Exit Readiness and Deal Support for UK Business Owners
Build optionality, maximise value, and reduce risk — before a deal forces your hand
“Without Mark leading the charge, I’m not convinced we would have got over the line”
Who We Help
Independent, founder-side support at every stage
Business Owners
Whether you’re actively considering a sale, planning to sell in the next 12 to 36 months, looking to de-risk your position, or building a more valuable, less founder-dependent business — we provide the strategic clarity and practical support you need.
- Exit planning and readiness assessment
- Value creation and risk reduction
- Deal navigation and decision support
What We Help You Do
From early exit planning to deal execution, we combine one-off diagnostics with ongoing founder-side support to make sure you pursue the right deal, on the right terms, at the right time for you
Improve Value
Strengthen the things that influence price, confidence, and negotiation leverage
Reduce Deal Risk
Identify issues buyers will challenge before they become expensive problems
Stay in Control
Make confident decisions with a clear process and the right support around you
How It Works
Assess
Understand where the business stands today, what buyers will notice, and what needs attention first
Improve
Focus on changes that reduce risk, improve value, and make your business more sale-ready
Execute
Move into decision support, buyer conversations, diligence, and completion with clear founder-side advice
The Seam Most Exits Fall Through
Most owners meet two separate worlds on the way to a sale: the adviser who helps them prepare, and the firm that runs the deal. The handover between the two is where preparation gets lost — the sell-side industry says so itself, and calls it the disconnect. The adviser who knew the business leaves the room just as the stakes rise.
We built our services so you never cross that seam alone. The same founder-side adviser who assessed your business and worked the preparation stays with you through the decision, the offer, the diligence and the completion — alongside your existing team. Nothing is re-learned at the moment you can least afford it.
How We Help
Three focused services to build optionality, reduce risk, and make high-stakes decisions with confidence
View All Services →Exit Readiness Assessment
Who it's for:
Owners planning an exit who want to maximise their eventual sale price and be confident they are truly buyer-ready.
From £2,500 | 4-6 weeks
Exit Partner Programme
Who it's for:
Owners who want a senior adviser alongside them for 6-24 months.
Retainer-based | 6-24 months
Business Sale Support
Who it's for:
Owners facing any part of a business sale — deciding whether to sell, weighing an offer that's landed, preparing to go to market, or holding steady from agreed terms to completion.
From £1,000 per module | To the deal's timetable
Why We Keep Your Advisers Independent
Some firms make the opposite case: put corporate finance, tax and legal under one roof and alignment looks after itself. It’s a fair argument, and the convenience is real.
Here is ours. The specialists who serve your deal best are rarely all in one building — and a house that earns from every part of your transaction has one interest running through all of its advice. We keep the roles separate on purpose. Your tax adviser, your solicitor and (where appropriate) your corporate finance firm are chosen for your deal, each the right one for it, each under their own regulation. And beside you sits one adviser whose counsel on whether to sell — and whether to take the offer in front of you — is never paid on the deal happening: no mandate, no house to feed. Alignment, in our experience, comes from that seat being genuinely yours.
Real-world Experience, Founder-side Perspective
We have started, operated, bought, sold, and exited businesses
“In all my dealings with Mark I found him to be hard-working, considerate, honest and trustworthy”
“Without Mark leading the charge, I’m not convinced we would have got over the line”
“If you want a clear roadmap and a partner through every stage, choose ESS”
Exit Planning Essentials
Tools and resources to support your exit journey
Exit Readiness Calculator
Take our free assessment to understand your current exit readiness and identify areas for improvement.
Try Free Exit CalculatorArticles & Insights
Practical commentary and guidance on exit planning, deal navigation and value creation for UK business owners.
Browse ArticlesReady to Get Started?
Founder-to-exit experience, on your side. Let’s discuss where you are, what you need, and how to get there — confidentially and without obligation.