Succession & Exit Planning
Careful planning helps you protect what you’ve built, achieve a smooth transition, and move forward with confidence.
Protect what you’ve built and plan your next chapter with confidence
Whether you’re preparing to sell, transition to family members, or step back from day-to-day operations, careful planning helps protect your business and the legacy you’ve built.
At Walsh Accounting, we work with business owners across Portland, the Glenelg Shire, and South West Victoria to develop clear, practical succession and exit strategies.
Selling your business
Selling a business involves more than a financial transaction, it requires careful planning, preparation and the right advice.
We help you prepare your business for sale by:
Review financial performance
Benchmark performance against industry standards
Establishing a realistic and defensible sale price
Identify factors that may impact valuation
Assisting with negotiations
Working alongside legal advisors during contract preparation
Our goal is to help you achieve a fair, well-structured outcome while reducing stress throughout the process.
Preparing your business for maximum value
The best sale outcomes don’t happen by chance, they are planned.
We work with you well in advance of a sale to:
Improve financial clarity
Strengthen profitability
Reduce operational risk
Ensure clean, well-structured financial records
We focus on positioning your business to achieve the best possible outcome when the time is right.
Business succession planning
Not every transition involves selling to an external buyer.
For many family and regional businesses, succession means passing the business to:
Children or family members
Business partners
Key employees
Succession planning involves careful coordination of ownership, control, taxation, and estate considerations.
We help you create a structured, well-designed plan that supports business continuity while protecting relationships and long-term value.
Managing tax and structural considerations
Succession and sale events often trigger significant tax implications.
We provide guidance on:
Capital Gains Tax (CGT) considerations
Small business CGT concessions
Business restructuring prior to sale
Estate planning coordination
Superannuation implications
Careful planning can significantly impact the financial outcome of your transition.
Start the conversation early
Planning ahead gives you more flexibility, stronger outcomes, and greater control over how your business transition is managed.
We work with you to explore your options, identify risks, and ensure your plans are in place well before any transition takes place.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Ideally, planning should begin several years before you intend to sell. Early preparation allows time to improve profitability, address structural issues and maximise the overall value of your business.
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Business valuation takes into account factors such as financial performance, assets, industry benchmarks, risk profile and future earning potential. We can help ensure your financial records support a strong and realistic valuation.
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Succession planning is the structured process of transferring ownership and management of a business to the next generation, partners or employees, while also managing tax, legal and financial considerations.
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Yes. Eligible small businesses may qualify for Capital Gains Tax concessions, which can significantly reduce tax liabilities. Professional advice can help ensure you meet the requirements and structure the sale appropriately.
Related Services
Explore related services that support business transition, planning, and financial structure:
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Plan your transition with clarity and confidence
With the right advice and preparation, you can protect what you’ve built and move forward with a clear, structured plan.