The Exit Question: Highest Offer or Best Fit?
The Ripple Effect: February
Hello friends,
February has me craving a bit of fresh energy in the middle of a long winter. It’s the weird time of year where the excitement of a new year is past, but we’re not quite to spring yet. This month, we’re thinking about what it looks like to gently pick up momentum again:
—> revisiting the plans we made, tweaking what no longer fits, and taking one or two simple steps that make your eventual exit - and the life around it - feel a bit more spacious and intentional.
In this month’s edition, we’re focused on that intentionality as you think about your exit and what’s next for your business.
Co-Founders, Ripples Edge Advisors
Ripples in Action
In a recent Exit Exploration Workshop, we sat down with a founder who cared as much about his people and clients as he did about the headline sale price. He could see two possible paths ahead: a sale to an external buyer, or a transition to an internal successor team. Both were on the table, and both came with real trade-offs.
On one side of the whiteboard, we mapped an external sale:
higher valuation,
possibility of rollover equity,
and a quicker exit window with more immediate liquidity.
On the other side, we modeled an internal transition:
stronger continuity for clients,
better preservation of team culture,
the potential for more cash at close (in his case),
with a structure that rewarded the next generation of leaders.
Seeing both versions side by side helped turn vague “what ifs” into concrete options he could actually compare.
By the end of the Workshop, it became clear that if an internal path was viable, that was his preferred route. Legacy, relationships, and how the business would feel after he left mattered more than squeezing every last dollar out of the deal.
—> So, we built his roadmap around that priority: first exploring and strengthening the internal buyer pathway, while still keeping external options in view if needed.
The real work wasn’t just choosing a buyer type; it was aligning the exit plan with his values and long-term priorities. When the map is built around what matters most to the owner—not just the numbers—it becomes much easier to make decisions they won’t second-guess later on.
Action Shots from our recent Exit Exploration Workshop. When there’s no white board available, you improvise with drafting paper and scotch tape!
Exit Essentials
When we talk about exit readiness, it’s easy to default to numbers - valuation, timing, tax impact. For some owners, just as important are the relationships that will live with your decision long after the deal closes: your team, your clients, your family, and your future self.
This month’s exercise is a Relationship Audit:
List your top 3 relationships tied to the business.
These might be specific people (key leaders, a business partner) or groups (team, clients, family).
For each one, write one sentence about what you hope is true for them after you exit.
Examples: “Our long-time clients still feel taken care of.”
“My leadership team has real opportunity, not just more stress.”
“My family feels relieved, not blindsided.”
Circle the one relationship that feels the most at risk in an eventual sale.
Ask: what is one small step I can take this quarter to make the outcome I want more likely? That might be training a successor, documenting a client transition plan, or simply starting a candid conversation.
You don’t have to solve everything in one go. But getting clear on who you’re protecting - and how you want them to experience your exit - makes it much easier to choose between paths like an internal or external buyer later on.
Making Waves
Here’s where you can find members of our team, both digitally and in person:
Alex Seydel joined Steve McGarry on TheExit Podcast, presented by Flippa, “Exit Strategy or Identity Crisis? Why Most Founders Sell to the Wrong Buyer (and How to Fix It)”
Coming soon…We’re rolling out a small group version of our Exit Exploration Workshop! All of the incredible work and value from our Exit Exploration in a small group setting where you can share the cost and collaborate with peer business owners.
2026 Referral Program
If you haven’t seen this year, Ripples Edge Advisors launched a Referral Program as a way to show our gratitude for your trust in us. For each client you send our way ($5,000 minimum spend), we’ll give you the choice of the following:
$1,000 credit towards an Exit Exploration Workshop for you and your team
$500 cash
$500 donation to a charity of your choice
We appreciate your trust and the opportunity to help your clients and friends ensure their legacy.
We’d love to hear from you!
Thank you for sp
This.
ending a few minutes with us this month and for letting these questions about legacy and relationships ride along with you. If this sparked a thought or a “hm, that’s me,” feel free to hit reply and share what’s on your mind.
