It might seem contradictory, but decisions about how and when to exit a company are just as important as the dreams that give birth to it. There may even be reasons that make a pre-planned exit strategy mandatory, such as the specific needs of investors. This video explores various end-game scenarios for business owners, helping to clarify long-term goals for anyone on the verge of creating a company while detailing the possibilities and challenges that each type of conclusion involves. Viewers are introduced to the pros and cons of being bought out in installments; selling a company outright to a friendly party or a competitor; merging with another firm, including the option of staying on in some capacity; going the IPO route, an expensive and rarely pursued option but one worth discussing; and liquidation, with its need for proper record-keeping, government paperwork, and asset sell-offs or storage. In all cases, the focus is on walking away with the best possible outcome. Part of the series You’re the Boss: Starting and Running Your Own Business. (25 minutes)
