Every business needs an exit plan. Let's build yours.

Making a business more attractive to potential buyers is just smart business strategy, and it is never too early to begin thinking about that inevitable transition.

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Why do business owners need help selling their business?

50%
of businesses  for sale are forced sales because of circumstances outside of the owners control.
75%
of owners that sold their companies, when interview a year later, regretted selling.
80%
of businesses put up for sale
do NOT find a buyer!

Every business needs an exit plan. Lets build yours

Making a business more attractive to potential buyers is just smart business strategy, and it is never to early to begin thinking about that inevitable transition.

Talk with Gary

Why Northstar?

Over a 30+ year career, Gary has helped hundreds of businesses grow profitably and guided owners to design and enjoy the next chapter in their life story.

wORK WITH US

"I have been working with Gary for more than four years now and I only wish we had met sooner. Both the revenue and profit have increased for the company during this time."

Mark Roshon

"(Gary)has the true ability to help people find and correct the issues that cause their company to be less efficient both in the financial and operational areas. I highly recommend talking to Gary about how he can help you strengthen your bottom line."

Gary Cerasi

"Many people have knowledge, facts, opinions – Gary has understanding and insight come from astute observation and years of experience. He is quick to listen and when he does comment with suggestions for my business or personal life, they are spot on."

David Montgomery

"Gary's demeanor during coaching is thought provoking and helpful in motivating the coachee to discover the problem that needs improvement. The tools he provided were very effective in assisting the coachee in identifying what areas needed work to move beyond."

Christen (Hostetler) Ellet, PHR

Our process

At Northstar, we guide clients through a three-step process we call Value Acceleration.

Discover
Prepare
Decide

Discover

The best decisions are based on having the best facts. We begin our engagements by doing the homework necessary to put the best possible plan together.
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Prepare

Preparation is where the agreed upon plan is implemented to protect the existing value and then grow increasingly greater value.
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Decide

The final step is to make the decision that now is the right time to sell OR is it better to retain ownership and grow.
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Some of our success stories

Fortune 200 retail distributor of office products with a commercial division

Hired to return the commercial office furniture division to profitability.

Successfully restructured the sales operations, secured additional product offerings and dramatically reduced friction between the retail and commercial operations. Business was subsequently acquired by an larger competitor.

Manufacturer of wood and steel office furniture, school furniture, and shelving

Hired by a bankruptcy trustee to determine whether a $68M manufacturer should be closed and the assets liquidated or restructured, returned to profitability and sold.

Designed and presented a plan for restructuring which was accepted. Subsequently hired to lead the restructuring effort, resulting in saving 425 jobs, repaying 100% of creditor obligations and ultimately identifying a qualified investor to purchase the business.

Insurance Agency

Worked with the owner to address issues with family employees, develop clear sales and marketing processes and grew sales team from 3 to more than 20.

Company sold in 2021 securing a very comfortable retirement nest egg for the owner and providing for their continued involvement with the business they built for as long they want.

Industries we work with

With 30+ years of experience working with companies around the world you can rest assured we can help you.

Manufacturing

Our experience spans working with small run machine shop operations to 800+ employee production facilities working with metal, plastic, wood and other materials.

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Service Industries

With engagements that range from working with insurance agencies, corporate benefits management, escape rooms, chemical process equipment sales, CPA firms, outsourced IT, hearing aid sales or even custom software design, we are confident that our knowledge will transfer to whatever challenges your business may be faceing.

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Medical Device and Healthcare

Healthcare clients include dental offices, private practices as well as working with hospitals.
Medical devices engagements have included X-ray and surgical suite equipment, lighting products, sound masking systems and a multitude of waiting and patient room furniture manufacurers.

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What our clients are saying

“If you end your training now, if you choose the quick and easy path, as Vader did, you will become an agent of evil.”

Lizzie Moore — Zapier

“If you end your training now, if you choose the quick and easy path, as Vader did, you will become an agent of evil.”

Leroy Sims — Apple

“If you end your training now, if you choose the quick and easy path, as Vader did, you will become an agent of evil.”

Leo Mack — Webflow

“If you end your training now, if you choose the quick and easy path, as Vader did, you will become an agent of evil.”

Claudia Davidson — Shopify

“If you end your training now, if you choose the quick and easy path, as Vader did, you will become an agent of evil.”

Victoria McCoy — Google

“If you end your training now, if you choose the quick and easy path, as Vader did, you will become an agent of evil.”

Steve Richardson — Dribbble

Who we work with?

Owners

Transitioning the ownership of the company you built may be the most difficult challenge that you will ever face.

When racing, Gary always includes a tactician/navigator with local knowledge of currents and winds to help plot the winning course. Northstar will function as your navigator to ensure the most successful outcome possible.

Owners select Northstar because we have the 30+ years of experience helping owners navigate the uncharted and tricky waters through which you need to make passage.

Leadership Teams

Often it is the company leadership or employees to whom ownership of a business will be transferred.

Selecting the best possible structure for this type of business sale is complex and can be daunting. Northstar has helped find the best possible options for dozens of clients and would be honored to help your team chart the right course for your company.

Family Businesses

Transitioning the ownership of a business to “family”
presents a unique set of challenges.

In addition to all of the challenges associated with every business ownership transition, family transitions add another layer of complexity; much of which will be highly charged emotionally.

In family transitions Northstar strives to ensure that there is transparency in every aspect of the process so that the best option for all concerned is identified and all vested family members have been included.

Partners

Not all matches are made in heaven and consequently partnerships transitions can be difficult to navigate.

Often, two or more good friends started a business and have subsequently grown in different directions.

If you need help unwinding a partnership, we have helped many partnerships chart a path through these very murky waters.

When you aren't sure what your next transition in business looks like...
Ask us!

Exit planning isn't really exit planning. It's just good business planning for your next transition.  Are you ready to start a conversation?
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