Find an Exited Founder to Help Sell Your Business

An Exited Founder is an entrepreneur who has founded or cofounded a company and successfully exited his or her company through an IPO, M&A transaction, recapitalization or secondary share transaction. 

An Exited Founder brings expertise in building a company, M&A deal-making, a network of potential buyers, and experience navigating complex financial, legal and employment issues. An exited founder can not only be a great personal mentor during your exit process but can also help maximize your company's sale price, reduce risks, and ensure a smoother transaction. 

Exited Founders typically offer: 

• M&A education 

• Founder Mentorship  

• Business valuation advice 

• Access to top M&A experts to build your M&A team 

• Incredible personal networks with strategic investors and buyers in their industry 

• Negotiation skills with potential buyers 

• Deal structuring and transaction experience 

• Advise on Coordination of legal, financial, and tax professionals 

• Assistance with due diligence 

• Advice on major personal and professional decisions throughout the M&A process 

Our Exited Founders have free access to Exitwise valuation services and have visibility into private transaction data in their industry. Exited founders assist investment bankers that use various methods, such as comparable company analysis, discounted cash flow analysis, and market trends, to assess the value of your business. Exited Founded can also factor in your industry dynamics and your growth potential to help negotiate an optimal sale price on your behalf. 

• Industry experience: Ensure they have exited a business in your sector. 

• Track record: Ask about their personal exits and how they have helped other business owners with M&A. 

• Network: A strong personal and professional network of potential buyers is key. 

• Communication: Choose someone you can trust and communicate with easily. 

• Industry Stature:   Exited founders bring different levels of credibility to your team which can have a dramatic effect on how buyers value your business. 

Today, all Exitwise Exited Founders charge a monthly advisory fee of $5,000 plus a transaction success fee of 1% of your enterprise value or sale price. 

The process can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months or longer, depending on market conditions, the size of your company, and the complexity of the transaction. Exited Founders absolutely help expedite the process. 

Yes, you can sell your company without an Exited Founder. That’s the way it’s been done forever . . . until now. Trying to sell a company on your own without an Exited founder works less than 20% of the time.  Selling with an Exited Founder through Exitwise, works >80% of time. Not only will you de-risk your M&A transaction but you will also have an easier time finding the right buyers and negotiating favorable terms. Many business owners hire Exited Founders to help them increase their chances of securing a better deal, avoiding costly mistakes and understanding the M&A process from an owner’s point of view. 

Exited Founders help you and your M&A team negotiate by evaluating offers, providing guidance on deal structure, and ensuring that the terms of the sale align with your financial goals. They act as your sounding board and advocate throughout the negotiation process.

An Exited Founder can provide valuable guidance and support throughout the process of preparing your business for sale. Here’s how they can help: 

• Create an exit plan based on your business valuation today and in the future 

• Organize your financials, including profit/loss statements and tax returns. 

• Ensure legal documents are up-to-date (e.g., contracts, licenses). 

• Review your operations and resolve any outstanding issues. 

• Help grow revenue by introducing strategic partnerships 

• Improve market positioning by buyer segment 

• Be clear on your personal and professional goals for the sale, including price expectations, timing and employment 

• Review succession planning and tax optimization strategies 

Involving an Exited Founder early in the process can significantly enhance your chances of a successful sale and ensure you're well-prepared financially, operationally, and emotionally for the transition. 

Once hired, the Exited Founder will: 

• Join your Company Advisory Board (optional) 

• Conduct a thorough review of your business 

• Mentor the Management Team 

• Help assemble and elite industry specific M&A team 

• Provide a valuation and suggest pricing strategies 

• Identify and reach out to potential buyers 

• Manage negotiations and assist with the due diligence process 

• Help close the deal with your desired terms

Yes, Exited Founders typically work closely with your other advisors, including accountants, attorneys, and tax professionals, to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach to selling your company. If you need a recommendation of top investment bankers to quarterback your M&A team, your Exited Founder will have several great options to choose from.

While Exited Founders can add significant value to the sale process, some risks include: 

• The 1% higher success fee will reduce your net sale proceeds. 

• Although you can always fire your Exited Founder, not getting along with your Exited Founder can be a real emotional drain so we recommend that you choose wisely. 

• If your Exited Founder lacks experience in your industry, they may struggle to find qualified buyers or strategic partners.

Success can be measured by: 

• Whether they achieve or exceed your valuation goals. 

• How well they manage your M&A team during the transaction process. 

• Their ability to find and introduce qualified buyers and help negotiate favorable terms. 

• The efficiency and smoothness of the sale process. 

If a sale falls through, you will lose the $5000 per month advisory fees paid to your Exited Founder. You are not obligated to pay the success fee if a transaction does not occur as per the terms of your Exited Founder Agreement. If your transaction falls through and you have built a good relationship with your Exited Founder you may be able to keep them on your advisory board and try to sell your business again at a later date.