Business Owner Succession Planning

Succession Planning Center

5 Steps to a Successful Exit

1

Get Started

It's never too early to start succession planning.

See the big picture

Before diving into the details, get a quick overview of all you'll need to do and consider throughout this journey.

Identify your destination

The first step is figuring out where you want to end up, both financially and emotionally. Seventy-five percent of business owners profoundly regretted selling 12 months after closing the deal.[1] You don't have to be one of them.

2

Choose Your Path

Compare the two essential succession paths, each with unique benefits and challenges.

Option A: Keep it in the family

With a seemingly clear transfer, you still have many decisions to make.

Option B: Sell to an outsider

Strategic buyers, financial buyers or competitors.

3

Prepare for the Sale or Transfer

Whether you're selling to an outsider, or moving ownership to employees, readiness protects deal value and timeline.

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Whether you're selling to an outsider, transferring to family or moving ownership to employees, readiness protects deal value and timeline.

4

Manage the Process

Every transition faces obstacles, knowing what to expect helps you stay on course.

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These obstacles aren’t signs you’ve failed. They’re normal friction points in any complex transition. The goal isn’t to avoid them entirely, but to recognize them early, so you can navigate them strategically.

5

Close the Deal (or Not)

Plan your next chapter after a sale, or understand what prevented one.

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Deal collapse: Learn from it

A deal that fell apart isn’t the end of the world. It’s often an opportunity to make the next one even stronger.

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Deal success: Shift your paradigm

On the other side, you’ll be an employee with an earnout, a creditor and a boss on their way out.

Get Started

Are you ready to explore the ways PNC can help you build your business?

PNC’s private business strategists have devoted most of their careers to providing broad and deep business advisory and personal financial planning for private and family-owned businesses.

Please complete the form below to tell us more about the areas you are interested in. We're ready to help.