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In this episode of The Exit, Alan Franks, founder of the Business Planning Institute, reveals how business owners can maximize value and achieve financial independence before selling. He stresses that most owners don’t know their company’s worth, let alone track it, and warns against relying solely on business income, which can trap you in a “lifestyle business.”

Franks advises selling in the maturity stage, before growth stalls and expenses rise. His approach to boosting value is “good business planning with a deadline”: create documented systems, KPIs, and a management team that allows the business to thrive without you.

He emphasizes transferability by developing an internal successor, which protects value in emergencies and attracts buyers. From a tax perspective, he highlights strategies like opportunity zones, deferred sales trusts, and 1031 exchanges to reduce capital gains and income taxes, particularly for owners with real estate assets.

Franks’ final takeaway: treat success as a team sport. Build and maintain an A-level roster of advisors, align them with your goals, and continually reassess to keep your business and exit plan on track.

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Alan Franks, CFP®, CLU®, CFBS®, is the founder of the Business Planning Institute and author of Empowered Money, dedicated to helping individuals and business owners create financial plans that fuel their fullest lives. Alan has built a career in financial planning, where he combines investments, risk management, and strategic business planning to serve clients nationwide, including business owners, tech professionals, professional service providers, and striving retirees. Based in Atlanta, Alan is known for his comprehensive, team-oriented approach that aligns personal and business finances, builds enterprise value, and creates sustainable wealth. Passionate about impact, he works to ensure clients not only grow their assets but also achieve the freedom, presence, and purpose they value most.

Website: https://thebusinessplanninginstitute.com/

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The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/