FREE! Your Valuable Business Isn't Yet Exit-Ready
How to prepare an owner-dependent business for transfer to key employees
Description
Chart Your Exit- Guidance for Owners of businesses not yet exit-ready
This is relevant if you are ready to leave your business in the next couple of years. You likely want to leave in such a way that your business keeps going, but have no idea how to do so. Perhaps you've spoken to business brokers and have been told that the business isn't sellable. You're unsure whether it is or isn't.
Regardless, you've simply been carrying the weight of your people, your customers, and your community for a very long time... and you're tired
You're not alone in this. Many owners of small, hands-on, people-first businesses find themselves in the same situation. Businesses like yours weren't built with their eventual sale in mind. They were built for daily operations, long-term customer relationships, and keeping good people employed.
That's as it should be. That's normal.
BUT that's also why 80% of such businesses offered for sale do not sell.
Not everyone. Just the key people who already understand the work, the customers, and the culture you've built.
A transition like this can:
> Ensure the continuity of your legacy, the business
> Protect your employees' jobs
> Ensure the continued vibrancy of your community
> Honour long-standing relationships
> Give you a realistic path toward your next chapter
It's not quick, and it's not simple - but with the right structure and guidance, it's often far more achievable than a conventional sale.
This workshop will give you a first glance at this viable alternative. See how you can chart a calm journey to your eventual exit.
During these 60-minute workshops, we slow things down and make sense of your situation - without jargon or pressure.
You'll explore:
> Why valuable businesses like yours may still be unsellable
> What makes key employees ideal future owners
> How internal transitions like this actually unfold
> The risks to avoid and the opportunities to look for
> How to prepare for deeper conversations with your employees about the specific circumstances of your business and the possible journey ahead that includes them
You'll leave with a clearer mind, a steadier sense of direction, and practical next steps.
Meet Your Navigator, John Orian
Having 'retired' in 2012, I also understand the emotional side of this moment ... the weight of responsibility, uncertainty about the future, and the quiet worry about your legacy. Rather than someone who pushes you, you need a calm guide while you decide what's right for your ship and crew.
Think of me as your navigator. I bring the map and help you chart a course that fits your business, your people, and your next chapter. I also assemble and coordinate the additional crew necessary for the journey.
Delivery Method: Virtual Session – Zoom Meeting
Sharing a single registration between two or more individuals is not permitted. Please register each person that will be in attendance.
Important Note:
We may encourage active participation in this workshop, which involves interactive elements such as polls, word clouds, and multiple-choice questions and the ability to submit questions to the presenters. To ensure a safe and confidential space, we want to highlight that you will have the option to interact with us anonymously.
Your privacy and comfort are of utmost importance, and we want to create an environment where everyone feels free to engage openly. If you have any concerns or questions about anonymity or the interactive features, please feel free to reach out to the ICBA Training Team at training@icba.ca
You may be participating with a group of industry peers from multiple regions.
Who Should Attend
It is a good fit if you:
> Have a small, owner-led business with long-tenured staff
> Are beginning to explore your exit options
> Suspect the business may not be sellable in its current form
> Care about your employees, customers, and community