Exit Planning Advisor in Las Vegas
Sunderland Valley Enterprises provides exit planning for business owners in Las Vegas, Nevada. Exit planning is the process of building the value of a business and preparing the owner, financially and personally, to sell or transfer it on their own terms. Jacqueline Oberst is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), a former Chief Financial Officer, and the founder of PrepareToSell.com.
Jacqueline Oberst is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA). The credential is awarded by the Exit Planning Institute to advisors who complete its program, pass its examination, and keep up continuing education. Why the CEPA credential matters.
Most owners have the majority of their wealth tied up in the business, and many begin planning only when a buyer appears or a health event forces the issue. Starting three to five years ahead gives you time to raise the value of the company and choose how you leave.
What does an exit planning advisor do?
- Measures where the business stands. An assessment of business value, readiness to sell, and the owner’s personal financial needs.
- Finds the value gap. The difference between what the business is worth today and what it could be worth.
- Builds a plan to close it. Specific actions that raise earnings and reduce risk.
- Prepares the financial records. Clean, verifiable statements and normalized earnings a buyer can trust.
- Coordinates the team. Works alongside your CPA, attorney, wealth advisor, and business broker or investment banker.
The Value Acceleration Methodology
Certified Exit Planning Advisors are trained in the Value Acceleration Methodology, which moves through three stages.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Discover | Assess the business, personal finances, and personal goals, and establish a baseline value |
| Prepare | Carry out actions that increase value and reduce risk, in 90-day cycles |
| Decide | Choose whether to keep growing the business or to exit, and by which route |
What drives the value of a business?
- Profit that is consistent and can be verified
- Recurring or repeat revenue
- A customer base that does not depend on one or two accounts
- A management team that can run the business without the owner
- Documented systems and processes
- Clean financial records for three or more years
What are the ways to exit a business?
| Exit route | Best suited to |
|---|---|
| Sale to an outside buyer | Owners seeking the highest price and a clean break |
| Sale to management or key employees | Owners who want continuity for staff and customers |
| Transfer to family | Owners with a capable successor in the family |
| Employee stock ownership plan | Profitable companies with strong management and a stable workforce |
| Planned wind-down | Businesses whose value rests mainly on the owner |
Thinking about selling in the next few years?
30 minutes, no cost, with Jackie directly.
When should a Las Vegas business owner start?
Start three to five years before you expect to leave. Buyers and lenders usually ask for at least three years of financial statements, and improvements to value take time to appear in the numbers. Nevada has no state income tax on individuals or corporations, which affects the after-tax result of a sale, so involve your CPA early.
Why work with Sunderland Valley Enterprises?
- CEPA credential. Jacqueline Oberst is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor.
- CFO experience. She served as CFO of two growing companies and knows how buyers read financial statements.
- Financial records done right. We can prepare your books, so the numbers behind the plan are accurate.
- Author of Looks Profitable. Her book explains how to read the numbers that determine what a business is worth.
- Based in Las Vegas. We work with owners across Southern Nevada.
PrepareToSell, our dedicated exit preparation program
Owners who plan to sell within the next few years can work with Jacqueline through PrepareToSell.com, the program she founded to prepare companies for sale. It follows the Saleability System, which covers the revenue drivers buyers pay for, the story of the business, the materials a buyer will review, and the selection of a broker.
Common questions about exit planning in Las Vegas
Exit planning is the process of increasing the value of a business and preparing its owner to sell or transfer it. It covers business value, the owner’s personal financial needs, and plans for life after the business.
A Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) is a professional who has completed the Exit Planning Institute’s program and is trained in the Value Acceleration Methodology.
Sunderland Valley Enterprises provides exit planning in Las Vegas. The work is led by Jacqueline Oberst, a Certified Exit Planning Advisor and former Chief Financial Officer.
Three to five years is a practical minimum. It allows time to improve the drivers of value and to build the track record of financial statements that buyers require.
Yes. The actions that prepare a business for sale, such as stronger margins, recurring revenue, and less dependence on the owner, also make it more profitable and easier to run today.
No. A business broker markets and sells the business. An exit planning advisor works with the owner beforehand to raise value and prepare, and then coordinates with the broker, CPA, and attorney during the sale.
Thinking about selling in the next few years?
30 minutes, no cost, and you will speak with Jackie directly, a Certified Exit Planning Advisor.
Prefer to write? Send a message or call (702) 704-5816.