Read that number again. Nearly two out of three American business owners are planning to leave their businesses within five years.
That's not a prediction. That's what owners themselves told researchers in the 2026 UBS Global Entrepreneur Report. And for business owners in the $2M–$15M revenue range, the ones who've spent decades building something real, that number should give you pause. Not because exiting is wrong. Because of what happens when too many sellers enter the market at the same time.
"The question isn't just what your business is worth. It's whether that number is enough to fund the life you actually want after you leave it."
What a Seller's Market Glut Actually Means for You
When supply increases, and demand stays flat, prices fall. That's true for real estate, it's true for commodities, and it's true for businesses.
When 63% of owners are all eyeing the exit at roughly the same time, buyers gain leverage. They can afford to be selective. They'll scrutinize harder, offer less, and walk away more easily.
The deals that close in this environment won't necessarily be the best businesses; they'll be the most prepared ones.
Preparation takes time. That's the part most owners underestimate.
The Owner Who Waited Too Long
I was recently speaking with a manufacturer in his early 60s. Profitable business, loyal customers, 18 employees, $4M in revenue. By any external measure, a solid operation. He came to us because he'd had an unsolicited offer and wanted to know if it was fair.
We did a planning-level valuation. The number was lower than he expected. Not because the business wasn't good, it was. The problem was that the business was entirely built around him. He held the key customer relationships. He approved every significant decision. His team couldn't quote a job without him in the room.
A buyer buying that business isn't buying a business. They're buying a job. And they'll price it accordingly.
That's not a valuation problem. That's a preparation problem. And it's fixable, but not in 90 days.
Three Things the Most Prepared Owners Are Doing Right Now
1. Getting a real number. Not a guess, not a gut feel, a planning-level valuation that tells you where you stand today and what you'd need to reach your personal financial goals at exit. Most owners have never had this conversation. It takes about an hour, and it changes everything.
2. Reducing owner dependency. If your business can't run for two weeks without you, a buyer will discount it heavily or walk. The owners getting top dollar are the ones who've systematically removed themselves from day-to-day operations without the business missing a beat.
3. Connecting the business plan to the personal plan. Most owners plan the business in isolation. The smarter move: figure out what your life needs to look like after you exit, income, timeline, legacy, and then build the business plan around hitting that number. The business is the vehicle. The personal plan is the destination.
The Window Is Open — For Now
Here's the honest truth: if you're 3–5 years from wanting to exit, you're in a good position. There's still time to build transferability, improve the financials a buyer will scrutinize, and put together a real plan that gives you control over the terms.
If you're 18 months out and starting from scratch, you're playing defense. You'll take what the market gives you instead of what you've earned.
Exit planning isn't something you do when you're ready to leave. It's something you do years before, so that when the moment comes, whether you choose it or circumstances choose it for you, you're in the driver's seat.
The exit wave is real. Sixty-three percent of your peers are heading for the door. The ones who come out best won't be the luckiest. They'll be the most prepared.