll help facilitate the conversation with your successor and work with them to create capital or financing.  ![key-personnel-icon](https://en-ws.com/hs-fs/hubfs/key-personnel-icon.png?width=1840&height=1222&name=key-personnel-icon.png "key-personnel-icon") ## Key Personnel Planning Business exit planning often includes shifting ownership to key executives at the company. We work alongside those individuals to help plan – whether it's to fund a purchase of shares or how to manage newfound wealth.   [Learn More](https://en-ws.com/key-personnel-planning) ![on-page\_perpetuation-1-1](https://en-ws.com/hs-fs/hubfs/on-page_perpetuation-1-1.jpeg?width=2000&height=654&name=on-page_perpetuation-1-1.jpeg "on-page_perpetuation-1-1") ## Latest Insights [![A group discussing selling a business to employees. ](https://en-ws.com/hs-fs/hubfs/selling%20a%20business%20to%20employees.png?height=200&name=selling%20a%20business%20to%20employees.png)](https://en-ws.com/insights/selling-a-business-to-employees-advantages-risks-and-how-to-prepare) ## [Selling a Business to Employees: Advantages, Risks and How to Prepare](https://en-ws.com/insights/selling-a-business-to-employees-advantages-risks-and-how-to-prepare) Selling a business to employees is one of the most personal exit decisions a business owner can... [Read More](https://en-ws.com/insights/selling-a-business-to-employees-advantages-risks-and-how-to-prepare) [![Two people ready to discuss business exit planning.](https://en-ws.com/hs-fs/hubfs/business%20exit%20plan.png?height=200&name=business%20exit%20plan.png)](https://en-ws.com/insights/business-exit-plan-the-6-step-blueprint-for-a-smooth-transition) ## [Business Exit Plan: The 6-Step Blueprint for a Smooth Transition](https://en-ws.com/insights/business-exit-plan-the-6-step-blueprint-for-a-smooth-transition) At the end of the day, every business owner is going to exit the business. The question becomes:... [Read More](https://en-ws.com/insights/business-exit-plan-the-6-step-blueprint-for-a-smooth-transition) [![A person reviewing documents for financial planning for small business owners. ](https://en-ws.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Image%20(6).png?height=200&name=Blog%20Image%20(6).png)](https://en-ws.com/insights/financial-planning-for-small-business-owners-how-to-maximize-business-valuation-and-manage-wealth) ## [Financial Planning for Small Business Owners: How to Maximize Business Valuation and Manage Wealth](https://en-ws.com/insights/financial-planning-for-small-business-owners-how-to-maximize-business-valuation-and-manage-wealth) Financial planning for small business owners isn’t about staying afloat – it’s about steering the... [Read More](https://en-ws.com/insights/financial-planning-for-small-business-owners-how-to-maximize-business-valuation-and-manage-wealth) ## Start Planning for your Exit Exit planning should begin 10 years before you actually sell the business. Get your perpetuation plan together today.  ![ENWS\_REV](https://en-ws.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ENWS_REV.png?width=350&height=58&name=ENWS_REV.png "ENWS_REV") About Us [Meet ENWS](https://45966733.hs-sites.com/about) [Careers](https://en-ws.com/careers) Client Resources [Insights](https://45966733.hs-sites.com/insights) [Client Logins](https://45966733.hs-sites.com/client-access) [Disclosures](https://45966733.hs-sites.com/disclosures) Our Services [Business Exit Planning](https://45966733.hs-sites.com/business-exit-planning) [Wealth Management](https://45966733.hs-sites.com/wealth-management) [Tax Planning](https://45966733.hs-sites.com/tax-planning)[Charitable Giving](https://45966733.hs-sites.com/charitable-giving) [Retirement Planning](https://45966733.hs-sites.com/retirement-planning) [Estate Planning](https://45966733.hs-sites.com/estate-planning) [Contact Us](https://en-ws.com/contact) [facebook-f icon](https://www.facebook.com/ENWealthStrategies/) [linkedin-in icon](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellerbrock-norris-wealth-strategies) [youtube icon](https://www.youtube.com/@ellerbrock-norriswealthstr2126?app=desktop) Copyright © 2025, Ellerbrock-Norris Wealth Strategies Ellerbrock-Norris Wealth Strategies, 4331 N 156th St., Omaha, NE 68116 Ellerbrock-Norris Wealth Strategies LLC is an investment adviser principally registered in Nebraska, and registered or exempt from registration in other states as applicable. 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