Most owners ask it early: “Can you give me a timeline of what to expect?”
In this calm, insight-led episode, Stephen McConachie walks through every stage of a Quiet Exit (from first conversation to final handover) without the legal jargon or noise.
You’ll learn:

• The seven stages of a direct, no-broker business sale

• What really happens during discovery, offers and due diligence

• How patience protects your legacy when timelines stretch

• A real-world case story of clarity and calm
  Download your free copy of The Quiet Exit Timeline Map™ at epitomecapital.co.uk/quiet-exit-club

What do we wish every seller knew before they began the journey of exiting?

It’s not a spreadsheet formula. It’s not even a legal checklist. The truth is much quieter:

👉 Clarity beats control.
👉 Fit matters more than figures.

In this 30-minute episode of The Quiet Exit Podcast, Stephen McConachie shares the lessons learned from sitting across the table from hundreds of UK business owners preparing to sell.

Too often, sellers fixate on the wrong things: trying to control every decision, chasing the highest headline number, or assuming the “best price” equals the best outcome. But as Stephen explains, those instincts can backfire — leaving sellers exhausted, deals collapsed, or worst of all, living with regret long after completion.

Instead, the exits that feel whole, peaceful, and lasting are shaped by two quiet disciplines:

1. Clarity: Knowing what really matters to you — your non-negotiables, your flex points, and your bonus “nice-to-haves.” With clarity, you can filter buyers quickly, protect your legacy, and avoid the trap of micromanaging every clause.

2. Fit: Recognising that numbers alone don’t define a good buyer. Cultural alignment, trajectory, treatment of staff, and respect for your brand often matter more than squeezing the last pound out of the cheque. The right fit creates confidence; the wrong fit creates regret.

Throughout the episode, Stephen shares:

• The hidden pain points when sellers lack clarity.

• How control illusions can destroy trust and value.

• Behind-the-scenes insights into how buyers actually evaluate businesses.

• Case stories where sellers chose clarity and fit — and lived without regret.

• Quiet strategies to define your compass long before the first offer.

This episode isn’t about flashy numbers or loud deals. It’s about legacy, peace, and the calm strength that comes from clarity.

If you’re a UK business owner wondering whether your future exit will protect your people, your brand, and your identity, this episode will help you pause, reflect, and prepare.

Listen now, and discover why clarity beats control — and why fit matters more than figures.

Confidentiality is one of the biggest worries for UK business owners thinking about selling.
And it’s often the reason many never start the conversation.

In this calm 90-minute episode of The Quiet Exit Podcast, Stephen McConachie explores the quiet but powerful question:

“Will my competitors know I’m thinking of selling?”

The answer is clear: no.
Because when a business is sold directly, discreetly, and without brokers, your story is never advertised, never marketed, and never pushed into the public domain. Confidentiality isn’t a side note — it’s the centre of how a Quiet Exit works.

Across this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why rumours and leaks feel like the biggest risk to owners — and how to prevent them from ever starting

• The three points in a deal where confidentiality is most fragile, and how to safeguard them

• Why “no broker” means “no auction” — and why that protects your legacy and your reputation

• How buyers like Epitome Capital maintain calm, one-to-one conversations, instead of noisy processes

• A case story of a Midlands engineering firm where the deal remained completely invisible to competitors until after completion

• And a practical tool — the Confidentiality Compass — to help you map where privacy matters most in your own journey

Because the truth is, most exits don’t fail on numbers. They fail on noise. And by keeping your story quiet, you protect not only your valuation, but your dignity, your staff, and your peace of mind.

This is an episode for any owner who has ever thought:
“I’d explore this… if only I knew it would stay private.”

Download today’s resource — the Confidentiality Compass — at epitomecapital.co.uk/quiet-exit-club

A Quiet Exit isn’t about hype. It’s about control. And control starts with confidentiality.

Most owners think valuation is all about EBITDA multiples.
But in a Quiet Exit, the real story is different.

In this 90-minute episode, Stephen McConachie takes you deeper into how businesses are valued when legacy, people, and sustainability matter as much as numbers.

We explore:

• Why free cashflow (FCF) is the cornerstone of valuation

• How multiples (1–3× FCF) shift depending on risk factors

• The role of tangible assets like property, fleet, or equipment

• Why unsecured liabilities reduce the final number — and how to manage them

• How continuity and legacy goals shape the final valuation

• A full case study of a Midlands logistics firm valued at £4.3m

• Practical ways to map your own position before any deal conversations

This isn’t theory. It’s the framework we use directly at Epitome Capital as direct buyers of UK SMEs.

If you’ve ever wondered “What is my business really worth in a Quiet Exit?”, this episode will give you the clarity, tools, and calm perspective to find an answer.

Resource: The Valuation Compass
Available free inside the Quiet Exit Club.
epitomecapital.co.uk/quiet-exit-club

Because value isn’t just financial.
It’s about building a number that respects your business, your people, and your legacy.

How is my business valued in a Quiet Exit?
Most owners think valuation begins and ends with EBITDA multiples. But in a Quiet Exit, the story is different.

In this 30-minute episode, Stephen McConachie takes you inside the Quiet Exit valuation framework:

• Why we focus on sustainable free cashflow (FCF), not inflated profit figures.

• How risk factors like customer concentration, team dependency, and cashflow stability shape the multiple applied (1–3× FCF).

• Why tangible assets — vans, machinery, property, equipment — are valued at fair market worth, not depreciated book value.

• How unsecured liabilities (tax arrears, trade creditors, overdrafts) reduce valuation — and what owners can do to clean them up before conversations begin.

• A full case study walking through the Quiet Exit formula step by step:
  FCF × Multiple + Fair Market Value of Tangible Assets – Unsecured Liabilities

This isn’t about hype or chasing inflated promises.
It’s about clarity, confidence, and fairness.

💡 Key themes in this episode:

• The Quiet Exit approach to valuation

• Free cashflow vs profit as a base for value

• The role of risk in shaping multiples

• Tangible assets as part of legacy, not just numbers

• How liabilities quietly erode value

• A practical reflection exercise to map your risks, assets, and obligations

• The Valuation Compass resource — a one-page tool to help owners see where their value really comes from

👤 Hosted by Stephen McConachie, direct UK buyer and founder of Epitome Capital.
The Quiet Exit Podcast is a calm space for owner-led SMEs in the UK who want to think ahead — quietly.

Explore resources, tools, and reflection sheets inside the Quiet Exit Club:
👉 epitomecapital.co.uk/quiet-exit-club

Because valuation isn’t about chasing the loudest multiple.
It’s about seeing clearly what you’ve built — and handing it on with confidence.

What’s the real number you’ll walk away with when you sell your business?
Not the headline valuation. Not the press release figure. The net proceeds — what actually lands in your account after tax, reliefs, and structures are considered.

In this calm and reflective episode, Stephen McConachie explores the four biggest sources of financial uncertainty for UK business owners preparing for exit:

• Capital Gains Tax (CGT): why rates feel like a moving target, and how clarity prevents panic.

• Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR): how timing, shareholding, and lifetime limits affect your outcome.

• Inheritance Tax (IHT): why selling a business can suddenly expose your estate — and how quiet legacy planning creates peace.

• Remuneration structure post-exit: the overlooked question of how you’ll pay yourself when the business no longer funds your life.

Along the way, Stephen shares real-world stories of owners who faced these uncertainties, the emotional weight behind the numbers, and practical mindset shifts that reduce regret.

If you’ve ever wondered:
“Will I regret selling if I don’t know the net figure?”
“What happens if tax rules change?”
“How do I create rhythm once the business stops paying me?”

…this episode is for you.

Inside the Quiet Exit Club, you’ll also find today’s companion resource:
The Net Proceeds Planner — a simple, calm tool to map CGT, BADR, IHT exposure, and your future remuneration structure, all on one page.

Because selling isn’t just about what you earn.
It’s about what you keep — and how what you keep supports the next chapter.

epitomecapital.co.uk/quiet-exit-club

Economic headwinds are real — and they’re reshaping both trading performance and buyer appetite. In this episode of The Quiet Exit Podcast, Stephen McConachie explores how interest rates, wage pressures, and energy costs ripple through SME deals in the UK — not just on spreadsheets, but in owner mindset and buyer confidence.

Across a calm, practical 90 minutes, you’ll learn:

• Rates: Why higher borrowing costs change leverage, valuation sensitivity, and timing — and how to demonstrate resilience when debt feels heavier.

• Wages: How rising people costs affect margin and morale, what buyers look for (productivity, retention, rationale), and three ways to evidence stability without hype.

• Energy: Why volatile energy bills are a litmus test for adaptability — and how framed responses (“we adapted by…”) reassure buyers more than perfect numbers.

• When headwinds combine: How stacked pressures create fatigue for owners and caution for buyers — and why transparency beats perfection every time.

• Buyer appetite under pressure: The quiet shifts (greater selectivity, valuation discipline, preference for resilient cash flows, deeper interest in culture/retention).

• Mindset & momentum: Practical ways to keep your own rhythm steady so the deal’s rhythm stays steady — including weekly reflection and shared-load practices.

Real, anonymised case stories (manufacturing, logistics, distribution, cleaning services) show how small signals and specific commitments keep deals alive without pressure.

Resource: The Headwinds Resilience Map — a simple tool to map pressures, document adaptations, and present a clear resilience narrative to buyers.
👉 epitomecapital.co.uk/quiet-exit-club

Quiet deals don’t rely on hype. They rely on rhythm, clarity, and evidence of adaptability. Hold the rhythm — and your exit can move calmly, even in heavy weather.

Momentum in business deals is fragile.

It isn’t usually the numbers that cause conversations to stall. It isn’t valuation, tax, or legal terms. More often than not, deals drift because the rhythm breaks — silence creeps in, doubts grow, and both sides begin to wonder if the other is really committed.

In this episode of The Quiet Exit Podcast, Stephen McConachie explores why keeping the momentum in business deals matters more than most owners realise. He breaks down the seven most common stall points that quietly derail otherwise promising exits — and offers calm, practical strategies to prevent them.

You’ll learn:

• Why missing answers create shadows of doubt (and how the 48-Hour Rule restores trust)

• How undefined next steps cut the thread of progress, and how to replace them with clear, specific commitments

• Why overwhelm in the mid-stage of diligence is one of the quietest deal-killers — and the simple way to break the weight into rhythm

• How over-familiarity between owner and buyer creates complacency, and why comfort needs gentle structure to move forward

• What really drives the “last-minute wobble” for both sides, and how to name it without panic

• Why paperwork slowdowns aren’t just about lawyers, but about clarity of principles

• And how to design continuity into the transition so handover hesitation doesn’t stall momentum at the finish line

Through case stories — from Maria’s distribution firm, to David’s logistics company, to Sarah’s commercial cleaning business — Stephen shows how small signals, specific commitments, and steady rhythm keep deals alive without pressure.

You’ll also be introduced to today’s Quiet Exit Club resource: The Momentum Tracker — a simple, calm sheet that helps owners and buyers design weekly rhythm into their conversations, avoiding “quiet drift” and keeping trust alive.

Because in quiet, direct deals, momentum isn’t manufactured with hype. It’s designed with care. And when you hold that rhythm — together — your exit journey feels steady, not rushed.

👉 Access The Momentum Tracker at epitomecapital.co.uk/quiet-exit-club

Not every deal fails because of price.
Most stall quietly — in due diligence, funding, family conversations, or the voices of advisers.

In this episode of The Quiet Exit Podcast, Stephen McConachie explores the most common points where acquisitions stall, why they matter, and how to keep momentum alive without pressure.

Whether you’re thinking of selling this year or simply curious about the process, this calm, grounded conversation will help you prepare for continuity, not chaos.

👉 Plus: a free resource — the Stall Point Map — inside the Quiet Exit Club at epitomecapital.co.uk/quiet-exit-club

Selling your business is rarely just a transaction — it’s a journey. And for many UK business owners, that journey is one they’ve never taken before.

In this episode of The Quiet Exit Podcast, Stephen McConachie walks you step-by-step through navigating the business acquisition process from a seller’s perspective — calmly, clearly, and without the noise.

You’ll learn how to approach each stage with confidence:

• Early Thinking: The questions to ask yourself before you even start conversations, and how to decide whether now is the right time to explore a sale.

• First Contact: What happens in that very first discussion with a serious direct buyer, and how to keep the tone relaxed and exploratory.

• Initial Information Sharing: How to decide what to share, when to share it, and why oversharing too soon can create unnecessary pressure.

• Heads of Terms: What they mean, why they matter, and the crucial details to understand before you sign.

• Due Diligence: Breaking down the process so it doesn’t feel overwhelming — including how to protect your time, energy, and team focus.

• Legal Completion: How to make sure the final agreements reflect your priorities, not just the financials.

• The Handover: Creating a smooth, quiet transition that respects your people, your clients, and the legacy you’ve built.

Throughout, Stephen explains not only the practical steps but the emotional currents that run alongside them — and how to navigate both without losing momentum or perspective.

This is not a crash course in “getting sale ready” or an aggressive push to market. It’s a calm, structured walk through the stages you will encounter, led by a direct buyer who has been on the other side of dozens of successful owner exits.

If you’ve ever thought about selling your business — or simply want to understand what the path might look like — this episode will give you clarity without the noise, and a framework you can revisit whenever you need it.