Often the primary long-term goal of business ownership is to increase personal wealth to achieve financial independence. Wealth can consist of non-financial assets valued to show a high net worth. But financial independence requires liquidity. Liquidity is achieved when readily available liquid assets are held at a low risk of loss. Non-financial assets such as home equity and business equity are non-liquid and held at risk, as are financial assets such as stock and bond portfolios. How does the business owner reach this goal of financial independence? The simple and direct answer is to sell the business interest to convert non-liquid business equity to liquid assets.

The more you prepare to sell your business, the more it will be worth when the business interest transfers. This perspective is prior diligence, a unique method for analyzing your business. Manage your business to be ready for sale at the highest value.