Tax Season Therapy: Confessions from a Business Owner Without an Exit Plan

Subtitle: It’s not the IRS that scares me—it’s realizing I have no idea what my business is worth.

The Pain is Real

Tax season: that magical time of year when business owners across the country face the music, armed with a shoebox full of receipts, a panic attack in spreadsheet form, and one very stressed accountant.

But while you're scrambling to meet that April 15th deadline, there’s a much scarier realization sneaking up behind you:

“Wait… what is my business even worth?”

“Would anyone even want to buy this?”

“Oh no. This is my retirement plan…”

If that inner dialogue hits a little too close to home, welcome to tax season therapy—where we address not only your financial stress but your long-neglected exit strategy.

Financial Therapy, Step One: Admitting You Have a Problem

If your current exit strategy is “just keep working until someone offers me a ridiculous amount of money,” you’re in good (and slightly delusional) company.

Here are a few warning signs you might need help:

Your financials haven’t been updated since 2021 (and your dog’s name is still listed as an employee).
Your valuation is based entirely on "gut feeling" and how tired you are.
Your entire succession plan is, “Eh, someone in the family will probably figure it out.”

Sound familiar? It’s okay. No judgment. This is a safe space.

Why Tax Season Is Actually the Perfect Wake-Up Call

Believe it or not, this chaotic time of year is the best time to think about your business’s future.

You’re already knee-deep in numbers, answering tough questions, and realizing how much of your business lives only in your head. Perfect! That’s the first step toward clarity.

Ask yourself:

If someone offered to buy my business today, would I be ready?
Could it run without me, or would everything fall apart the moment I leave?
Do I know what a buyer is actually looking for?

Tax season forces you to look under the hood. Now is the time to take it seriously—and use it as fuel to get your exit plan in order.

The Prescription: A Better Plan (with Fewer Panic Attacks)

At Exit IQ, we help business owners move from confusion to confidence when it comes to preparing for a future exit.

What we don’t do:

Give you vague advice like “build a brand” or “just grow more.”

What we do:

Help you understand what your business is really worth
Identify the weak spots that could scare off a buyer
Build systems and structures that make your business more valuable—and more sellable
Turn “I think I’m ready” into “Bring on the buyers”

Let’s Not Do This Again Next Year

Picture next April: No panic. Your business is running like a well-oiled machine. You know exactly what it’s worth—and how to increase that number. Your accountant is smiling (well, maybe smirking, but still).

If tax season has you questioning everything, good. That means you care. Now let’s turn that panic into a plan.

Your business is your biggest asset. Let’s treat it like it.

EXIT IQ