Avoid This Before You Sell

July 15, 2025

At some point, you will exit your business, whether it’s voluntary or not.

And you're not just selling a company; you're transitioning a piece of your identity. Your business is an embodiment of your passion, hard work, and aspirations.

Controlling your emotions (and ego) is one of the hardest aspects of running – and exiting – your business.

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 fourth of ten ‘Do This Before You Sell’ articles I’ve developed to help you navigate your business exit without all the pain…

Today’s Question:

What should you avoid before you sell?

Here’s the Twist . . .

“I’m just done! I’ve had it with the daily frustrations, demanding clients, and bending over backwards to keep my staff happy. I want to spend my time on people and things I’m more passionate about. I just want out!” (This is a direct quote from an accountant we’ll call Carla.)

Just like our business evolves over time, so do our wants and desires. What is most important to us – who we want to spend time with – the type of impact we want to have – all change as we transition into new stages.

But beware: just because you feel emotionally frazzled doesn’t mean you should make a fast, difficult, costly decision. Those are the types of decisions we quickly regret because they undermine our security, agency, and finances.

Think of it this way…

Would you abandon the home you own when you’re ready to move on?

Of course not! There is real value tied up in your home – much like the value locked inside your business.

Abandoning your business (otherwise known as ‘closing the doors’) undermines all your hard work and accomplishments.

But that feeling of ‘wanting out’ is real and painful. It feels like you’ve hit a brick wall.

On top of that, all the uncertainty feels risky and scary, and it can feel like you are leaving your life’s work, your impact, and your legacy in the hands of fate.

While emotions can cause problems when making major decisions, using your powers of intuition and perception (tuning into ourselves and others) become critical to your success.

So avoid this before you sell: making decisions based on emotions.

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.