Selling a Business: Let’s Make the Sale Work for Life
A huge milestone — now get clarity, freedom and security from your exit
You’ve built a business. You’ve taken risks, invested time, energy and heart. When the sale completes, a new chapter opens. But a big lump sum doesn’t guarantee security. Without careful planning, what looks like freedom can become uncertainty.
At Lucent, we help business-owners transition from “seller” to “secure investor”. We turn the sale proceeds into a plan: income, security, purpose and long-term financial strength.
.webp)
Why Choose Lucent for Your Financial Planning?
Our financial planners, with the support of our wider team, work tirelessly to ensure our clients receive the highest standards of advice and care. We are proud of the reviews we receive on third party sites.(Numbers updated Dec 2025)
Why Exiting a Business Is a Big Turning Point — More Than Just Money
- Life-altering windfall. The sale likely delivers a lump sum — but might end your regular income stream. Turning capital into sustainable income requires care, planning and skill.
- Tax and regulatory complexity. In the UK, sale proceeds can trigger Capital Gains Tax (CGT). Reliefs exist (like Business Asset Disposal Relief), but eligibility and timing matter. Poor planning can erode wealth fast.
- Investment risk and wealth concentration. Many ex-owners find their wealth heavily weighted in one asset (former business). Without diversification, they remain exposed to market or sector shocks.
- Lifestyle, identity and purpose shift. Beyond finances — after years of business identity and structure — many sellers face “what now?”: lifestyle, retirement, legacy, reinvestment, giving back. This emotional shift can drive impulsive or risky financial decisions.
- Need to balance consumption, preservation and legacy. It’s tempting to enjoy the sale proceeds — but balancing spending, long-term protection, tax efficiency and legacy planning demands careful strategy.
Selling a business isn’t an end. It’s a pivot — and what you do next determines whether you enjoy freedom, or regret.
What Smart Post-Sale Planning Should Deliver
A robust plan after a business exit provides:
- A clear income and cashflow model — turning your lump sum into sustainable income, while preserving capital.
- A tax-efficient withdrawal and investment strategy — using reliefs, allowances, and structuring to minimise CGT and future tax liabilities.
- A diversified investment portfolio — spreading risk across asset classes, geographies and investment types, reducing dependency on one asset.
- Estate, retirement and legacy planning — aligning wealth, lifestyle, inheritance, and long-term goals (family, philanthropy, business reinvestment, property, etc.).
- Behavioural guardrails and financial wellness — ensuring liquidity, flexibility, protection, and sensible spending — especially critical after emotional business exits.
- Long-term support and review mechanism — wealth needs evolve; laws change; goals shift — a plan should be adaptable, not static.
How Lucent Helps — Your Post-Exit Financial Roadmap
1: Reality Check & Goals Mapping
We start with a free, no-obligation conversation to understand your lifestyle, values, family priorities, and risk appetite, alongside a full review of your assets, liabilities, and future goals.
2: Tax & Exit Strategy Audit
We analyse the sale structure, timing, and tax reliefs, model post-tax proceeds, and clarify exactly how much capital you will have available after the transaction.
3: Cashflow & Income Modelling
We build a robust cashflow model covering lifestyle costs, inflation, longevity, and contingencies, stress-testing your plan against market downturns and unexpected life events.
4: Investment & Wealth Structuring
We design a diversified, tax-efficient investment strategy aligned to your goals, balancing growth, income, protection, liquidity, and long-term legacy planning.
5: Lifestyle, Purpose & Behavioural Support
We help translate financial freedom into a meaningful next chapter, providing behavioural guidance to avoid impulsive decisions and support confident, intentional wealth choices.
6: Long-Term Stewardship & Review
We remain your long-term partner, regularly reviewing and adapting your plan as markets, legislation, and personal circumstances evolve.
Who This Page Is For — Business Owners Entering (or Having Just Completed) an Exit
- Owners about to sell — seeking to understand what to do with the proceeds before committing to major decisions.
- Entrepreneurs who recently sold — wanting to convert business equity into secure, versified personal wealth.
- Owners considering retirement, lifestyle change, reinvestment, legacy or wealth transfer — needing a holistic plan rather than ad-hoc advice.
- Those concerned with tax, estate planning, wealth protection, and protecting family or legacy after sale.
Whether your sale is modest or substantial — a considered post-exit plan can make a material difference to your financial future.
.webp)
Why Lucent Is Well-Placed to Help
✅ Holistic, independent financial advice — covering tax, investments, estate, cashflow, lifestyle planning — not just one-off product sales.
✅ Experience with complex transitions — we understand the emotional, financial and lifestyle implications of business exit, and guide you through each with empathy and expertise.
✅ Realistic, practical approach — no “get rich quick” pitches. We emphasise clarity, transparency, risk management, and long-term thinking.
✅ Flexible, client-centred planning — we tailor solutions to your goals, not to generic templates; your plan evolves as you do.
✅ Long-term partnership — we don’t set and forget. We stay with you through life changes — retirement, legacy, inheritance, family shifts — to preserve and grow what you’ve built.
See What Our Clients Say
We’ve helped hundreds of clients across the Midlands achieve financial peace of mind, freedom, and happiness.
Here’s what a few of them have to say...
"I'm really happy with their service! They took the time to understand my unique situation and goals, ensuring every recommendation aligned perfectly with my needs."
"From the very first moment of meeting, we were made to feel so welcome. We felt so relaxed and at ease. We felt staff were honest and trustworthy and talked in a way we understood."
"Steve understands our objectives, listens to our needs and what we require. He advises us how to best achieve our goals and encourages us to go ahead with our retirement. We are very happy with the current progress."
"We have used Lucent for several years and found them outstanding advisors. Steve Rowe is an outstanding example of how a brilliant advisor can turn around even the most sceptical client."
"Keely has been excellent in explaining so we clearly understand our pensions and investment options. The outcome has exceeded our expectations, the service we have received from Keely Woods has been exceptional."
"We have been with Steve for over 10 years. We have got to treat him as a friend now. Steve has guided us through some tough times on the way to retirement, we have always trusted his judgement."
"Steve has also stepped in with advice that has saved a significant amount in taxation over the past year and helped me in readiness for retirement."
"Luke has listened and understood our needs and provided very thorough explanations of our options to enable us to make a very informed decision."
"From the very first moment of meeting, we were made to feel so welcome. We felt so relaxed and at ease. We felt staff were honest and trustworthy and talked in a way we understood."
"Steve I would like to thank you for your support, understanding and advice. You have provided us with clear and concise details enabling us to make informed decisions."
"It took me a while to find the right financial planners, I wanted someone who was interested in doing the best for me and not just interested in what I would be worth to them. I definitely found that and more at Lucent."
"Keely has removed the “fear” from managing my financial assets - an important outcome for me. I am also happy with the outcomes in terms of the performance of investment decisions that I have made."
"Luke has provided a plan, based on investment advice, that allows us to meet our objectives. We have retired and our lifestyle has actually improved!"
Are you planning to sell your business?
Contact Lucent today if you want to turn your business sale into a secure, purpose-driven future.
- Are you selling or have you recently sold a business for over £500k?
- Are you seeking advice on investing the funds from your business sale?
- Do you need help planning the most tax-efficient way to manage your proceeds?
- Would you like to plan for your financial future now that you’ve exited your business?
If you answer yes to the above, get in touch.
FAQs
Diversifying your investments, paying down debts, and investing in income-generating assets are smart strategies. Lucent can help you create a wealth management plan that works for you.
We provide expert tax planning advice to minimise your capital gains tax and other liabilities, ensuring you keep as much of the proceeds as possible.
Everyone’s financial goals are different. At Lucent, we help you explore investment options—like stocks, bonds, real estate, and alternative investments—that align with your objectives and risk tolerance.
Still have questions?
If you've got a question we haven't answered, we'd love to hear from you.