Business Valuation & Exit Planning Services for UK Owners
Many business owners don’t know what their company is really worth until it’s too late. An unplanned exit often results in missed opportunities, unnecessary tax, or undervaluation during a sale. Whether you’re thinking of retirement, succession, or selling up, knowing your business’s value is essential to protect what you’ve built.
At Total Books, we help you understand, improve, and realise your business value. From accurate valuations to tax-smart exit strategies, we make sure you’re in control every step of the way.
Key Takeaways:
- Get an accurate, market-based valuation of your business.
- Plan your exit with CGT and IHT efficiency in mind.
- Avoid last-minute deals and protect your financial legacy.
- Suitable for SME owners, family-run businesses, and those planning succession or sale.
- We specialise in combining numbers with long-term planning — so you leave on your terms.
What Is Business Valuation & Exit Planning?
Business valuation and exit planning are two critical steps to help you understand what your business is worth and how to exit in the most financially and strategically beneficial way.
A business valuation determines the current market value of your business. This includes assets, liabilities, earnings potential, goodwill, and intangible value. It’s not just for sale scenarios – accurate valuations are essential for succession planning, partnership changes, investment pitches, and tax calculations like Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and Inheritance Tax (IHT).
Exit planning focuses on preparing your business and finances for your departure. Whether you’re retiring, selling to a third party, passing the business to family, or winding down, a structured plan ensures you leave with confidence and minimal tax exposure.
At Total Books, we offer integrated support that aligns your valuation with a practical, tax-efficient exit strategy. We work closely with business owners, helping them plan ahead, increase business value, and secure the best possible outcome when it’s time to step away.
Who We Help
We work with:
SME Directors Nearing Retirement
If you’re approaching retirement, we help you assess your business value, prepare your financials, and explore the best tax-efficient options for exit — whether through sale or wind-down.
Family-Owned Businesses Planning Succession
Handing over to the next generation requires more than good intentions. We help align ownership, tax structures, and long-term strategy, ensuring continuity while protecting family wealth.
Shareholders Exploring a Management Buy-Out (MBO)
Selling to your current leadership team can be a smart exit strategy. We guide both parties through valuation, funding, and governance to make the transition smooth and profitable.
Companies Preparing for Private Equity Investment
For businesses scaling fast, we support readiness for external investment — including financial audits, tax strategy, and presenting a compelling business case.
Professionals Opting for Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs)
If you want your team to take the reins, EOTs offer a tax-free exit route. We handle the structuring, compliance, and valuation so you can focus on legacy and continuity.
We bring over 30 years of hands-on experience helping owners exit well. Your next chapter starts with the right plan.
Our Business Valuation & Exit Services
|
Service Block |
Core Tasks |
Typical Value-Add |
|
Independent Valuation |
EBITDA, DCF, asset-based, break-up |
Credible price for lenders and buyers |
|
Pre-Sale Health Check |
KPI benchmarking, margin review |
Raises valuation multiple |
|
Tax-Efficient Exit |
BADR (10 % CGT), hold-over, EOT, IHT |
Cuts tax on sale proceeds |
|
Due Diligence Pack |
Financial, legal, operational file |
Speeds buyer approval |
|
Deal Structuring |
Heads of Terms, earn-outs, vendor loans |
Balances risk and reward |
|
Succession Advice |
Family trusts, share gifting |
Smooth ownership transition |
|
Post-Exit Wealth Plan |
Investment wrapper, pension top-up |
Protects sale proceeds |
At Total Books, we provide expert valuation and exit planning services to help UK business owners prepare for a confident, tax-efficient transition. Whether you’re selling to a third party, passing the business to family, or retiring completely, our end-to-end approach ensures you unlock the true value of your business while staying compliant with UK tax law.
Independent Business Valuation
Our team uses multiple recognised valuation methods — EBITDA multiples, discounted cash flow (DCF), and asset-based approaches — to ensure an accurate picture of your business worth. In the UK, average EBITDA multiples for SME transactions rose to 5.4× in 2024, with healthcare and pharmacy businesses achieving higher valuations due to stability and essential service status (source: UK Market Data from KPMG and BDO 2024 reports). We adjust for industry, profitability, and market conditions to deliver a realistic yet competitive valuation.
Exit Health Check & Benchmarking
We assess your current performance using key metrics such as gross margin, net profit, revenue per employee, and working capital cycle. These are benchmarked against sector norms to highlight opportunities for valuation uplift. Many business owners leave thousands on the table due to unoptimised systems, poor reporting, or unresolved liabilities — issues we fix before the business goes to market.
Capital Gains Tax and Business Asset Disposal Relief
Changes to CGT rates and Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) from April 2025 mean business owners need to act sooner to protect their proceeds. The BADR lifetime limit remains £1 million, but the CGT rate is set to rise from 10% to 14% in 2025 and potentially to 18% by 2026 (source: UK Budget 2024 and HMRC consultation papers). With correct structuring, we help you maximise this relief and avoid unnecessary liabilities.
Succession and Ownership Transfer Support
We support family-led successions and management buyouts with strategies designed around Business Property Relief (BPR), ensuring assets remain exempt from Inheritance Tax where applicable. Pharmacy owners often pass their business to children or long-term staff — we create tax-efficient share gifting or trust arrangements aligned with HMRC’s rules.
Deal Structuring and Legal Readiness
We support share sales, asset sales, earn-outs, and Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs). Our advisors help assess which option aligns best with your personal and financial goals. We also prepare pre-sale information packs — including financials, HR, legal compliance, and trading contracts — so buyers can conduct fast, confident due diligence.
Post-Exit Wealth Preservation
Once your sale completes, we help you reinvest wisely. Whether through pension funding, ISAs, investment bonds, or family trusts, our team collaborates with wealth advisers to protect your exit proceeds and plan for long-term growth, tax efficiency, and IHT mitigation.
Why Our Clients Choose Total Books
Benefits of Planning Ahead
Planning your business exit early puts you in control of timing, tax, and transition — rather than reacting under pressure or missing opportunities. Here’s how early planning delivers measurable advantages:
- Achieve a Higher Sale Price
By strengthening your financial reporting, cleaning up liabilities, and aligning your performance with buyer expectations, you increase valuation multiples. In 2024, UK SMEs with standardised reporting and forward cash flow visibility sold for 15–20% more than comparable businesses without it (source: UK SME Deal Tracker, 2024). - Reduce Tax Through Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR)
Early planning ensures you qualify for the full £1 million BADR limit — reducing CGT from 20% to 10%. But HMRC requires qualifying conditions to be met for 24 months before the disposal, which is why last-minute changes can disqualify relief. We structure your ownership and shareholding with time to spare. - Speed Up Sale With Ready-to-Go Due Diligence
Buyers move quicker and offer fewer discounts when your business has clear records, compliant contracts, and no hidden risks. We prepare clean, digital due diligence packs covering accounts, payroll, taxes, leases, and supplier/customer agreements, reducing the average deal time by up to 40%. - Smoother Handover for Staff and Clients
Transitions that are rushed often result in staff uncertainty and customer loss. With the right succession or buyer strategy in place early, you retain goodwill, reduce turnover, and ensure continuity of service. We help document key processes, responsibilities, and leadership succession plans for a stable transition. - Protect Family Wealth and Legacy
For family-run businesses, a well-planned exit ensures wealth passes across generations without triggering unexpected IHT or CGT charges. Structuring through family trusts, Business Property Relief (BPR), and early share transfers can preserve more of your legacy and keep the business in trusted hands.
Why Choose Total Books
- Chartered accountants with 30+ years combined exit experience
- Sector-specific comparables for accurate SME multiples
- In-house tax team covers CGT, IHT, BADR, and share schemes
- Local insight across Cardiff, Newport, and Bristol deal markets
Cloud reporting tools give you live valuation drivers
Book a Free Consultation with an experienced business valuation expert
Book a free 15-minute exit readiness review. Get your current valuation range and a checklist of next steps to maximise sale value.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does early planning increase the value of a business sale?
Planning ahead improves your valuation by strengthening financial visibility, reducing buyer risk, and aligning your business to market expectations. UK SMEs with well-prepared accounts and clean operational processes sell up to 15–20% higher than unprepared firms (UK SME Deal Tracker, 2024).
Can I pay less Capital Gains Tax when selling my business?
Yes, early exit planning helps you qualify for Business Asset Disposal Relief (formerly Entrepreneurs’ Relief), which reduces CGT to 10% on gains up to £1 million. You must meet ownership and role requirements for 24 months before the sale to benefit fully.
Why does due diligence preparation matter in a business exit?
Well-prepared due diligence files reduce buyer concerns and speed up completion. Buyers typically reduce offers when they find gaps or inconsistencies. Having clean digital records of finances, contracts, and tax compliance can shorten deal time by up to 40%.
How can succession planning protect my employees and customers?
Succession planning avoids disruption by keeping operations stable during handover. By documenting key staff roles, responsibilities, and service processes in advance, you increase the likelihood of customer retention and employee trust after the sale.
Does exit planning help preserve family wealth?
Yes. Planning enables the use of tax-efficient strategies like Business Property Relief, trust structures, and early gifting. This protects your family from unnecessary CGT or IHT, especially for multi-generational pharmacy or retail businesses.
What’s the ideal time to start planning an exit?
Start 2–3 years before your intended sale or succession. This allows time to clean up finances, qualify for tax reliefs, and restructure your business if needed. Rushed exits often result in lower sale prices and missed tax-saving opportunities.
