Talk to us about your exit

How to reach us

• Call if you want to talk it through now. It's the quickest way to find out whether we can help.
• Text if you'd rather send a short note first and pick a time to talk.
• Email if you want to share some background in writing, or attach a document.

All three come to the same place. Choose whichever suits how you work.

What to include in your first message

You don't need to send anything confidential to begin. A few lines are enough:

1. What kind of business you run and roughly how many people work in it.
2. Your province or territory.
3. Your rough timeline: "thinking about it," "within two to three years," or "someone has made an offer."
4. The likely route, if you know it: outside buyer, family, managers, employees.
5. What worries you most, whether that's the numbers, depending on you, a key contract, or not knowing where to start.

A template you can copy and adapt:

Hi, I own [type of business] in [City, Province] with about [number] staff. I'm thinking about [selling / handing over to family / a management buyout] in roughly [timeframe]. My main concern is [concern]. Could we set up the free consultation? Good times to reach me are [days and times].

What happens next

1. We reply, usually within one business day, to arrange the free consultation at a time that suits you.
2. The consultation (30 minutes). We ask about your business, your goals and your timeline, and you ask us anything. If we think we're not the right fit, or that you don't need us yet, we'll say so.
3. A written proposal, if it makes sense to go further, stating scope, price, milestones and what is excluded. Most owners start with the exit readiness assessment.
4. Kick-off, with a document request tailored to your business and province.

Before you call: a ten-minute self-check

If you'd like to arrive prepared, answer these privately:

• Do my financial statements, tax returns and bank deposits agree?
• If I disappeared for two weeks, what would stop?
• Is any customer more than 10% of revenue?
• Is my minute book up to date, and do I know where it is?
• Do I have a shareholder agreement, and does it say what happens if one of us wants out?
• Who do I think the buyer will be?

Don't worry if several answers are "I'm not sure." That's what the assessment is for. The three-year runway guide shows what to do with the answers.

Common questions about working with us

Do I need to hire a lawyer or accountant first? No. Many owners talk to us first, then bring in their advisers once they know what they need. If you already have advisers, we work alongside them.

Will you contact buyers or brokers for me? No. We don't market businesses or approach buyers. If you want a broker, we can help you prepare to work with one.

What does it cost? See the pricing page. In short: hourly, project or retainer, in Canadian dollars plus GST/HST for your province, with a free initial consultation.

Who will I be dealing with? Ali Sedighi, MBA, who leads BusinessExit.ca. You can read about him on the about page.

A note on privacy

We only use your contact details to reply to you and to work with you. We only email people who have contacted us first. Our privacy page explains how we handle phone, text and email contact.