Introduction: The paradox of entrepreneurial success

Many entrepreneurs are the engine of their business. You bring in customers, you know the market inside out, and you ensure that decisions are made. That feels logical, but in the event of a sale, it can actually work against you. Because a buyer wants a company that continues to run without you.

A company that is too dependent on the owner often gets a lower valuation or is more difficult to sell. The good news? By making your company independent step by step, you not only increase sales value, but also stability and growth strength during your own entrepreneurial journey.

The problem: too much dependency

In SMEs, we often see this:

• The owner is the face of the company.
• Customers and suppliers mainly have a relationship with him or her.
• Decisions are not recorded, but made “by heart”.
• The team is used to putting everything in front of the entrepreneur first.

For you as an entrepreneur, that seems efficient. For a buyer, it feels like a risk. What if you're gone tomorrow?

The solution: make yourself miserable

The secret lies in one word: portability. The better your company works without you, the more attractive it becomes for buyers and the more it is worth.

1. Build a strong management team

Make sure that crucial roles are not filled by you alone. Set up an MT or give key roles to employees who can take responsibility.

2. Document processes

Create manuals for operational tasks, record customer appointments, and work with standard procedures. Everything that's in your head right now has to be on paper (or in the cloud).

3. Strengthen customer relationships through the team

Introduce colleagues to customers so that they have multiple points of contact. This shifts the relationship from personal to business.

4. Digitize and automate

Use CRM systems, ERP software, and other tools to capture knowledge and automate processes. This way, your company becomes less dependent on individual people.

5. Create scalable revenue

Think of subscriptions or contracts with a longer duration. Recurring revenue makes your company more predictable and valuable.

The result: more value and peace of mind

A company that can run without the founder has three distinct advantages:

1. Higher valuation — buyers are willing to pay more for continuity.
2. Faster sales process — fewer risks means fewer due diligence discussions.
3. More freedom for you — you have more time to work on the strategy instead of in the operation.

Practical first steps

• Start small: Choose one task to hand over each week.
• Appoint a confidant within your team as project leader or point of contact.
• Use KPIs and dashboards to stay in control without having to keep track of everything.
• Schedule a quarterly time to test how much the company can run without you.

Time for action?

As an entrepreneur, it sometimes feels unnatural to make yourself less important. But that is exactly what makes your company stronger, more valuable and ready for sale.

Do you want to discover how independent your company already is and what steps you can take towards maximum value?

👉 Sign up for the BestBonobos beta via the form at the bottom of this page and be the first to get access to our platform that helps you with valuation, sales preparation and strategy.

📩 Sign up for a beta? Fill out the form at the bottom of this page now and take control of your company's future.

‍