Exit-readiness scorecard

Score your business the way a buyer would.

Rate each area from 1 to 5. Buyers and lenders look at these same five things. Be honest; nobody sees your answers but us.

1. Financial quality

Are your books clean, current, and do they tie to your tax returns?

1 = tax returns and not much else5 = monthly close, accrual books that tie out

2. Owner dependence

Could the business run for a month without you?

1 = nothing happens without me5 = a manager runs day to day

3. Customer concentration

How much of your sales come from your biggest customers?

1 = one customer is over a quarter of sales5 = no customer over 10% of sales

4. Systems

Are your processes written down and used by the team?

1 = it all lives in my head5 = written procedures and software the team uses

5. Growth story

Can a buyer see where the next dollar of profit comes from?

1 = flat or declining, no clear plan5 = growing, with specific opportunities