Most business owners don't discover their exit gaps until they're sitting across from a buyer. This 3-minute assessment scores your business across 6 critical dimensions — and tells you exactly where the value is slipping through the cracks.
20
Diagnostic Questions
6
Dimensions Scored
3 min
Time to Complete
Section 1 of 6
Financial Cleanliness
Buyers scrutinize your financials first. Clean, consistent, well-documented books command higher multiples and shorter due diligence periods.
25% of Overall Score
Question 01
How would you describe your financial recordkeeping?
We use QuickBooks but it's often behind
Mostly current, occasional gaps
Current monthly closes
Monthly closes + management accounts
Monthly closes, reviewed by CPA, GAAP-adjacent
Question 02
Has your business had a formal review or compilation by a CPA in the last 2 years?
No
Working on it
One year reviewed
Two years reviewed
Two+ years reviewed or audited
Question 03
How clean are your add-backs and owner compensation adjustments?
"We've never thought about this"
I know there are some but they're not documented
We have a rough list
Documented with some support
Fully documented, CPA-prepared normalization
Question 04
Do you have 3 years of clean, consistent tax returns filed?
Behind on filings
1 year filed
2 years filed
3 years filed, some inconsistencies
3 years filed, consistent and clean
Section 2 of 6
Owner Dependency
The single biggest value killer in small business. If the business can't run without you, buyers pay less — or walk away entirely.
25% of Overall Score
Question 05
If you took a 60-day sabbatical, what happens to revenue?
"It stops"
Falls more than 30%
Falls 15–30%
Falls less than 15%
Business runs at full capacity without me
Question 06
How many of your top 10 clients have a relationship primarily with you (not the company)?
All of them
7–9
5–6
3–4
0–2
Question 07
Do you have a second-in-command who could represent the company in a buyer meeting?
No
Someone could try but they're not ready
Yes, with coaching
Yes, capable
Yes, fully capable and credible
Question 08
Are your operational processes documented (SOPs, playbooks, systems)?
Nothing documented
A few things written down
Key processes documented
Most processes documented
Comprehensive SOP library, regularly updated
Section 3 of 6
Revenue Concentration
Concentrated revenue is concentrated risk. A single customer representing 40% of revenue is often a deal-breaker for sophisticated buyers.
20% of Overall Score
Question 09
What percentage of revenue comes from your single largest customer?
How has your revenue trended over the past 3 years?
Declining
Flat
Slow growth (0–10%/yr)
Moderate growth (10–25%/yr)
Strong growth (25%+/yr)
Section 4 of 6
Legal & Documentation Health
Legal gaps discovered in due diligence kill deals or crater valuations. Buyers want clean, transferable agreements — not surprises.
15% of Overall Score
Question 12
Does your business have a current, professionally drafted buy-sell agreement?
No
We have one but haven't looked at it in years
Yes, reviewed in last 3–5 years
Yes, reviewed in last 1–2 years
Yes, reviewed in the last year and valuation is current
Question 13
Are your key contracts (customer, vendor, employee) assignable to a buyer?
Unknown
Some may not be
Most are assignable
All key contracts reviewed
All contracts assignable and documented
Question 14
Are your IP, trademarks, and domain names owned by the business entity (not personally)?
Unknown
Some are personal
Mostly business-owned
All business-owned
All owned, registered, and documented
Section 5 of 6
Team Depth
Buyers are acquiring a business, not just a book of clients. A capable, retained team dramatically reduces post-acquisition risk — and increases what they'll pay.
10% of Overall Score
Question 15
Do you have at least 2 key employees you'd consider essential to operations?
No — it's primarily me
1 key person who could leave any time
1 reliable key person
2 key employees
2+ key employees under contract / retention incentives
Question 16
Are your key employees under non-compete or non-solicitation agreements?
No agreements
Some have them
Most have them
All key employees
All key employees with current, enforceable agreements
Section 6 of 6
Deal-Readiness Documentation
Exit preparation is a process, not an event. Owners who've done the planning before a deal arrives negotiate from a position of strength.
5% of Overall Score
Question 17
Do you have a current business valuation (last 12 months)?
Never had one
Had one, but 3+ years ago
2–3 years ago
1–2 years ago
Within the last 12 months
Question 18
Have you identified and worked with an M&A attorney or investment banker?
No
Had one preliminary conversation
Have a relationship, no formal engagement
Actively working with one
Full deal team assembled
Question 19
Do you have a personal financial plan that accounts for post-exit life?
No
Basic idea of what we need
Rough financial model
Working with a CFP
Comprehensive post-exit financial plan with income modeling
Question 20
Do you know your walk-away number — the net after-tax proceeds that would make the sale life-changing?
No idea
Rough ballpark
Calculated once, not current
Know it, haven't stress-tested it
Know it precisely, tested against post-exit financial plan
Almost There
Your Exit Readiness Score is calculated.
Enter your details below to see your full scored breakdown across all 6 dimensions — including your biggest risk area and a prioritized action plan.
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Your Score
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Exit Readiness Assessment — Callwen Advisory Group
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Your Six-Dimension Profile
Dimension-by-Dimension Breakdown
Your gaps are fixable. But the clock is ticking.
Most business owners who improve their exit readiness score by 20+ points add $300K–$1M+ to their final sale price. Book a free 20-minute call — we'll walk through your results together and build a 90-day action plan.
DISCLAIMER: This scorecard is for educational and informational purposes only. Scores are based on self-reported data and represent a directional assessment of exit readiness — not a formal advisory opinion. Individual results may vary significantly based on industry, market conditions, deal structure, and other factors not captured here. This tool does not constitute tax, legal, financial, or valuation advice. Consult a qualified CPA, CVA, and M&A attorney before making any decisions related to a business sale or transfer.