Selling my business
Maximise value, minimise tax
Selling your business is one of the biggest financial and emotional decisions of your life. Done well, it can create a life-changing payment that fulfils your goals. Done poorly, it can leave value on the table. Planning early is key to controlling the controllable, and assembling a team of experts is the key to getting the best outcome.
The big questions to answer
Do you have enough?
Will the proceeds of your sale sustain your lifestyle and long-term goals? Early planning helps avoid underselling or falling short.
Have you had enough?
Are you truly ready to let go, or are you simply burnt out? Clarity on your personal goals matters as much as the numbers.
Do you have enough to do?
Life after exiting your business can feel like a void if you don’t have purpose or a plan for what’s next.
Assemble your team of experts early. It's the smartest investment you’ll make.
Want to plan for your brighter future?
What you will need to think about
Start early
Well-prepared businesses sell faster and for more. Begin 18–36 months in advance if you can.
Know the market
Keep one eye on the macro environment – inflation and interest rates, geopolitical risks, the AI revolution and elections can all impact your valuation.
Understand your options
Trade sale, private equity, management buy-out (MBO), Employee Ownership Trust (EoT), partial sale, or listing - each has different implications. Trusts are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Build value drivers
Align your strategy, growth drivers, and story to appeal to buyers and increase valuation multiples.
Get a professional valuation
A desktop valuation will help you set realistic expectations and identify areas to improve.
Assemble the right team
Exit consultants, financial advisers, solicitors and tax specialists make a huge difference during negotiations and due diligence.
Understand the timeline
From readiness to closing, the process can take 12–18 months.
We work in conjunction with an extensive network of external specialists who have been carefully selected by St. James's Place. The services provided by these specialists are separate and distinct to the services carried out by ourselves or St. James's Place and include solicitors, tax specialists and advice on how to grow your business and prepare it for sale and exit.
Plans for wherever you are at in life
Young Professionals
Growing Families
Business Owners
High-Net-Worth Individuals
Nearing Retirement
Retired People
Professional Athletes
Sole Trader
Established Families
Young Professionals
When it comes to growing wealth, time is on your side. From your first investment to your first home, we’ll help you make the most of your income.
Growing Families
Building financial security for the people that matter most. From saving for school fees to protecting your income and planning for the future, we help families stay one step ahead.
Business Owners
Your business is your focus – we make sure your finances keep up. From tax-smart income to long-term planning, we help you protect what you’ve built. No fluff, just advice that works as hard as you do.
High-Net-Worth Individuals
You’re earning big – now it’s time to make it count! We help high earners cut tax and grow wealth. From pensions to early retirement, we keep your plan and goals in focus.
Nearing Retirement
The light is at the end of the tunnel, and after years of working hard and saving for retirement, you’re on the final stretch.
Retired People
Whether you’re on the final stretch or already retired, smart planning now can mean more freedom later. Let’s help you build a plan so your money can help you with the life you want, for as long as you need it to.
Professional Athletes
We help elite professional athletes aiming for their peak earnings to provide security for a lifetime. From protecting your income to planning life after sport, we make sure the money you earn now keeps working for your future.
Sole Trader
Whether it’s making sure you’ve set enough aside for tax, planning for time off or thinking further ahead towards retirement – you need an adviser to handle the stuff you don’t have time for.
Established Families
Whether you’re helping your kids take their next steps, thinking about retirement, or figuring out how to pass on your wealth without giving a large amount to HMRC, we’re here to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Meet our people
Meet our people
Our clients are real people, and so are we. Scroll through our team to meet the people who can build your financial plan. Not sure who might fit your requirements? Get in touch
