Are you prepared to transfer your business?
Although it’s smart to have a retirement plan, it’s even smarter to have a transition or backup plan in case you have to leave the business earlier than you anticipated.
Evaluate your readiness by taking the following quiz. Answer each item as “yes” or “no.”
Evaluate your readiness by taking the following quiz. Answer each item as “yes” or “no.”
If you were to die today, do you have the systems and support people in place that would allow your business to continue without you?
Yes
No
Do you have a written business plan that you follow?
Yes
No
Do you have a CRM that contains all of your clients’ most current contact information including a history of when you last contacted them and how many referrals each person has generated?
Yes
No
Do you have a system for staying in regular face-to-face contact with the people in your referral database, and have you seen at least 150 of them in person at least three times during the past year?
Yes
No
Have you branded your business with a brand that references real estate, your location and the types of clients you serve rather than using your name?
Yes
No
Does your business have a specific niche and/or client type, and do you have a website and social media presence based on that niche?
Yes
No
Do you have a lead generation system that creates a consistent stream of leads that convert into closed business?
Yes
No
If a CPA showed up tomorrow morning to check your books, would your books be in order?
Yes
No
Can you document your net profit for the past three years and would the documentation stand up to an IRS audit?
Yes
No
Do you have a specific plan for what you will do after you retire?
Yes
No
Do you have enough money in investments and/or passive income to meet all of your current financial obligations that are not business-related?
Yes
No
Do you have sufficient funds or resources to cover any potential health care costs for both you and your family?
Yes
No
You got {number correct}/{number of questions} correct answers
If you answered yes for 6 or fewer questions: You have quite a bit of work to do to prepare for a successful sale of your business.
You got {number correct}/{number of questions} correct answers
If you answered yes for 6 or fewer questions: You have quite a bit of work to do to prepare for a successful sale of your business.
You got {number correct}/{number of questions} correct answers
If you answered yes for 7-9 questions: You have a good foundation, but you still need to make some major adjustments before you are fully prepared to obtain the best possible price for your business.
You got {number correct}/{number of questions} correct answers
If you answered yes for 10-12 questions: You are prepared to exit the business with a reliable income.