Find This Before You Sell

July 01, 2025

I see women business owners get hurt and hustled. All. The. Time. I feel protective of my clients and colleagues.

So, I’m sharing tangibles for women to believe, find, prioritize, avoid, fix, keep secret, learn, lose, negotiate, and plan before you sell. This is the second of ten ‘Do This Before You Sell’ articles I’ve developed to help you navigate your business exit without all the pain.

Finding people you trust is one of the most complex and difficult dilemmas of owning a business.

Do you trust people too quickly, or are you at the opposite end of the spectrum, trusting no one until they’ve proved themselves over and over?

Today’s Question:

How can you find trustworthy advisors who care as much about your company as you do?

Here’s the Twist . . .

Every person I know has been burned at some point – including me.

When a confidante breaks your trust, it hurts and shakes your confidence. You may question how and why you decided to trust that person, and how you can do better next time.

That feeling of betrayal can really linger.

My advice is to stop listening to the marketing hype. Some people are great marketers and convince people to buy from them. Many times, they fail to deliver on their promises – and we’ve all heard (or experienced!) the horror stories.

Go to people you already trust, who have proved themselves time and again. Ask for direct introductions to specific advisors and then talk to people who have worked with that advisor directly.

For example, if you are looking for a new accountant:

ask your trusted colleagues for introductions
speak with the accountant and ask for references
check to see if the accountant has any complaints filed with the state licensing board
speak with their references and ask thoughtful questions. Most accountants are technically accurate, but are they ethical, responsive, good at answering questions without the accounting jargon?

For my clients, I serve as a kind of quarterback, coordinating with their existing accountants, attorneys, insurance brokers, and other experts – or helping them find new trusted advisors.

The complexities of a business sale require specialized advisors who have the knowledge and experience to successfully guide the seller and buyer to a successful outcome. My finding and coordinating these brokers, attorneys, accountants, and valuation experts helps my clients build an expert team.

So find this before you sell: an advocate who is looking out for your best interests. One who will help you build the business’ value to its highest level and views the sale of your company as the emotional journey it is.

Now What?

Are you stuck in your Second Act?

Have you built a profitable and valuable business but instead of feeling like there's something missing, you’re feeling like there's something more?

If you’ve built an accounting firm, a law firm, a financial services firm, a psychology practice, or a specialty consulting firm that is generating $1 million to $10 million in annual revenue, you are in a prime market.

Larger firms and companies are growing by buying other firms. This has long been the case, but we’re seeing a higher rate than ever.

In a tragic twist, I see too many women who actually lose their company instead of exiting on their own terms. The exit process is filled with pitfalls and complex issues – especially for women.

I’ve built my business as an advocate, and I specialize in helping women founders transition to their Third Act – when you’re ready to do the work you’ve always longed to do.

As your advocate, by definition, I’m looking out for your best interests. I am not taking a brokerage fee, commission, or equity. I am not motivated by how quickly the exit moves or the final dollar amounts. I want what you want – and will help you get it.

Are you ready to exit your business on your terms?

That requires a new way of thinking, new skills, a simple and elegant design, and an advocate by your side. Contact me to learn more.

How exit-ready are you? Find out at: http://she-exits.com/

The ‘Do This Before You Sell’ Series of Articles, by Patty Block

A Note from Patty...

My life’s work is empowering high-achieving women business owners to fine-tune their operations and scale their revenue for strategic growth, creating real business value and emerging exit ready. That value can transform into wealth when they are ready to exit their company - and I believe that wealth in the hands of women elevates society as a whole.