Succession and exit planning isn’t just about the end, it’s about creating a strategy that lets you leave with confidence, maximise the value of what you’ve built, and ensure the business continues to thrive beyond your involvement.
Whether you plan to pass it on to family, prepare your leadership team to take over, or sell to an external buyer, a proactive exit strategy puts you in control.
At Venture.ly, we specialise in helping business owners plan for a successful exit, ensuring your business is in the best shape for a smooth transition, whether you’re looking to sell or hand it down to the next generation.
High Prevalence of Inadequate Planning:
A survey by Robert Half revealed that 27% of Australian business leaders have not identified a successor for their current role. Additionally, 40% of businesses lack a succession plan for junior to mid-level roles, and 23% are without plans for executive or senior-level positions. This widespread absence of planning leaves organisations vulnerable to disruptions when key personnel depart unexpectedly.
Operational and Knowledge Risks:
Without a succession plan, businesses risk operational disruptions and the loss of institutional knowledge. The departure of key individuals without prepared successors can lead to decreased productivity and strategic standstills. Furthermore, the absence of mentorship and knowledge transfer processes can result in the loss of critical information, hindering long-term organisational effectiveness.
Many business owners wait until the last minute to think about what will happen when they retire or decide to move on. Without a clear succession plan, you risk:
A business that isn’t prepared for transfer will be valued less, reducing your return on investment.
If you plan to pass the business to family members, ensuring they’re ready to take the reins is essential for continuity.
Poor succession planning can result in confusion, lost opportunities, and a decrease in business value during the transition period.
With the right strategy, succession planning can maximise your business's value, secure its future, and help you exit with confidence.
With the right strategy, succession planning can maximise your business's value, secure its future, and help you exit with confidence.
Our unique approach
We start with a comprehensive review of your business’s current state. This includes a full valuation, assessment of your operational strengths and risks, and identifying opportunities to enhance value ahead of the exit. By understanding where your business stands today, we can shape where it needs to be tomorrow, and what steps will get you there.
Your exit plan needs to align with your personal goals, whether that’s retiring comfortably, supporting your family, or preparing your next venture. We work with you to define your objectives clearly and build a roadmap around them. This includes evaluating different exit pathways — from family succession to a management buyout or external sale, and weighing the legal, financial, and operational implications of each.
Once your strategy is clear, we move into preparation mode - strengthening your business to make it more attractive, efficient, and ultimately, more valuable. This involves streamlining operations, boosting profitability, reducing reliance on key individuals (including you), preparing your financials for due diligence, and strengthening your team structure and leadership. It’s in this phase that we turn a good business into a sale-ready asset.
If your goal is to keep the business in trusted hands, we guide you through the complexities of internal succession - whether that means passing it on to family members or transitioning to your leadership team. This process includes identifying and mentoring future leaders, structuring the ownership transition, managing family dynamics, and ensuring operational continuity through ongoing coaching and support. We take a thoughtful, human-first approach to succession, recognising that leadership transitions are as emotional as they are strategic.
When it’s time to step away, we’re by your side. We oversee the exit process to ensure everything runs smoothly, from buyer negotiations and stakeholder communication, to internal change management and team transitions. We also coordinate with legal, tax, and financial experts to finalise the deal in a way that protects your interests and helps you walk away with confidence.
Succession planning isn’t just about stepping away, it’s about protecting what you’ve built and setting your business up for long-term success. With the right strategy, you’ll ensure a smooth transition, maximise value, and step away with confidence.
At Venture.ly, we’ve guided hundreds of business owners through successful transitions. Our team brings decades of C-suite experience – entrepreneurs who’ve exited their own companies, and advisors who’ve helped scale some of Australia’s most recognised brands. We think long-term (3–5 years out), work across every key area (strategy, finance, operations, legal, leadership), and most importantly – we’ve been in your shoes.
Is it time to plan your exit?
With the right succession plan, you ensure a smooth exit and preserve the future of your business. At Venture.ly, we guide you through every step, helping you make confident, strategic decisions.