If you are an accountant, IFA, Solicitor or business adviser you will almost certainly have clients who can benefit from exit strategy planning ("ESP") or from other corporate advisory services we offer, such as start up, mentoring or corporate rescue advice. This page explores ways in which we can work with you to assist your clients better to plan properly for their exit, ensuring that they maximise their after-tax disposal proceeds, or receive specialist corporate service assistance when it is needed.

Working together

We recognise that some intermediaries are reluctant to introduce their clients to outside specialists, as they are concerned about the expertise of the party being introduced, the costs involved and whether they will lose control of the assignment being undertaken.

We are experts in the field of ESP and will always quote in advance for all work to be undertaken. We will usually produce a Diagnostic Report at the commencement of all assignments, which ensures certainty of outcomes and cost for your client. The report will contain recommendations of various steps that clients should undertake and the clients will be referred back to their advisers for implementation of these steps. Introducers will also receive a copy of the diagnostic report. For more information about the report go to the Diagnostic Report page, or you can download the product brochure by clicking here:

The recommended action steps will include a wide range of undertakings (for example, production of a shareholders agreement, a business plan, or a marketing plan), or the need for products (for example, cross insurance, keyman insurance, or a review of pension planning), for which the client will be referred back to the introducer. How the assignment develops from this point will be in the control of the client and the introducer.

Does your client need ESP help? : the key questions

A "yes" to one or more of the questions below could mean that your clients need assistance with their ESP.

• Are they of an age when they are likely naturally to exit their business in the next five years?
• Are they unsure of the issues surrounding exit (namely: What is their business worth? What is their best exit option? What are the impediments to sale in their business? Who are the likely buyers, etc?)
• Have they received an offer for their business and are unsure what to do?
• Is there more than one owner of the business and are they unsure of how to structure the arrangements between them? (In other words, do they need a shareholder's agreement?)
• Does the owner have heirs who he or she is considering bringing into the business?
• Has there been a recent change of circumstances in the business (such as a death of a partner, a divorce, a critical illness?) that will have a substantial influence on the business's future?
• Is one of the shareholders wishing to exit the business (leaving the other in the business), but is unsure how to proceed with this strategy? (For further information on this, refer to the Dispute Resolution page.)

Self-Diagnostic

A very important step in exit planning is to establish what the business owner's aims and aspirations are; in other words, what does he want from his business up to exit and from the exit itself? The business owner can clarify this by completing the Self Diagnostic Form on the Self-Diagnostic page, which he can then discuss with you.

The next steps

Having decided that your client could benefit from our advice, we recommend the following action:

1. Contact us to arrange a free appointment to discuss the client's needs. If your client has completed the Self-Diagnostic Form, send us a copy of this form.
2. Should we believe we could help, we will contact the client to confirm that they require a Diagnostic Report, or Dispute Resolution assistance.
3. On receiving confirmation of this need, we will confirm appointment time and costs, etc., in writing (copy to you) and proceed with the assignment.
4. Where applicable we will provide a diagnostic report within 14 days of the first appointment and send a copy to you. The client, with your assistance, will now be in a position to commence their exit planning.

Does you client require specialist corporate advisory assistance?

If you believe your client requires assistance with start ups, mentoring or financial pressures (including possible insolvency) then you might wish to visit our corporate services website at: www.buckmasterhawkey.com.

To contact us for a free confidential conversation please click on the enquiry form, below.