Sound New Year’s resolutions and business solutions to avoid common exit planning mistakes

Once upon a time, on a New Year’s Eve, three business owners, Tom, Dick and Harry, sat down for a moment to reflect on what they had done for the past year and where they wanted to go moving forward. In this case, all of them were thinking of their “exit” from their respective companies. But each had a different type of business and a different state of mind.

Tom

Tom was older and ran a small software-consulting firm largely dependent on his own efforts. He created customized software for distributors of primarily plumbing supplies. He was always a lone ranger. He knew that someday he would “die with his boots on,” behind his desk, and he wanted to make sure he “thought” about how things would end.

He had a $100,000 life insurance policy set for his wife, which he thought was enough. So, the next workday, he called his accountant and asked him to make sure the lights got turned off properly when he passed. The dutiful accountant promised to aid his family in final arrangements and that was enough for Tom. He slept well that night, nary a care in the world.

Dick

Dick, a plumber, was a younger guy who had a couple of small crews that did a lot of residential work. He also had one larger commercial client, which represented about 40 percent of his total sales. Dick was a shrewd kid who thought he would save a lot of money in taxes by simply not reporting all his small service calls.

On New Year’s Eve, he dreamed about how he would work hard for the next five years, pocket all the cash he could, and then sell out and sail off into the sunset on a boat to the Bahamas. The plan seemed simple enough, and as far as the under-reporting of income, Dick just thought that is how business was done. There was no remorse, and that would be his dream.

Harry

And then there was Harry, the sole owner of a distribution empire selling plumbing and HVAC products out of a large warehouse chain. Harry never talked much about his exit strategy. But this New Year’s Eve, he decided to announce to his 50-year-old son that he would retire this year and that Harry Jr. would take over the company. In exchange, Harry Jr. would pay for Harry Sr.’s retirement fund over 20 years. Again, a simple plan for this New Year’s Eve visionary. Not a lot of talk for him, just a grand plan contrived on the assumption that Harry Jr. was destined to take over.

Besides doing their day dreaming on New Year’s Eve, and making some grand resolutions, all three business owners had other things in common. None of them really thought or talked about their exit plans with people in any depth. So, after the daydreaming became a reality, they and their families, employees or customers had to suffer through some unexpected consequences.

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