Not Just Growth—Readiness: How to Build a Business That Creates Options

There’s been a growing buzz in the accounting world about private equity firms eyeing firms like ours. And lately, it seems like every conversation about our business eventually leads to the same question…

Are you planning to sell?

It comes in different forms—Are you growing to sell? Is an exit your end goal? Do you want to sell?

For me, the answer is clear: It’s not my focus right now.

My focus isn’t on selling—it’s on building.

Right now, my focus is on reinforcing what we’ve built—an independent firm where our team and clients thrive, backed by strong systems and a clear vision for the future. A true business isn’t just about the owner—it’s about the team, the clients, and the systems that support long-term success.

Recently, while visiting my brother and his family, I watched as they worked to instill independence and self-reliance in their kids. Little things—teaching their 4- and 6-year-old how to bait a hook and cast their line, or how to mix batter to earn a merit badge—stood out to me. It struck me how much that mirrors what I’m trying to do with R Accounting.

Just like good parenting isn’t about keeping children dependent forever, good leadership isn’t about building a business that can’t function without you.

It’s about setting up the right foundation, the right framework—so it can grow, thrive, and operate successfully, now and in the future.

As a CEPA (Certified Exit Planning Advisor), my focus isn’t just on exit—it’s on readiness. Too often, people assume exit planning is only about selling, but it’s really about building a strong, transferable business that creates options. Whether that means selling, passing it to the next generation, merging, or stepping back while it thrives, the goal is the same—ensuring the business is built to sustain and succeed beyond the owner’s daily involvement.

At the end of the day, exit planning and business planning are the same thing—the only difference is timing. A well-built business creates options—whether that means selling, passing it on, merging, or stepping back while it thrives.

At the same time, every business has a lifecycle. Growth creates options, and readiness means being prepared for opportunities, not just reacting to them—whether that’s expansion, restructuring, or yes, even selling someday.

No one truly knows what the future holds.  But here’s what I do know—you can’t predict it.

After all, R Accounting and living in Louisville, KY, weren’t on my original bingo card—but they became strategic moves in my life chess game. (Different story for another time.)

So, if you ask me today, Are you growing to sell?

My answer is simple: I’m growing to build.

The future? If we build it right, we won’t just be ready—we’ll be in control of what comes next.