Most business owners are building their entire retirement on a number they've never calculated. In 5 questions, you'll see what your business is worth, what it needs to be worth, and how big the gap is — right now.
📊 2023 National State of Owner Readiness · Exit Planning Institute (n=1,162)
49%
want to exit within 5 years
vs
42%
have a written transition plan
and
78%
have no formal advisory team
80%+
of the average owner's net worth is locked in their business
3 in 5
businesses listed for sale never actually sell
50%
of all exits are forced — death, disability, divorce, or distress
Takes about 4 minutes
Question 1 of 5
What type of business do you own?
Your industry determines the range of multiples buyers are willing to pay. We'll use this to estimate your current value.
Question 2 of 5
What is your business currently worth?
Your salary + any distributions or business perks
What's left over after you pay yourself, before taxes
Any loans that would be paid off at sale
Your share of any sale proceeds
What buyers actually pay for: Your total owner earnings — salary + distributions + profit — is called Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE). Buyers pay a multiple of this number, not revenue. Enter these fields to see your estimated range.
60%
of owners had a formal valuation in the last 2 years — but only 15% did it to prepare for a sale. Most don't know what their business would actually trade for. EPI 2023
Your Estimated SDE (owner earnings + profit)—
Estimated value — low end (2.5× SDE)—
Estimated value — high end (4.0× SDE)—
Estimates are fine — this is a snapshot, not an appraisal.
Question 3 of 5
What does your business need to sell for?
We'll figure this out in three steps — starting with what your retirement actually costs.
1
What does it cost to live your life?
Start with the income you'd want each year if the business were gone tomorrow — before taxes.
What your lifestyle actually costs, pre-tax
Social Security, pension, rental income, etc.
Amount your savings need to provide each year
Your desired income, minus any guaranteed sources
—
↓
2
How much do you need saved to generate that income?
This is the total investment portfolio that would pay you that amount every year — without running out.
Lower rates are more conservative and make your money last longer. 4% is the widely accepted benchmark.
Total savings needed
At a 4% annual withdrawal, this portfolio generates your income indefinitely
—
↓
3
What do you already have outside the business?
Your 401(k), brokerage accounts, real estate equity — anything that could help fund retirement without a business sale.
401(k), IRA, brokerage, real estate equity, etc.
Non-mortgage debt you'd want to clear at sale
How much is still missing — the shortfall your business needs to fill
Total savings target minus what you already have
—
The Bottom Line
Your business needs to sell for
—
This is the gross sale price needed to fund your retirement after all costs.
To net you
—
After fees (~7%)
—
After taxes (~25%)
—
⚠️ Why the gross sale price is higher than what you need
What you need to walk away with—
Add back: broker & transaction fees (~7%)—
Add back: capital gains tax (~25%)—
Add back: business debt payoff—
= Gross sale price your business needs to hit—
Broker 5–10%, legal/accounting ~2%
20% federal minimum; often 25–30% with state
Question 4 of 5
What's driving your valuation?
Check every statement that's true about your business today. These are the things buyers pay a premium for — or discount against.
67%
of owners rate their business above average in readiness — but only 42% have a written transition plan. Readiness must be measured from the buyer's perspective, not the owner's. EPI 2023
✓
The business runs without me for weeks at a time
Low owner dependency = buyers will pay more
✓
We have recurring or contracted revenue
Predictable future cash flow is what buyers are really buying
✓
Processes and SOPs are written down
Documented systems reduce risk for the buyer
✓
Our financials are clean and organized (3+ years)
Buyers will scrutinize every line — messy books kill deals
✓
We have a management team beyond just me
A team that stays after the sale = value that transfers
✓
No single customer is more than 20% of revenue
Heavy customer concentration is one of the most common deal-killers
✓
Revenue has grown consistently over the last 3 years
Buyers pay for trajectory, not just current size
Almost there
Where should we send your exit snapshot?
Enter your info and we'll show your full results — estimated value, what you need, the gap, and your biggest exit risk.
No obligation. A CEPA-certified advisor may follow up — but you're not committing to anything.
Your Business Exit Snapshot
Here's your real number
CURRENT VALUE VS. WHAT YOU NEED
CALCULATING...
Est. Business Value (Mid)
—
Needed to Fund Retirement
—
The Gap
—
Gross sale price neededAfter broker fees, taxes & debt — to net what you actually need
—
Exit Readiness Score
0/100
📊 How you compare · EPI 2023 National State of Owner Readiness
68%
of owners have sought outside advice on their exit
69%
have exit strategy on their priority list
$14T
in business wealth transferring in the next 10 years
READY TO CLOSE THE GAP?
Your exit number is the most important number in your financial life — and most business owners never calculate it until it's too late. Let's build a plan around yours.