Keep This Secret Before You Sell

July 29, 2025

Becoming exit ready is not a one-time event when you’ve reached a certain revenue milestone or financial target.

It is a strategic and ongoing process that sets the stage for a smooth transition, maximizing business value, and ensuring your legacy endures.

But an ongoing process means keeping a big secret over a long period of time – sometimes years. Change can be hard – and scary – especially for your staff and clients.

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 sixth 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:

How can you balance secrecy and stability while planning your exit?

Here’s the Twist . . .

Be careful who, when, and where you talk to people about your exit. It may sound obvious, but deals are sunk when confidential information is shared with the wrong people.

Use non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with everyone you speak with and only disclose information to those who need to know.

Don’t have these conversations in public spaces, like a restaurant or bar – or in your office, if you can be overheard. The last thing you need is the rumor mill working to spook clients and send your staff running to find new jobs.

Confiding in a key staff member early in the process is a common mistake I see owners make.

I have no doubt that person is reliable and trustworthy – but they can’t possibly be objective. Their livelihood and position are on the line. Their stability is being rocked, and they are not able to offer relevant advice.

Turning to a spouse or life partner for advice is equally destabilizing. They can’t offer knowledgeable advice and will have their own feelings about what’s happening.

Women who have successfully exited their business have shared with me that the most successful way forward was having a trusted, knowledgeable business advisor who could be objective and caring.

That’s the role I fill, helping the owner with the practical, emotional, confidential, and logistical puzzles that pop up in the exit process.

So keep this secret before you sell: everything related to your desires, plans, frustrations, celebrations, and progress in transitioning out of your business.

There will come a time that you can shout out to the world – when the deal is done and you know what will happen next.

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.