Build it well.
Exit better.
A successful exit doesn't happen at the point of sale. It's the result of decisions made years before — about structure, tax position, financial performance, and how your business looks to a buyer. Runway helps founders build toward the exit they deserve.
Exit planning for UK business owners
For most founders, selling their business will be the single largest financial event of their life. The difference between a good exit and a great one often comes down to preparation — the decisions made months and years before the deal.
Runway works with founders at every stage — from those just beginning to think about an exit to those actively in a sale process. We focus on the financial, structural, and tax elements that drive value and reduce risk.
What exit planning involves
Business valuation and benchmarking
What your business is worth and what drives that value
Structural review
Clean, tax-efficient, and attractive to buyers
Tax planning for exit
Maximising BADR, minimising CGT, sequencing decisions correctly
Financial performance
Building the track record that supports your valuation
Clean financial records
Accounts, management information, and Xero data that are buyer-ready
Removing key person dependency
Demonstrating the business operates beyond the founder
Deal structure advice
Earn-outs, deferred consideration, and equity rollovers explained
The earlier you plan, the better your exit
The founders who achieve the strongest exits are almost always the ones who started planning early. Structure, tax position, financial track record, and operational independence all take time to build — and buyers can tell the difference between a business that's been prepared and one that hasn't.
Even if a sale is years away, the work you do now directly impacts the options you'll have later. Runway helps you build with the end in mind — so when the time comes, you're ready.
“Runway have been a superb partner to our business. It genuinely feels like they care about our business and how to maximise its potential.”
Vehicle Smart
App & Technology Business
Frequently asked questions
Earlier than you think. The most impactful planning — around structure, tax position, and building a financial track record — needs time to take effect. Three to five years before your intended exit is ideal. If you're already closer to a sale, Runway can work with what's available — but the earlier you engage, the more options you have.
BADR reduces the rate of Capital Gains Tax on qualifying business disposals to 10% on the first £1 million of qualifying gains. The conditions — including shareholding percentage, minimum holding period, and officer status — need to be met before a sale. Runway ensures you qualify before you need to rely on it.
Common approaches include EBITDA multiples, revenue multiples, and asset-based valuations. Runway will help you understand the most relevant methodology for your business, identify what's driving your multiple, and focus on the areas that will move the number.
Clean financials, consistent revenue growth, strong margins, diversified customer base, recurring revenue, and a business that doesn't depend entirely on its founder. Runway helps you build toward all of these — as specific, actionable priorities, not abstract aspirations.
Yes. Runway can support the financial aspects of a transaction — preparing information for due diligence, advising on deal structure, and coordinating with your legal advisors throughout the process.
Ready to take the
next step?
Book a free 30-minute call with a Runway co-founder. No pitch, just practical advice.