A Living Journal
Questions worth asking.
The quality of an ownership transition is often shaped by the questions asked long before a business goes to market.
For Founders
- What would success look like five years after a transition?
- If valuation weren't the deciding factor, what would matter most?
- What kind of steward should the next owner be?
- If you decided not to sell today, what would need to change?
- What legacy are you hoping to preserve?
- Who should be part of this conversation before the market is?
- What have you built that isn't on the balance sheet?
- What will you want to say about how this decision was made?
For Trusted Advisors
- Has your client begun asking questions beyond your expertise?
- What does an exceptional referral experience look like?
- Who is thinking about the founder — not just the transaction?
- When is it time to introduce another perspective?
- How do you preserve trust while expanding the team around your client?
- What relationships have you built for the moment before the process?
"The right questions, asked early, quietly shape
everything that follows."