When business owners start talking about selling, it’s usually something they’ve thought about for years. If 2026 is your target, now is the time to get serious about a real plan. There’s more to exiting than handing over the keys. Your taxes, your bookkeeping, and your personal money situation all play a role in how this transition goes.
Planning ahead helps make sure your work pays off, not just in the long run but right now too. From reducing what you owe in taxes to setting yourself up for what’s next, financial decisions made in 2025 will follow you into and through your exit. That’s why having a solid approach to financial advisory for business owners really matters. With time still on your side, your focus can shift from cleanup to strategy, and from stress to clarity.
Building a Two-Year Exit Timeline
Selling or retiring in 2026 doesn’t mean you wait until that year to start taking action. Getting your planning in motion now helps in more ways than one.
• Starting in 2025 gives you space to spot and fix issues without rushing. This includes organizing past records, understanding your business value, and trimming down anything that doesn’t support that number.
• Ask yourself what your business would look like to someone seeing it for the first time. Are your numbers easy to pull up? Can someone step in and understand how things work without you there?
• If ownership is being handed off to a relative, business partner, or employee, those discussions should start sooner rather than later. Even more so if there are legal or financial steps needed to make the transition smooth.
It’s smart to loop in support: financial, legal, and possibly operational while things are still steady. That way, when emotions run high during the sale, the pieces are already in place.
Small Business Tax Strategies Before Exit
One of the biggest levers you can pull before exiting is how you manage taxes in your final full year of business. Done right, some of those decisions could save you money right away.
• Look for write-offs that help bring down this year’s income. Are there business expenses you were planning to make in early 2026? It might make sense to move those into 2025 instead.
• Think about any upgrades to office space, tech, marketing tools, or professional services. If those help the business now and future owners later, the timing might be perfect.
• Understand what the IRS will consider a gain when you sell. The way your business is structured can influence the taxes owed on a sale. Knowing that now can help you prepare instead of getting surprised when filing begins.
Good planning here isn’t about loopholes. It’s about smart timing and matching expenses with income before your books close for good.
Understanding the Financial Story Buyers Will See
Buyers aren’t just looking at profits. They’re looking at patterns, paperwork, and any loose ends that will take energy to fix. You want those records to tell a story of stability, not confusion.
• If your books are messy, now’s the last real window to clean them up. Buyers want to see consistency in revenue, predictable expenses, and systems that don’t need reinventing.
• Paper trails matter, especially when it comes to payroll, vendor payments, inventory tracking, and client contracts. These details help paint a picture of how well things are run.
• Clear financials put buyers at ease and can even bump up your sale price. That’s where financial advisory for business owners can help, showing you not just the numbers, but the story they tell.
A well-documented record builds confidence. It doesn't just help the buyer, it gives you leverage in final meetings.
Preparing Your Personal Financial Picture
When the business sells or steps into new hands, what happens to the owner? That’s something that can get lost in the shuffle if we aren’t looking far enough ahead.
• Make sure your retirement plans are lined up with the exit timing. If you’ll be relying on business income until then, map out what comes next and when those other funds kick in.
• Consider how your income changes once you’re no longer signing paychecks. Without a business pulling in cash monthly, you may need to rely on savings, retirement accounts, or new work.
• Health insurance, taxes after the sale, and daily living costs all need to be factored in. These changes can affect your household budget quickly if you’re not ready.
The goal here isn’t just to sell well, but to feel secure, steady, and confident in the years that follow.
What to Expect After Closing
Life after a successful sale looks different for everyone, but there are a few money matters that tend to pop up no matter what your next step is.
• You’ll still have one more tax season to deal with, and it might be a big one. In many cases, the year after a business sale comes with extra forms and higher one-time income that needs careful reporting.
• Keeping a trusted advisor around during this phase can be helpful. They can help figure out the smartest way to use the money from the sale, whether you roll it into investments, savings, or your next business.
• Some owners jump into consulting or part-time coaching. Others go all-in on retirement or let their money make money through interest or dividends. Thinking about that now saves time and stress later.
Having ideas for what comes after closing gives your whole plan more purpose. You're not just ending a chapter, you’re shaping the next one before it begins.
Kansas City’s Integrated Advisory for Exit Success
At Derks Financial, small business owners receive coordinated support from a team that understands both personal and business needs. The Lee’s Summit-based firm offers integrated tax planning, bookkeeping, and investment advisory, making it easier for entrepreneurs in the Kansas City metro to prep records for buyers, structure their sales favorably, and safeguard retirement transitions. The team brings specialization in business exits, helping owners clarify financials, address compliance, and tackle year-end strategies every step of the way.
As you gear up for your 2026 business exit, the importance of having expert guidance cannot be overstated. At Derks Financial, we specialize in offering comprehensive
financial advisory for business owners to ensure a smooth transition. Let us help you craft a strategic plan that reduces surprises and maximizes your financial benefits. Contact us today to set your exit plan in motion with confidence.
