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A gradual business exit will give you a greater choice of people.

 Platform 1 are experiencing unprecedented demand from people looking to acquire skin in the game in an existing successful business. People who have been on our database for some time are now feeling more confident to move and contact us. Our new business owner transition opportunities in January and February have also had 4 or 5 times the enquiry level compared to the same time last year. 

 Transitioning into a business gradually is an attractive proposition for many entrepreneurial-minded people who originally embarked on a corporate career path. They often get to the stage where they are tired of "working for the man" and growing a business where the profits don't go to them. 

 Why?

 This pool of people is  larger and different in makeup than those just searching for a business for sale. There is a lower risk propensity required for someone to transition into a successful business over time than putting their money on the nose on day 1! It's a great way for people successful in their corporate life to make the step towards business ownership.

So how do we access these people ?

• We have built up a strong database of people wanting skin in the game and who love our model
• Executive Search techniques are used to headhunt people that fit the profile
• Our website and LinkedIn
• Referrals come our way from our strong networks

Why is the demand up over last year?

• General confidence that inflation is coming under control as are interest rates
• People on our database looking for the right opportunity are getting "itchy "to do something 
• A backlog of people over the last 3-4 years who were looking for skin in the game but who held off until better times 

Also when people come back from the holiday period they have often contemplated change and start looking for opportunities. They were more likely last year to just hunker down and wait.

Why is that good for business owners looking to exit now ?

• More eyeballs looking at the opportunity leading to a greater chance of success if the proposition is attractive
• Often  a different type of person than someone who would buy a business outright
• Gradual business owner transition is increasingly becoming more well known and a credible alternative to other exit options. 

Mike Warmington is a Director of Platform 1 NZ Ltd - The New Zealand market leaders in business owner transition. Platform 1 specialises in using executive search techniques to find business partners with capability and capital for business owners wanting to partially or fully transition.  

 www.platform1.co.nz