Exit Planning
Strategic business exit planning and succession planning for owners in Buffalo and Western New York and beyond. Helping you maximize value, navigate transitions, and achieve the outcome your business deserves.
Exit Planning Services
CTBK’s Trusted Advisors understand that planning the exit strategy for your business is not just a financial transaction, rather it is a monumental project that requires careful consideration, strategic planning, and expert guidance.
In addition to having built our business around closely-held family-owned middle market companies and supporting our clients through all of the nuances of strategic planning, we have two Certified Exit Planning Advisors (CEPAs) to enhance our ability to help our clients.
Building Value Before You Exit
The future of you, your family, and your business is shaped by the value you build today. Exit planning brings structure to that process—combining strategy, execution, and long-term thinking to create a business that is truly transferable through strong human, structural, customer, and social capital.
We help business owners understand what their company is worth today, define long-term objectives, and build a clear path forward. Our approach includes:
- Long term strategic objectives
- Understand the value of their company while understanding while developing a long term plan
- Partner with all advisors a company may have to take them from point a to point b – depending on what their strategic objective is
A few statistics on exit planning:
No Transition Plan
Even though 76% of business owners plan to transition in the next 10 years, 83% of business owners either don’t have a transition plan or have not documented or communicated a plan
No Strategic Plan
81% of business owners have no strategic plan, yet 67% expect to make strategic decision regarding the company as part of their exit plan
Low Sale Success
30%-40% of business listed for sale actually ever sell (60-70% don’t)
Post-Sale Regret
75% of business owners were dissatisfied or regretted their decision 12 months after the transaction
Managing for Value: Building a Stronger Business Today
Behind every business is a goal.
Over time, it’s easy to lose sight of that original vision while navigating day-to-day demands, growth opportunities, and unexpected challenges.
Managing For Value (MFV) brings the focus back. It’s a structured, strategic approach that helps business owners align decisions with long-term objectives—strengthening performance, improving clarity, and intentionally increasing the value of the business over time. Whether you’re planning for growth, transition, or eventual sale, MFV keeps your business moving in the right direction. Managing for Value is brought to life through Value Acceleration, a structured methodology designed to turn strategic focus into measurable business value.
What Is Value Acceleration?
Value Acceleration is the framework that puts Managing for Value into action.
Rather than waiting until you’re ready to exit, this methodology focuses on building value now—so when the time comes, your business is more transferable, more attractive, and better positioned for a successful outcome.
At CTBK, we work alongside business owners to identify key opportunities across financial performance, operations, and strategy—and turn them into actionable steps that drive measurable results.
The Impact: Benefits of the CTBK Exit Planning Process
Business owners who engage with our exit planning team receive:
- A clear articulation of long-term goals and objectives across personal, financial, and business dimensions
- A documented transition plan that addresses timing, structure, successors, and contingencies
- Annual business value estimates with trending analysis
- A prioritized action plan with specific, measurable milestones
- Coordination with your legal, financial, and personal advisors for a holistic approach
It’s not just about preparing for a future event, it’s about running a more intentional, more valuable business today.
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Coordination Across Your Advisory Team
Exit planning is inherently a team effort. CTBK partners with your existing attorneys, wealth advisors, insurance professionals, and other advisors to ensure every aspect of your plan is coordinated
As your integrating advisor, we ensure every part of your plan works together seamlessly so decisions in one area don’t create unintended consequences in another. This includes:
- Updated long-term goals and objectives
- Action steps proposal
- Historical trends
- Annual summary report with estimated company value, trends, and action plan