Clarity, Strategy, and Deal Support for Founders and Owners
Three focused services to build optionality, reduce risk, and make high-stakes decisions with confidence - well before the deal starts.
Expert guidance for the founder's journey
Exiting a business is a complex mix of strategic choices and personal transition. We provide the calm, senior-led support you need to navigate this process with clarity. We don’t replace your professional team; we work alongside your accountants and lawyers to ensure you are prepared, informed, and in control.
THE DIAGNOSTIC
Exit Readiness Assessment
Who it's for:
Owners planning an exit in the next 12–24 months who want to maximise their eventual sale price, and be confident they are truly buyer-ready.
What you get:
- A diagnostic assessment of your business through a buyer's lens.
- Identification of value drivers, "red flag" risks, and founder-dependency scores across 6 critical dimensions.
- Narrative and positioning review: how your business story will land with sophisticated acquirers.
- A prioritised 12-month roadmap to protect value and improve optionality.
- A 15-20 page report with realistic valuation range, and clear next-step recommendations.
- A 2-3 hour feedback and strategy session.
Timeline: 2-4 weeks
Investment: Low-to-mid five figures, depending on size and complexity of the business.
THE CLARITY
Founder Decision Support
Who it's for:
Owners at a strategic crossroads or facing a specific high-stakes decision - whether to explore a sale, respond to an approach, raise investment, pursue an acquisition, or hold for growth. Is it time to appoint a CF firm, or wait?
What you get:
- 2 confidential 90-minute 1-on-1 sessions to cut through the noise.
- An independent sounding board from someone who has been through multiple transactions.
- A pragmatic exploration of your personal and commercial objectives.
- A written Decision Memo summarising the logic, risks, three scenarios (sell now / prepare / hold), and a clear recommended path.
- Clarity and confidence to make a high-stakes decision without second-guessing.
Timeline: 1–2 weeks
Investment: Fixed-fee, 2 session engagement.
THE ENGAGEMENT
Deal Readiness Review
Who it's for:
Founders who have received an offer, or are in buyer conversations, and need to prepare for the intensity of a live transaction.
What you get:
- Evaluation of the specific offer/approach from a founder's perspective (logic, fit, and timing).
- Buyer profiling - understanding their likely motivations, deal-breakers, and typical behaviour.
- Diligence roadmap - a plain-English briefing on what the next 90 days will actually look like.
- Narrative stress-test - ensuring your answers to the "big buyer questions" are consistent and credible.
- Adviser alignment - helping you define exactly what you need from your legal and CF teams before you sign the mandate.
Timeline: 1-2 weeks
Investment: Short, intensive engagement priced to reflect the urgency and complexity of the deal.
Important - Commercial sense-check only. Not a substitute for legal, tax, or financial due diligence.
Why these three?
A business that is ready to sell is a better business to own. Our goal is to give you optionality - the freedom to sell, step back, or scale, knowing your business is a transferable asset, not just a job.
- Build clarity on what your business is actually worth and why
- Reduce risk by identifying and addressing diligence surprises early
- Strengthen your position whether you're selling, buying, or just building a better business
- Support your decisions with founder-level insight and pragmatic advice
Who we are
Exit Strategy & Solutions is a senior-led advisory practice. Mark serves as the primary advisor for all client engagements, supported by Rod (tax and financial strategy) and Tom (operational performance and process improvement). By combining our collective deal experience with founder-level thinking, we deliver the strategic clarity and practical implementation support owners need to maximise their outcomes.
Ready to get started?
Each service can stand alone, or they can be combined depending on your situation. There's no pressure and no long-term commitment - just a pragmatic conversation about what you need.