50 Ways to Leave Your Business – A Musical Guide to SME Exits 

🎸 You just slip out the back, Jack… but not before you talk to your Business Growth Adviser. 

If you’re a UK SME owner thinking it’s time to hang up the boots, pour the gin, and sail off into a spreadsheet-less sunset, you’re not alone. Whether you’re dreaming of tropical beaches, tinkering in a shed full of gadgets, or just never want to hear the words “VAT quarter” again, there are – dare we say it – 50 ways to leave your business.

Okay, maybe not 50. But Richard Murray, our Chief Commercial Officer, and massive music fan, sums up the big ones, each with its own rhythm. 

🎶 1. Trade Sale “Just sell it to the man, Stan” 

A full trade sale is the classic breakup. You find a strategic buyer – maybe a rival, maybe a bigger fish – who sees your business as the missing piece of their corporate puzzle. It can be lucrative and feel satisfyingly final.

But like any intense relationship ending, it can be emotional and highly rewarding. Your baby now has a new parent. Just hope they’re not into corporate rebranding and mandatory team-building weekends. 

🎶 2. Partial Exit “Hop off the train, Jane” 

Don’t want to give it all away just yet? A partial sale to an investor (think private equity or growth capital) lets you de-risk and pocket some cash now, while keeping some skin in the game. You might even scale faster with their backing.

This is the “I’m not breaking up, I just need space” of exits. You get a bit of freedom, but you’re still answering calls on Monday morning. 

🎶 3. Management Buy-Out “Let the team take charge, Marge” 

Your trusty managers know the ropes – why not let them take the reins? With a Management Buy-Out (MBO), the people running the business already become the ones who own it.

It’s tidy, it’s loyal, it’s kind of like leaving your dog to someone who actually loves dogs. The team often brings in external finance to help, meaning you can still get paid properly. Just make sure they know what they’re doing, enthusiasm is not a business plan. 

🎶 4. Employee Ownership Trust “Give it to the crew, Sue” 

Want to leave a legacy? An Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) lets you sell the business to your employees via a tax-efficient structure. You get a fair price, they get control, and the business lives on in democratic harmony.

It’s like the business version of moving out and leaving your house to a commune. Slightly idealistic, incredibly tax-friendly, surprisingly sustainable. 

🎶 5. Liquidation “Just close up the shop, Pop” 

Sometimes the cleanest break is the bluntest. If your business has served its purpose, has little resale value, or you just want out now, a solvent liquidation (Members’ Voluntary Liquidation MVL) might be your route.

You wind everything down, distribute the assets, and walk away. It’s tidy, final, and oddly liberating. Like deleting LinkedIn forever and moving to a log cabin. 

🎶 6. Stay Owner, hire a Boss “Let someone else steer, dear” 

Here’s a sneaky option: don’t sell at all. Just appoint a managing director or CEO to run the day-to-day, while you retain ownership and enjoy the dividends. Passive income, no weekly team stand-ups.

This is the “it’s not you, it’s me” approach to exiting. You don’t leave the business, but you absolutely leave the building. 

 

So… what’s your exit anthem?

Every SME exit has its own drumbeat. Whether you’re dancing out drinking champagne, or quietly handing over the keys to the staff, there’s a groove for every move.

And while we’re not suggesting you need 50 options – we are suggesting that you talk to your financial advisor before you “make a new plan, Stan.” Because two things must come together, your timeline and your financial freedom figure. If the exit will not generate enough income for you to retire then you may need to play another tune. But if you know what you need financially, and the legacy that you want to create, then we are confident that we can find the exit option that fits. 

One client I worked with recently explained:

“I wanted some advice based on someone who had knowledge of the market. I felt like I didn’t know enough and really wanted somebody with that expertise and really appreciated the advice from Richard on where to go.”

Until then, keep playing, keep planning – and know that when it comes to leaving your business, *you don’t need to discuss much. Just drop off the key, Lee… and set yourself free.*

Want to explore your options with someone, we promise not to sing! Contact us today.