Exit Planning and Strategy That Protects What You Built
You have spent years building your business. How you leave it determines how much you keep. ABM Chartered Accountants helps you plan a tax-efficient exit, whether you are selling, passing on, or winding down, so you walk away with the maximum value.
Plan Your Exit Before You Reach It
Exit planning is not something to start when a buyer appears. It should begin 12 to 36 months before the sale to maximise value and minimise tax. ABM Chartered Accountants helps you prepare your business, confirm your BADR eligibility, structure the deal, and choose the right exit route for your goals.
Our ICAEW and ACCA qualified accountants advise on trade sales, management buyouts, employee ownership trusts, family succession, and company liquidations. We model the tax consequences of each option, time the disposal to use available reliefs, and make sure your financial records are ready for buyer scrutiny.
What Our Exit Planning Service Covers
From valuing your business to advising on life after the sale, here is how ABM Chartered Accountants helps you exit with the best possible financial outcome.
Business Valuation
Establishing a realistic valuation for your business based on earnings, assets, and market position.
Tax-Efficient Structuring
Structuring your exit to minimise CGT using BADR, reliefs, and the most favourable disposal timing.
BADR Planning
Confirming your eligibility for Business Asset Disposal Relief and protecting it ahead of your sale.
Succession Options
Reviewing trade sales, MBOs, EOTs, and family succession to find the best route for your exit.
Deal Preparation
Getting your financial records, management accounts, and legal documents ready for buyer scrutiny.
Post-Sale Advisory
Advising on CGT reporting, proceeds planning, and reinvestment options after your business is sold.
Leave on Your Terms With the Most Value
The tax cost of a poorly planned exit is significant. From April 2026, qualifying gains under BADR are taxed at 18 percent, up from 14 percent in 2025/26. Standard CGT rates sit at 24 percent for higher-rate taxpayers. ABM Chartered Accountants plans your disposal to use every available relief and structure the timing correctly.
Beyond tax, exit planning protects the commercial value of your business. Clean financial records, normalised earnings, and a well-prepared management team all increase what a buyer is willing to pay. We help you get the business ready for sale so you negotiate from a position of strength.
Exit Planning for Business Owners Right Across the UK
Based in Canary Wharf, London, ABM Chartered Accountants provides exit planning and strategy to business owners throughout the UK. Our advisory is delivered through structured meetings and clear financial modelling.
Exit Planning for Every Type of Business
We advise on exit strategy for businesses in professional services, technology, construction, property, retail, manufacturing, and healthcare. Every sector has its own valuation drivers and tax considerations that shape the exit.
Why Owners Choose ABM Chartered Accountants for Exit Planning
Chartered Exit Advisors
ICAEW and ACCA qualified with exit planning depth.
BADR Eligibility Protected
Relief confirmed and preserved well before disposal day.
Maximum Value Retained
Tax structured so you keep the maximum amount.
How We Work
Initial Consultation
Set Up and Onboard
Ongoing Support
We provide regular reviews and proactive advice to keep your finances optimised and HMRC-compliant.
Get in Touch Today
Whether you need help with your tax return, payroll, VAT, or business advisory, our qualified UK accountants are ready to provide clear, practical guidance for your specific needs.
Book a Consultation
Fill in the form below and one of our expert accountants will contact you promptly to discuss your accounting and tax requirements.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to the exit planning questions we hear most often. Contact our team for tailored guidance.
When should I start planning my exit?
Ideally, 12 to 36 months before you plan to sell. This gives time to confirm BADR eligibility, clean up your financial records, normalise your earnings, and structure the business in a way that maximises its value to buyers.
What is Business Asset Disposal Relief?
BADR reduces the CGT rate on qualifying business disposals to 18 percent from April 2026, compared with the standard rate of 24 percent for higher-rate taxpayers. It applies to gains up to a 1 million pound lifetime limit. ABM Chartered Accountants checks and protects your eligibility.
What exit routes are available to me?
The main options are a trade sale to a third party, a management buyout, a sale to an employee ownership trust, family succession, or a members’ voluntary liquidation. ABM Chartered Accountants models the tax and commercial outcome of each to help you choose.
How is Capital Gains Tax calculated on a business sale?
CGT is charged on the gain, which is the sale price minus your base cost and allowable expenses. From April 2026, the rate is 18 percent on qualifying BADR gains and up to 24 percent on non-qualifying gains. The annual exempt amount for 2025/26 is 3,000 pounds.
Can I sell to my employees through an EOT?
Yes. Selling to an employee ownership trust can still provide CGT relief, although from November 2025 only 50 percent of the gain is exempt. The remaining 50 percent is taxable at standard CGT rates. ABM Chartered Accountants advises whether an EOT is the right route for you.
How much does exit planning cost?
Fees depend on the complexity of your business, the exit route chosen, and the level of deal preparation required. We offer fixed-fee packages for exit planning reviews and ongoing advisory. Contact ABM Chartered Accountants for a tailored quote.