Myth #1: Exit is a dirty word
Say "exit" and most people hear failing. Closing in distress is what happens when nobody planned. Plan early, and an exit can be a sale, a handover, a merger or a well-timed wind-down, on your own terms.
Myth #2: Exit just happens
So does rain. An exit is a decision. "When it's time, I'll know" usually means the exit picks the moment for you: a health scare, a partner who wants out, a key person who leaves. You don't need an exit date to start planning. You just need to decide that you'll choose the moment.
Myth #3: Fix the numbers first
You go to the gym to get fit, not the other way around. Same for your numbers. Waiting for a good year before you think about exit gets the order backwards. Planning shows you where the business is weak, and working on those gaps is what lifts the numbers.
Myth #4: Buyers only look at the books
Yes, maybe… and no not really. They're buying a future they can see themselves in. The numbers matter, but buyers also look at your people, your clients, your market and what you're building next. The question in their head is whether there's a future here worth stepping into.
Myth #5: You need to be big to consider exit
Small and ready beats big and messy. Exit isn’t reserved for companies with a board and a banker. Small businesses get passed on, bought by their teams, or bought for their clients, their people or their know-how. What counts is how ready you are, whatever your size.
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All five myths come undone the same way: knowing where your business really stands, early enough to choose your road. That's why we built Ten Days In. Ten days inside your business, and at the end, an honest read of what you've built and the options open to you.
Don't let a few myths keep you from talking about your exit. Get a clear read on your business, then grow well, exit better.