RSS Feed
What’s Your Exit Strategy?
August 13th, 2026
by Bill Boyajian

All family business owners know that one day they will have to plan an exit strategy. Unfortunately, most also believe that their exit will begin when they decide they’re ready. But it seldom happens that way.

Exits often occur when something or someone decides for them. It could be a major health scare, a family business disagreement, an unsolicited sale offer, or an unsuspected market shift or disruptor, all of which are out of your immediate control. Understanding what you can do about such an unknown event – or what you want to do about it – is a mystery worth solving.

Often, an owner’s thinking is to transition a business to a family member, but knowing or understanding the process and timing of such a plan is missing. Being proactive instead of reactive will help to set your plan in motion in case the unexpected or unplanned event actually occurs.

Planning for an exit should be done in a deliberate and structured way:

  • When do you want to leave?
  • What are you working toward?
  • How will you initiate your plan?
  • Where will you find ultimate contentment?

When answers to these questions are clear, plans become intentional and exit strategies are in the hands of owners, where they should be. If you need help developing your exit strategy, get the outside assistance you need to formulate your plan.

“I needed help orchestrating a succession plan for our business. I had heard that Bill Boyajian specialized in assisting owners to transition their business to the next generation. He knows how to bridge the generation gap and deliver what each needs to hear. I would recommend Bill to any business owner who needs advice on succession planning from a trusted outside professional.”

–Charles Denaburg,
Managing Partner,
Levy’s Fine Jewelry
Birmingham, AL

"Our family needed some guidance on business transition and succession planning. We asked Bill Boyajian to help us because we knew we could trust him to tell us what we needed to hear. Bill became a valuable resource for our company and our entire family. He has the ability to meet each of us where we’re at and it has served us very well."

–Ceylon Leitzel
Leitzel Fine Jewelry
Hershey & Myerstown, PA

“We needed a plan to transition our business to a non-family member and we asked Bill Boyajian to help us. His experience in the area has really paid off, but we didn’t expect the added value of putting us together with a financial planner who helped organize our retirement needs. We now have the fundamentals to transition our business successfully, and we have Bill to thank for it.”

–Ernie & Debbie Cummings
Kizer-Cummings Jewelers
Lawrence, KS