Pittsburgh, PA - Fragasso Financial Advisors has released a new online guide to help business owners take the right initial steps when preparing to exit their business. Titled “Exiting Your Business: Initial Steps to Prepare for a Smooth and Successful Transition,” the guide is designed to provide structure, clarity, and confidence to owners navigating one of the most significant financial decisions of their lives.
The resource outlines early-stage exit planning strategies and offers a checklist business owners can use to assess their current readiness. It is now available on Fragasso’s website and is part of the firm’s ongoing effort to provide education and planning tools for privately held business owners across the region.
“Exit planning isn’t just for when you’re ready to sell,” said Bryan Reft, CFP®, CEPA®, MBA, financial advisor at Fragasso. “It’s about asking the right questions well in advance. Are you financially ready to exit? Is your business ready for a new owner? Do you understand your options?”
These are the types of questions the new guide helps with answering. It walks business owners through two key areas:
- Personal and Financial Readiness – Is the owner emotionally prepared to step away from the business? Do they understand how much income will be needed in retirement and whether the business can support it?
- Business Attractiveness and Value – What is the business currently worth, and what steps can be taken to improve that value before putting it on the market?
The guide stresses that successful business exits are rarely accidental. Without a defined plan in place, business owners often find themselves caught off guard - whether by health events, burnout, or unsolicited offers. In many cases, the absence of planning can lead to a lower valuation or terms that don’t align with the owner’s goals.
According to Fragasso, starting the process early can help avoid those outcomes. Exit planning is more than a transaction; it’s about setting a timeline, assembling the right team of advisors, and aligning business strategy with personal long-term goals.
“Whether the goal is to sell to an outside buyer, transition the business to a family member, or implement an internal succession plan, the steps you take in the next one to three years will shape the outcome,” Reft added.
As part of the new guide, Fragasso also includes a downloadable “Business Exit Readiness Checklist” to help owners begin evaluating their situation today. The checklist is a practical tool that highlights common gaps and helps prioritize the next steps.
Fragasso Financial Advisors has extensive experience working with business owners on evaluating their personal, financial and professional goals and increasing the value and marketability of their business. The firm’s advisors include Certified Exit Planning Advisors (CEPAs) who understand both the technical and personal sides of exit planning.
Investment advice offered by investment advisor representatives through Fragasso Financial Advisors, a registered investment advisor.
About Fragasso Financial Advisors, Inc.
Fragasso Financial Advisors, Inc. operates as an independent, primarily fee-based, employee-owned financial advisory establishment. Since its inception in 1972, the firm has been providing personalized financial planning and investment management services to individuals, non-profit organizations, and businesses. With a focus on long-term relationships and a commitment to providing an exceptional client experience, Fragasso Financial Advisors is a fiduciary, acting in their clients’ best interests with every decision.
Media Contact
Name
Fragasso Financial Advisors
Contact name
Marsha Posset
Contact phone
412-227-3206
Contact address
3402 Washington Road, Suite 301
City
McMurray
State
PA
Zip
15317
Country
United States
Url
https://www.fragassoadvisors.com/
