A Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) is trained and tested in a defined method for building business value and preparing an owner to sell or transfer a company. Choosing a CEPA gives a business owner an advisor who looks at the whole picture, including business value, personal finances, and life after the sale, and who is held to continuing education and professional standards.
What is the CEPA credential?
The Certified Exit Planning Advisor credential is awarded by the Exit Planning Institute. Candidates complete an intensive program built on the Value Acceleration Methodology and must pass an examination to earn the designation. Holders complete continuing education to keep it.
Why does certification matter when you choose an exit planner?
| Question | CEPA | Advisor without the credential |
|---|---|---|
| Follows a defined exit planning method | Yes, the Value Acceleration Methodology | Varies by advisor |
| Tested on the material | Yes, by examination | Not necessarily |
| Covers business, personal, and financial goals together | Yes, by design | Often focused on one area |
| Continuing education required | Yes | Not necessarily |
| Trained to coordinate CPAs, attorneys, and wealth advisors | Yes | Varies |
What does a CEPA do differently?
- Starts with value. A CEPA measures what the business is worth today and what it could be worth, and builds a plan to close that gap.
- Plans for the owner as well as the company. Personal financial needs and plans for life after the business are part of the work.
- Works in short cycles. Improvements are carried out in 90-day periods, so progress is visible.
- Leads the team. A CEPA coordinates the CPA, attorney, wealth advisor, and broker so their advice fits together.
- Keeps options open. The same work that prepares a business for sale makes it more profitable to keep.
Why does it help when your CEPA is also a former CFO?
Buyers decide what to pay by examining financial statements. A CEPA with CFO experience knows how those statements will be read, which adjustments a buyer will accept, and where weak records lower the price. Jacqueline Oberst, the founder of Sunderland Valley Enterprises, holds the CEPA credential and served as Chief Financial Officer of two growing companies.
What should you ask an exit planning advisor?
- Are you a Certified Exit Planning Advisor?
- What method do you use, and what are its stages?
- How do you measure the current value of my business?
- How will you work with my CPA and attorney?
- What will we accomplish in the first 90 days?
- Have you prepared financial records for a buyer’s due diligence?
When should you bring in a CEPA?
Three to five years before you expect to leave is ideal. That leaves time to improve the drivers of value and to build the record of financial statements that buyers require. An owner with a shorter timeline still benefits, because preparation reduces surprises during the sale.
Common questions
CEPA stands for Certified Exit Planning Advisor.
The Exit Planning Institute awards the CEPA credential.
No. A business broker markets and sells a business. A CEPA works with the owner beforehand to build value and prepare, and coordinates the professionals involved in the sale.
It is not required. A CEPA improves the owner’s preparation, which often leads to a better price, a smoother sale, and a clearer plan for what comes next.
Yes. Jacqueline Oberst of Sunderland Valley Enterprises is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor based in Las Vegas.
See our exit planning services in Las Vegas.
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