October 2025

Retire on Your Terms: Start With a Business Valuation

After working with many small businesses over the years (and running one of my own), I know that your business isn’t just your livelihood, it’s your life’s work. Years of dedication, late nights and reinvested profits have built something of real value. But when it’s time to think about retirement, one key question often goes unanswered: what is your business actually worth?

A professional business valuation from RfM Transform isn’t just about putting a number on your company. It’s about clarity, control and confidence in your next chapter. Here’s why every business owner approaching retirement should make valuation a top priority.

It’s the foundation of your exit strategy

Whether you plan to sell, pass the business to family or transition to employees, you need an objective baseline.
A valuation helps you:

• Identify the right asking price or equity structure
• Understand how potential buyers or investors will view your company
• Plan the timeline and strategy for a profitable exit

By knowing your value early, you can bridge any gaps between where your business stands today and where it needs to be for a successful transition.

It helps you maximise value before you retire

A valuation isn’t just about the number, it’s about insight. It highlights what drives value (cash flow, customer base, brand reputation, contracts, systems) and what might be holding it back.

Armed with this, you can take targeted steps in the years leading up to retirement to boost value, improving profitability, reducing risk and strengthening market position.

With a recent client selling a nursery, we focused on the business’s key performance indicators and identified a clear pathway to a higher valuation.

It’s never too early to start

Ideally, owners should get a valuation at least three years before retiring. That window allows time to address weaknesses, enhance value and prepare for a smooth transition. Even if retirement feels distant, a valuation today gives you a clear roadmap for future planning.

The bottom line

A business valuation is more than a financial exercise — it’s an exit and retirement-planning essential. It gives you clarity on your biggest asset, helps you prepare for a successful exit and ensures you retire on your terms. Since COVID-19 we’ve seen many owners seeking a lifestyle change; they’re committed to their business but no longer want to burn the midnight oil. If you’re thinking about changing your lifestyle or retiring, don’t leave your business’s value to guesswork.

Book a free consultation: send me a quick message here or email me to get started: tbackhouse@rfm-more.co.uk