This is a Guest Post from Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce member Erik Schlesinger, CEO at Build Scale Prosper (3838 N Ravenswood Ave, Unit 100).
You’ve poured your life into this business. But what happens when the rules of the game keep changing?
If running a business feels harder than it used to, you’re not imagining it. Tariffs, interest rate swings, new regulations, policy changes—today’s owners are dealing with more disruption from outside forces than ever before.
One quarter you’re growing. The next, you’re reworking budgets, renegotiating contracts, and trying to predict the next move from Washington.
If you’re still building your business the way you always have, you’re taking on more risk than you realize.
You’ve worked too hard to let outside forces dictate your future.
That’s why the most successful business owners, regardless of when or if they plan to exit, are building strategies that give them more freedom, control, and options in any market, especially when the environment in Washington keeps shifting.
What Does Your Ideal End Game Look Like?
You may not be thinking about selling, but you’ve probably considered what comes next, whether that’s more freedom, reducing stress, or handing the reins to someone else. Your ideal outcome might be closer than your think.
- Do you want to sell to a strategic acquirer for maximum value?
- Would you prefer to transition leadership to a trusted employee or family member?
- Are you hoping to step back from daily operations while creating passive income?
Each of these paths requires preparation. And they all share one common truth: the earlier you start, the more control you have.
Three Smart Moves for an Unpredictable Market:
1. Build a Business That Runs Without You
If your business can’t run without you, it’s not a business—it’s a job. And jobs are hard to sell.
Buyers, investors, and successors all look for companies with:
- Documented, repeatable processes
- Teams that operate independently
- Systems that drive consistency and reduce reliance on the owner
The Value Builder Score helps diagnose how dependent your business is on you and where to start making it more scalable and self-sufficient.
2. Increase Your Company’s Value
In uncertain markets, businesses that are resilient and predictable attract higher valuations.
The Value Builder Score breaks your business into 8 key drivers of value so you can focus on what makes your company more appealing to future buyers or investors, even if you have no plans to sell today.
Top-performing companies:
- Earn recurring or contract-based revenue
- Diversify customer relationships
- Operate with clean financials and limited owner dependence
3. Know Your Walk-Away Number
Most owners think about how much they want to sell for, but far fewer know what they need to walk away with.
That’s where the Freedom Score comes in. It helps you calculate how close you are to financial independence and what you’d need to make work optional.
When you know your number, you can make clear decisions about growth, investment, succession, and your personal future.
Are You Personally Ready to Exit?
Even when a business is ready, the owner may not be. That’s why the PreScore™ was created to help you evaluate your emotional and personal readiness to step away.
It looks at four key areas that impact your ability to exit on your terms, including your motivations, financial confidence, identity outside the business, and support network.
The Cost of Waiting
Waiting to plan your exit until you’re burned out or facing a crisis limits your options. Many owners are forced to sell quickly at a discount when they could have exited with confidence and control.
You don’t need to be ready to sell today. But in today’s market, you do need to be ready for whatever comes next.
Final Thoughts: Start Sooner. Sleep Better.
Even if you plan to run your business for another decade, starting your exit plan now gives you more freedom, more choices, and more peace of mind.
Want to know where you stand?
Spend a few minutes to take the online Value Builder Score assessment today, and let’s talk about what comes next for you and your business.
Build Scale Prosper is an award-winning business advisory firm that helps owners build, scale, and exit their companies with purpose and intent. We specialize in unlocking valuation, reducing key-person risk, and creating sustainable businesses that thrive beyond the founder. Through a proven framework of strategy, systems, and execution, we empower leaders to grow confidently, exit successfully, and leave a legacy they’re proud of.
Uncertainty is inevitable. Being unprepared isn’t. If you’re ready to navigate your next chapter with strategy and confidence, we’re here to guide the way. Contact Erik@BuildScaleProsper.com or 312-296-0068 to start the conversation.
by Erik Schlesinger, Build Scale Prosper
