Our Evolution - Founders Group – Business Succession Planning, Transition and Exit Planning Valuation

For more than 25 years, The Founders Group, and its principals at Strazzeri Mancini, has helped more than 750 successful families and business owners worth $30 million to $300 million+ grow the value of their enterprises and maximize the relational and financial outcomes of their life’s work. Before the industry was an industry, we dug in deep to support the families at the core of their journeys, leading them through all phases of transition. They found solace in increased clarity, net cash flow, and market value – thereby expanding and solidifying their choices: if, when, how, how much and to whom.

The professional advisory landscape for business continuity and exit has dramatically matured in the past decade, rendering thousands of highly skilled advisors – alongside professional designations such as Certified Exit Planning Associate® (CEPA) and Certified Founders Group Associate™ (CFGA).

The proliferation of quality exit planning advisors allowed us to survey the marketplace and consider where our pioneering wisdom could be most impactful. While the planning methodologies have achieved their sea legs, there remains a significant pre-planning gap. Most business owners come into the journey with some level of conflict, misunderstanding, or lack of clarity about what they want for themselves and their people. Bypassing the gap leads to the statistic: 80% of business owners regret their exit within two years of the transaction.

Today, The Founders Group works in this uncharted ground, helping business owners in succession conflict achieve resolution and a path forward. We operate in support of and collaboration with a handful of legal/financial/tax planners, value acceleration advisors, business consultants, and M&A advisors we deem to do the best work. We partner exclusively with advisors who operate from a place of deep authenticity and compassion for the entrepreneur’s transition journey.

An Entrepeneur’s Business Succession Journey

This brochure is an overview of The Founders Group’s philosophy regarding business transition planning (also referred to as value acceleration or exit planning) as well as the process of:

  • The Anatomy of Choice
  • Review and Enhancement Design
  • Enhancement Initiatives
  • The Decision

While TFG is no longer involved in working on the business, we strongly believe entrepreneur’s should work with advisory teams who use a systematized process to assess the business risks, drive for increase in value, and expand their choices of whether to keep and grow versus sell.  Use this brochure as a guide to pause, reflect, and uncover the complete range of opportunities available for your business, team, and family.

Traditional Value Acceleration Planning

This presentation provides an overview of Business Attractiveness & Readiness as well Personal & Financial Readiness Assessments, including highlights of the timeline, interviews, and reports.

  • Process for Attractiveness and Readiness Assessments
  • Financial & Personal Readiness Assessment
  • Business Attractiveness & Readiness Assessment
  • How they differ from other Exit Planning Solutions

Business Attractiveness & Readiness Assessment Questions

Review two sets of thought-provoking questions about the attractiveness of your business as well as how ready it is for a transition.  Rank your answers to reflect on the areas of your business that may need some work (to reduce risk and increase value) and discuss with your advisory team.  A total of 73 questions in four categories:

  • Business Factors
  • Financial Factors
  • Market Factors
  • Investor Considerations

Business Attractiveness & Readiness Report

This is a sample report combing and comparing the scores of each owner and The Founders Group – from both the business attractiveness and readiness assessment questions, along with recommendations for next steps in each category.

Personal & Financial Readiness Assessment Questions

Review this set of thought-provoking questions about how personally and financially ready you are to transition out of your business.  Rank your answers to reflect on the areas in which you may need to become more prepared and discuss with your advisory team.  A total of 52 questions in six categories:

  • Emotional Planning
  • Personal Planning
  • Business Value/Transition
  • Risk Management
  • Estate & Tax Planning
  • Financial Planning

Personal & Financial Readiness Report

This is a sample report combing and comparing the scores of the owner and The Founders Group.  Each owner should take the personal and financial assessment individually to zero in on the gaps that may exist.  Ensure a regretless and a successful transition for your post-exit life.

A Better Business – A Better Life

It’s hard to remember sometimes, isn’t it?  We get so caught up in the day-to-day: the joy of accomplishment, the problems, the challenges, the stress, the employees, the bankers, the tax man, the lawyers, the vendors, the bills, the money, the money, the money.

But while the employees may have a union, and our families can rely on each other, most business owners have no other resources than our own nimble brains and iron will to succeed. Until now.

Now, there’s The Founders Group, an organization that exists to act as a right hand to the business owner: to help solve problems, increase the joys, and reach their goals – whatever they may be.

The Founders Advantage

We work with all the business’ resources and advisors to identify and document the current reality of the business and to standardize and systematize the Entrepreneur’s, key managers’ and key employees’ unique vision, values and goals. We further incorporate the expertise and judgement of our Independent Collaborative Advisors™ into a dedicated effort to achieve:

  • Asset protection & tax reduction
  • Exit strategy of a saleable business model
  • Operational efficiency based on streamlined processes
  • Attraction and retention of quality personnel
  • Management of legal and compliance issues
  • Delivery of a consistent customer experience
  • Improved financial condition
  • Cost effective systems and controls

The Founders Assessment

This assessment is designed to measure how well your business’ organizational environment supports the  performance levels your company needs to succeed and prosper.

To assess this environment, you will be asked questions concerning:

  • Business Ownership – the value of your business to you
  • Core Operations – your lines of business and how you perform
  • Staff Functions – Human Resource and Legal issues of importance
  • Managerial Process – the ways in which you and your management team run the business
  • Marketing and Sales – how you attract customers and fulfill their expectations
  • Finance – the impact of your decisions on your business and personal financial condition
  • Information Systems and Technology – the use of automation and technology in maximizing your effectiveness

The Founders Assessment™ is meant to provide you with a broad introduction to the web-enabled diagnostic capability we have developed, providing you some “food for thought” about your potential business improvement initiatives.