Featured in Pro Remodeler: Why Every Remodeling Business Owner Needs an Exit Strategy
A behind-the-scenes look at the data — and the conversation — behind my recent feature in Pro Remodeler magazine.
I was honored to be featured in a recent Pro Remodeler article on one of the topics I care most about: why remodeling business owners need to start planning their exit long before they think they do.
You can read the full article here: Getting Out: Remodelers Need an Exit Strategy
Pro Remodeler surveyed remodeling business owners about their plans for eventually leaving their companies, profiled owners in the middle of an exit, and talked to several of us in the field about what owners actually need to do to prepare. The results confirmed something I see with almost every contractor I work with: there's a wide gap between when owners want to retire and how ready they actually are to do it.
The Numbers Tell the Story
A few findings from the survey stuck with me:
Nearly half of remodeling owners surveyed said they have no exit strategy at all, while just over 40% said they feel they have a solid plan in place.
The majority of respondents are already in their 60s or older, and most hope to retire within the next five years.
Very few owners plan on a clean break. Most expect to stay involved in some way — part-time, consulting, or advising — rather than walking away entirely.
That last point is one I talk about constantly. Exit isn't usually a single door you walk through and close behind you. For most owners, it's a transition in role, identity, and involvement — which is exactly why it takes real planning, not a last-minute decision.
Why This Matters Now, Not Later
A well-executed exit takes years of dedicated preparation — not months. And the owners who wait until they're "ready to think about it" have often already lost value and options they didn't have to lose.
This is the heart of what I shared with Pro Remodeler, and it's the same starting point I use with every client I work with. I ask three questions right at the outset:
When do you want to leave? Not a vague "someday" — an actual timeframe.
How do you want to leave? Sell to a third party? Transition to a partner or family member? Wind the business down?
What do you want your life to look like on the other side?
That third question is the one owners are least prepared to answer — and it's often the most important one. Your business has been your identity for years, maybe decades. What replaces that sense of purpose and structure matters just as much as the financial mechanics of the deal.
The Real Opportunity
Here's what I want every remodeling business owner reading this to take away: planning your exit isn't just about protecting what you'll walk away with someday. It's about building a business today that's more valuable, more transferable, and less dependent on you personally — which, in my experience, also makes it a better business to run right now.
You don't have to have all the answers today. But you do have to start asking the questions.
If this resonates with you and you're not sure where to begin, I'd love to talk. Contact me and let's find out where you stand.
