Prepare your business for sale, then sell it with your eyes open
A complete exit-readiness kit for owners of private businesses who want to sell in the next one to three years, and who want to know their number, close the value gap and compare offers on what they are really worth.
- A 23-sheet Exit-Ready Workbook: 0-4 value-driver self-assessment, gap-to-action plan, add-backs, valuation ranges, your number and value gap, data room index, evidence register, RACI, roadmap, crosswalk and a five-chart dashboard
- A 9-sheet Business Case and Offer Calculator: sell as is or prepare first, and offers compared on risk-weighted value and cash in hand after tax
- Five fillable forms and seven Word documents, including a sign-off memo, a confidentiality protocol, teaser, CIM, NDA and heads-of-terms templates, 38 messages and 27 AI prompts
- A 36-month roadmap calendar, a 40-task board, a 45-minute deal team briefing and a 14-question LMS-ready knowledge check
The Exit-Ready Kit · Bodhih Pro Kits · 317 by Bodhih Training, trainers to 2,000+ companies since 2008.
How do you prepare a business for sale?
Set your number (the cash you need after tax and fees), score the value drivers buyers price, close the gap with 12 to 36 months of dated actions, tidy the books and evidence every add-back, build the data room, then run the sale with good advisers. The Exit-Ready Kit from Bodhih Training gives you every file for each step.
Want the full free guide first? Read How to Prepare Your Business for Sale: A 12 to 36 Month Plan.
You already feel the problem. Here is what it is costing you.
You do not know what it is worth
A number from a trade show is not a valuation. Without your own view of earnings, add-backs and risk, you cannot judge a broker's pitch or a buyer's offer.
The business runs through you
Every big decision and key relationship sits with the owner. Buyers price that as risk, and some walk away. Fixing it takes time, which is why preparation starts years before the sale.
The books are built for the tax return
Buyers test monthly earnings, add-backs and working capital. Gaps found in diligence cost money and trust.
Offers are hard to compare
A higher headline can be worth less once escrow, earn-outs, rollover and seller notes are counted. You need to see cash in hand after tax.
Picture the next few weeks with the kit open beside you.
Imagine the evening you open the Exit-Ready Workbook for the first time. You type your number into Settings, score fourteen value drivers with two people who will tell you the truth, and read one line on the Value gap sheet: the distance between what the business is worth today and the price your life after it needs.
As you fill the Value plan over the next few weeks, notice how the gap becomes a list of jobs with names and dates: a second leader with written authority, the big contract renewed on terms that survive a sale, monthly accounts a buyer's accountant can trust, every add-back with its evidence in the data room.
When the letters of intent arrive, you put each one into the Offers sheet and see what it is really worth once deferred money is weighted for risk and time. You walk the best one down to cash in your hand after tax, and you take that view to your adviser before you sign anything.
Whether you start with the Start-here map tonight or the goals worksheet with your spouse or partner this weekend, the first step is small and the file for it is already open.
23 files that do the work for you
The e-book shows you how. The tools make it happen. Here is exactly what you download.
The Exit-Ready Kit (e-book, PDF)
The guide: methods, worked examples, scripts and exercises
Start here: the Exit-Ready map
The whole job on one page, your first hour, your first week, the 36-month plan in phases and the brand-it box.
Exit-Ready Workbook
23-sheet master workbook: settings, value-driver self-assessment (0-4), gap-to-action view, value plan, financials, add-backs, valuation ranges, your number and value gap, customers, KPIs, data room index, evidence register, decision log, buyer list, diligence tracker, RACI, roadmap, crosswalk, official sources, What changed, glossary and a dashboard with five charts and traffic lights.
Business Case and Offer Calculator
Nine-sheet calculator: inputs, preparation costs, a three-scenario business case (sell as is, plan works, plan stalls), an offer comparison with risk-weighted value, net proceeds from headline to cash in hand, a seller-note schedule, an earn-out tester and a dashboard with three charts.
Owner goals and number worksheet
Three pages: what you want from the sale and from life after it, the family and successor questions, and the arithmetic of your number (the cash you need after tax and fees).
Adviser selection scorecard
Interview and score business brokers or M&A advisers, deal lawyers and accountants on the same questions, then record fees and the decision.
Buyer meeting prep and debrief
Prepare for a buyer call or management meeting, then record what you learned and the follow-ups the same day.
Offer and LOI comparison sheet
Lay up to three indications of interest or letters of intent side by side on price, structure, conditions and fit, then record your decision and the points to negotiate.
Completion and transition checklist
Three pages: the run-up to completion, completion day and announcements, and the transition plan with handover sign-off.
Exit decision and sign-off memo
A short decision memo for the three big decision points (prepare, go to market, sign a letter of intent) with the numbers, options, risks and a sign-off table for owners, spouse or partner and board.
Deal confidentiality and communication protocol
A policy and procedure starter for the inner circle: who knows, code name, rules for everyone, information release stages, what to do if the news leaks, records and an acknowledgement table.
Sale documents pack: teaser, CIM, NDA and heads of terms
Four working templates in the order a buyer meets them: an anonymous teaser with a worked example, an NDA discussion sheet for your lawyer, a ten-section CIM outline and a heads-of-terms (LOI) discussion sheet.
Exit message library
38 emails, chat messages and spoken scripts: advisers, family and the inner circle, buyers and outreach, confidentiality and leaks, employees, customers and suppliers, completion and after.
Worked example pack: Harlow Creek Heating & Air
The kit's main files completed for one fictional composite case (Dave, 61, a 35-person HVAC services firm in Ohio): goals and number, self-assessment, add-backs, valuation and value gap, value plan, business case, three letters of intent, net proceeds and the announcement plan.
AI prompt pack for selling a business
27 tool-agnostic prompts across ten stages of the sale, each with what to paste in and what to check, plus five human-review rules for confidential deal work.
Deal team briefing session plan and answer key
A 45-minute session plan for the inner circle with timings, facilitator notes, a holding-statement practice and the printable answer key for the 14-question knowledge check.
Numbers that matter: the exit KPI card
Fourteen numbers an exit runs on: plain meaning, formula, where each lives in the workbooks and what to do if it moves, plus a flow of how they connect.
Exit options and deal terms decision card
If-this-then-consider table for seven exit routes, five questions to read any offer and a deal terms decoder.
Exit mistakes to avoid
Twelve common mistakes with what to do instead, a pre-signing check and five buyer red flags.
Exit rules by country (November 2026)
Dated orientation sheet: US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, EU, India and the Gulf. Correct at November 2026; check the official source and your adviser.
36-month exit roadmap calendar
57 calendar events from the plan start: roadmap milestones, monthly then quarterly reviews, six-monthly re-scores, quarterly rules checks and two team briefings. Import into Google Calendar, Outlook or Apple Calendar.
Exit task board (CSV import)
40 tasks across the five phases with owner role, due month, status and labels, ready to import into Trello, Asana, Notion, Planner, Monday or Jira.
Knowledge check (LMS-ready CSV)
14 scenario questions for the deal team briefing, in a seven-column CSV that imports into Bodhih LMS or any LMS (question, four options, correct letter, explanation).
Chapter by chapter
Each chapter opens with a real situation, gives you a method and ends with something to do today, using the tools in your kit.
- Format
- PDF e-book + XLSX + fillable PDF + DOCX + PDF cheat sheets + ICS + CSV
- Files
- 23 files plus a one-click ZIP
- E-book
- 68 pages
- Works with
- Excel, Google Sheets, Apple Numbers, LibreOffice, Word, Google Docs, Acrobat Reader, Google Calendar, Outlook, Apple Calendar, Trello, Asana, Notion, any LMS that imports CSV
- Best for
- Private businesses with revenue of roughly 0.5 to 20 million preparing a sale in 12 to 36 months
Exit Options: Who Could Buy, and What Each Route Means
Six exit routes, buyer types and how practice differs by country, with a UK employee ownership example.
Your Goals and Your Number
The cash you need after tax and fees, and the price that delivers it.
What Your Business Is Worth: Valuation in Plain Words
SDE, EBITDA, add-backs, normalisation, multiples and DCF in plain words, with a worked add-back bridge.
The Value-Driver Scorecard and the Value Gap
Fourteen drivers scored 0-4, gap times impact, the readiness index and the value gap.
The Value Plan: 12 to 36 Months
Dated actions with owners and evidence, a 36-month roadmap, RACI and a business case with a downside.
Clean Books, Quality of Earnings and the Data Room
Monthly accrual accounts, working capital, quality of earnings, an evidence register and a staged data room.
Advisers, the Teaser and the CIM
Choosing a broker or M&A adviser, lawyer and accountant, fees, the teaser, the CIM and outreach rules.
Buyers, NDAs, Offers and Letters of Intent
The process from teaser to letter of intent, NDAs, buyer meetings and comparing offers like for like.
Deal Structures, Due Diligence and Tax Questions
Escrow, earn-outs, seller notes, rollover, net proceeds, due diligence, disclosure and tax questions.
Telling People, Completion and Transition
Who knows and when, announcements, consents, completion day and the transition plan.
Not just reading. Tools you will actually open again.
Start here
- 00-Start-Here-Exit-Ready-Map.pdf: the whole job in twelve steps with the file for each, your first hour, your first week, the 36-month plan in phases and the 'Brand it in five minutes' box
Workbooks
- Exit-Ready-Workbook.xlsx: 23 sheets including Settings, value-driver Self-assessment (0-4), Top gaps, Value plan, Financials, Normalisation, Valuation, Value gap, Customers, KPI tracker, Data room index, Evidence register, Decision log, Buyer long list, Diligence tracker, RACI, Roadmap, Crosswalk, Official sources, What changed, Glossary and a dashboard with five charts and traffic lights
- Business-Case-and-Offer-Calculator.xlsx: 9 sheets with preparation costs, a three-scenario business case, offer comparison with risk-weighted value, net proceeds, a seller-note schedule, an earn-out tester and a dashboard
Fillable forms
- Owner-Goals-and-Number-Worksheet.pdf
- Adviser-Selection-Scorecard.pdf
- Buyer-Meeting-Prep-and-Debrief.pdf
- Offer-and-LOI-Comparison-Sheet.pdf
- Completion-and-Transition-Checklist.pdf
Word templates
- Exit-Decision-and-Sign-Off-Memo.docx
- Deal-Confidentiality-and-Communication-Protocol.docx
- Sale-Documents-Pack-Teaser-CIM-NDA-and-Heads-of-Terms.docx
- Exit-Message-Library.docx (38 messages and scripts)
- Worked-Example-Pack-Harlow-Creek-Heating-and-Air.docx
- AI-Prompt-Pack-for-Selling-a-Business.docx (27 prompts with human-review rules)
- Team-Briefing-Session-Plan-and-Answer-Key.docx
Cheat sheets
- Numbers-That-Matter-Exit-KPI-Card.pdf
- Exit-Options-and-Deal-Terms-Decision-Card.pdf
- Exit-Mistakes-to-Avoid-Card.pdf
- Exit-Rules-by-Country-November-2026.pdf (dated sheet)
Calendar and import
- 36-Month-Exit-Roadmap.ics (57 events)
- Exit-Task-Board.csv (40 tasks)
- Exit-Ready-Knowledge-Check.csv (14 questions, LMS-ready)
E-book
- The Exit-Ready Kit e-book: ten chapters, 22 figures and one worked case followed from first doubt to completion
When you have worked through it, you will be able to…
Every outcome is practised with a worked example and a tool, not just described.
- Work out your number and the price that delivers it after debt, fees and tax
- Score your business on fourteen value drivers and rank the gaps by priority
- Build an add-back schedule with evidence and read a low, mid and high value range
- Turn the value gap into a dated, owned 12 to 36 month plan with a RACI and roadmap
- Prepare a staged data room and an evidence register for every number you will use
- Choose advisers on experience and terms, and prepare a teaser and CIM outline
- Compare offers on risk-weighted value and cash in hand, not headline price
- Plan who to tell, when and how, and hand over well
Know your starting point. Prove your progress.
People who measure before and after improve faster and can show it. AssessAll, our sister assessment platform, has AI-graded assessments that pair with this kit. Take one now, work through the kit, then re-take it.
Four Quarters: Financial Judgement for Managers Who Are Not in Finance
Take the assessment →AssessAll assessmentSmall Business Operating Decision Assessment for Shop, Service and Studio Owners
Take the assessment →AssessAll assessmentNegotiation & Value Creation
Take the assessment →JobularyUse the fresh-start effect to reset a goal (Jobulary)
Make it a growth plan →A taste of Chapter 9
The Net proceeds sheet walks the chosen offer from headline price to cash in your hand: less the deferred parts, less debt, less fees, plus or minus the working capital adjustment, less tax at your estimate. For Offer A: $5.1 million at completion, less $420,000 of debt, $360,000 of fees and a $50,000 working capital adjustment, gives $4.27 million before tax and about $3.33 million after tax at the 22% estimate. Dave's number was $3.6 million. At completion he would be about $269,000 short. If the escrow is released in full, he reaches about $3.57 million; the earn-out could add up to $468,000 more after tax. He wrote one line in his decision log: "Count only the cash at completion as certain."
The honest comparison
| Free templates and typical advice | This kit | |
|---|---|---|
| Valuation | A rule-of-thumb multiple | Add-backs with evidence status, low, mid and high ranges from your adviser's multiples, and the price your number needs |
| Readiness | A generic checklist | Fourteen drivers scored 0-4, priority by formula and a gap-to-action plan |
| Offers | Headline price only | Risk-weighted value, net proceeds after tax and an earn-out tester |
| Countries | One country's rules, undated | A crosswalk for the US, Canada, UK, EU, Australia and New Zealand with official sources and a dated sheet |
| People | Not covered | Confidentiality protocol, holding statements, announcement plan and a 45-minute team briefing |
| Versus hiring an exit consultant | Advice tailored to you, at a professional fee | The organised files and method to work with your lawyer, accountant and adviser efficiently; it does not replace them |
Made for you if…
- Owners of private businesses with revenue of roughly 0.5 to 20 million who want to sell within one to three years
- Founders of trade, services, manufacturing, distribution and professional firms
- Co-owners and families planning a succession or a management buyout
- Owners considering employee ownership (an ESOP in the US, an EOT in the UK or Canada)
- General managers and finance leads helping an owner prepare
- Advisers who want a structured readiness pack for their clients (with a company licence)
Probably not for you if…
- Anyone looking for legal, tax or financial advice: the kit prepares you to work with your lawyer, accountant and adviser; it does not replace them
- Anyone wanting a valuation or a guaranteed price: the kit does not supply market multiples or promise buyers, meetings or a deal
- Public companies, regulated financial firms and very large transactions with their own rules
- Buyers of businesses (the kit is written for the seller)
Built by trainers, tested in real rooms.
Bodhih Training has designed and delivered corporate programmes since 2008. Bodhih Pro Kits package what works in those workshops into a guide plus the exact tools we use, so you can apply it the same day without a facilitator in the room.
From here to using it in three steps
- STEP 1
Tap Get the kit
Name, email and country. UPI, card or netbanking in India; international cards everywhere else. No account to create.
- STEP 2
Download instantly
Your download page opens at once, with every file and a one-click ZIP. A permanent link lands in your inbox too.
- STEP 3
Open the first tool
Start with the quick-start chapter, then the main spreadsheet or planner. Most buyers use something from the kit the same day.
Know your number before a buyer tells you theirs
Open the Start-here map tonight and give yourself one hour with the workbook. Whether you begin with the goals worksheet or the self-assessment, you will finish the hour knowing your number and your value gap.
Personal licence for the buyer's own use, including use within your own business with your managers and advisers. Please don't share or resell the files. Team, adviser and company licences: solutions@bodhih.com.
What buyers say
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How long does it take to prepare a business for sale?
Many owners need 12 to 36 months to make real changes to owner dependence, team, customers and records, and the sale process itself often takes several months more. The kit's roadmap uses 36 months in five phases; a business already in good order can compress the middle phase.
How do I work out what my business is worth?
Start with adjusted EBITDA (or SDE for smaller owner-run firms), with every add-back evidenced, then apply a multiple range from your accountant, a valuer or experienced brokers. The workbook shows low, mid and high values. It does not supply market multiples or a valuation.
Do I need a business broker or M&A adviser to sell my business?
Many owners use one to find buyers, run the process and negotiate. Some smaller sales, such as to a manager or family member, happen without one, but you will still need a lawyer and an accountant. The Adviser Selection Scorecard helps you choose and compare fee terms.
What does it cost to sell a business?
Costs usually include an adviser or broker fee (often a success fee, sometimes with a retainer), legal fees, accounting fees and tax. They vary by market and deal size, so ask each adviser for written terms. The kit's calculator lets you test your own fee and tax estimates.
What is the difference between an asset sale and a share sale?
In a share (stock) sale the buyer buys the company with its history and liabilities; in an asset sale it buys chosen assets. Tax, contracts, licences and employees are treated differently. The appendix and Crosswalk sheet compare terms across markets; your lawyer and tax adviser decide what fits.
Does it work in my country?
The method works anywhere. The crosswalk and dated sheet cover the US, Canada, the UK, the EU, Australia and New Zealand, with notes for India and the Gulf. Laws and tax rules change and differ by state and province, so check the official source and your adviser.
Is this legal, tax or financial advice?
No. The kit is educational. Templates are plain-words starting points for your lawyer and accountant to formalise, and nothing in it promises a buyer, a price or a completed deal.
Can I use it with my managers and advisers?
Yes, within your own business under the personal licence, including with your inner circle and your advisers. Advisers who want to use it with several clients, and company or multi-site licences, can contact solutions@bodhih.com.
What is an earn-out and should I accept one?
An earn-out pays part of the price later if targets are met. It can bridge a valuation gap, but the buyer controls the business that earns it. The Earn-out tester shows how a cliff compares with a sliding scale; agree the metric and protections with your lawyer.
Can I sell to my employees instead of a buyer?
Often yes, through an ESOP in the US or an employee ownership trust in the UK or Canada, or a management buyout. Payment frequently comes over years and the tax rules are specific and have changed recently, so the kit treats it as a question for your tax adviser.
How can I measure my starting point?
If you want to test your own financial and negotiation judgement before the sale, AssessAll offers Four Quarters: Financial Judgement for Managers Who Are Not in Finance, the Small Business Operating Decision Assessment and Negotiation & Value Creation at assessall.com.
How do I keep the plan going when motivation dips?
Use a fresh start: the first day of a quarter or a re-score date is a natural moment to reset a goal. Jobulary explains the fresh-start effect in its guide to resetting a goal.
How much does The Exit-Ready Kit cost?
₹1,999 including 18% GST for buyers in India, or $49 for buyers outside India. One-time payment, no subscription, with an automatic invoice.
How do I get the files after paying?
Instantly. Your download page opens the moment payment succeeds, and a permanent download link is emailed to you. Download each file separately or everything in one ZIP.
What software do I need?
Any of the usual tools: Excel or Google Sheets for spreadsheets, Word or Google Docs for templates, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Preview, Xodo or GoodNotes for the fillable PDFs, and Google, Outlook or Apple Calendar for the calendar plan.
Can I get a refund?
Because it is a digital download, kits are not refundable once downloaded. We always refund a duplicate charge or a failed delivery, and if a file is corrupted and we cannot fix it within 3 working days. Full terms: bodhih.org/refunds.
Can my company buy this for a team?
Yes. Team and company licences, and workshops on this topic run by Bodhih Training, are available. Write to solutions@bodhih.com or call +91 99000 11601.
