Strategic Succession & Exit Planning

Build a business that’s valuable, transferable, and built to last.

Why Strategic Succession & Exit Planning Is Critical Today

Most business owners believe exit planning is for “someday”—when they retire or sell. But the truth is, planning early is the smartest way to build value and ensure your business thrives now. Without it, businesses risk:

  • Unrealized Value

    Failing to plan for the future of your business can mean lost opportunities — and leaving a big portion of your wealth behind.

  • Unexpected Events

    If you and your business aren’t prepared for the future, unexpected events could force an exit on terms you didn’t choose — and cost far more than you expected.

  • When the Business Always Comes First, You Come Last.

    Without a plan for your future, success can trap you, keeping you busy, reactive, and uncertain about what’s next for your life beyond the business.

Strategic planning isn’t about leaving now — it’s about building a business that works for you today and sets you up for whatever comes next.

What Strategic Exit Planning Does for You

Increase Your Business’s Market Value

Create Flexible Options for the Future

Make your company more attractive to buyers or partners.

Choose when and how to exit — or keep building.

Build Leadership That Runs Without You

Protect Your Legacy and Company Culture

Empower your team to keep operations smooth and growing.

Ensure your business reflects your values long-term.

Gain Peace of Mind and Control

Know your business can succeed with or without you.

Real, hard, truths:

  • 70% of businesses never sell — but 100% of owners will exit their business

  • 75% of owners who do sell regret it within the first 12 months

  • 50% of business transitions are involuntary due to lack of preparation

  • 80–90% of an owners wealth is tied up in their business and most don’t know how to unlock it until it’s too late

    What if you could build a company that’s valuable, transferable, and built to last?

How We Help - Our Process

Whose Exit Planning For?

Business owners or those part of a leadership team who:

  • Want to grow the value of the company (even if they’re not exiting soon)

  • Want clarity around future options — exit, succession, or scale

  • Are not sure what the business is worth or how to improve it

  • Have built a great business, but know it depends too much on the owners

Meet David

Your Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA)

Having helped lead a family-owned business for many years, I understand firsthand the highs and lows of ownership — the pressure of critical decisions, the challenge of aligning a team, and the constant balancing act between growth and risk.

Today, as a certified EOS Implementer® and Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA), I’ve worked alongside dozens of business owners and leadership teams across industries to cut through complexity, build real transferable value, and create companies that are both resilient and ready for what’s next.

My approach is grounded in real-world experience, shaped by what actually works in day-to-day business — not just theory — so leaders can move forward with clarity, confidence, and a practical plan for the future.

As a CEPA, what can I do for you

  • Reveal Your True Business Value

    Tangible assets and hidden intangible capital that buyers crave

  • Assess Readiness & Attractiveness

    Know exactly where you stand in the eyes of investors or successors

  • Identify the 3 Owner Gaps

    Pinpoint your value, wealth, and profit gaps to unlock exponential growth

  • Clarify Your Valuation Range

    Understand what your business is worth today—and what it could be worth with the right steps

  • Navigate Your Exit Options

    Tailor a strategy that aligns with your company’s reality and your personal vision

  • Define Your Life’s Next Chapter

    Align personal, business, and financial goals into a clear exit roadmap

  • Launch 90-Day Acceleration Plans

    Reduce risk, build value, and maintain momentum in bite-sized, measurable sprints

  • Unify Your Advisory Team

    Get your financial, legal, and internal players working in harmony towards one mission

The 5 D’s

The Unexpected Forces That Trigger 50% of Business Exits

Half of all business exits aren’t planned—they’re forced.
Will your legacy survive a storm you didn’t see coming?

Disability

Distress

Death

Divorce

When personal lives unravel, so do business foundations.

Disagreement

Partnership fallout or shareholder disputes can derail operations instantly.

An unexpected health issue can sideline you—and your vision—indefinitely.

Economic downturns, cash flow crises, or reputation damage can force a fast, painful exit.

Without a plan, your business—and your family’s future—could be left in chaos.

What Clients Are Saying

  • "Working with David and the EOS model has improved communication and accountability across all levels of our organization. With 100+ people and multiple locations, having one system that everyone can follow to solve problems and keep focused on the the things we need to is critical. We started with our leadership team and love the weekly meetings and quarterly pulses, we later extended it to all divisions and have found a very positive response from all teams!"

    Cassandra Morari, COO
    Rack Petroleum Ltd.

  • “David at SMT Business Strategies has been an incredible asset to our business. With his expert guidance, we successfully implemented the EOS framework, which has transformed how we operate. David helped us clearly define our company’s Vision, Values, and Direction, and his ability to pull out and address our key issues has been invaluable.”

    Mike Herperger, Owner
    Robinson Residential

  • “Our experience with David implementing EOS has been exceptional for Magnus Construction' team. David's leadership was clear, organized, and practical, providing us with valuable tools that improved our day-to-day operations and established a solid framework for long-term success.

    The immediate and tangible benefits from day one have translated into noticeable improvements across different areas of our company. We are grateful for the results and highly recommend EOS and David as an implementer for anyone looking to elevate their business with a comprehensive and effective approach.

    This is a five-star investment in the future of your company.”

    Eduardo Chavez, Owner
    Magnus Construction Services

  • “The leadership team at Reed Security is in our second year using EOS. We tried implementing the tools on our own and had moderate success. We hired David as our Implementor and we're more focused, disciplined, accountable - and seeing results! I highly recommend EOS for any small-medium business and David Robinson as an Implementor.”

    Virgil Reed, CEO & Owner
    Reed Security

  • “Dingwall Guitars Inc. has been utilizing the EOS Systems for the past 18 months under the direction and coaching of David Robinson, and to this point have achieved fantastic results implementing the processes and creating effective structure and accountability in our workplace. David is consistently available, approachable, and extremely knowledgeable in the strategies employed by EOS, and we personally have seen tremendous growth and structure through his efforts.”

    Michael McDougall, COO
    Dingwall Guitars Inc.

  • “EOS company management system is excellent, but it can also be complicated to learn all on your own. David made implementing the system simple and easy to understand. He is thoughtful and clearly states what EOS can and can't do for you and your company. I was really pleased to learn the model and all the different ways we can use it to learn more and stay focused on what really matters to keep moving forward.

    If you need some help I would definitely recommend David. Great course and a great guy.”

    Keli Propp, Co-Founder & CEO
    Immigrate Software

  • “We had David come in and help our leadership group transition to a small family company to help us got more of a corporate structure within our 3 locations. I would highly recommend this to anyone who seems to be working in their business instead of on it..”

    Shawn Kaschl, General Manager
    Culligan Water

  • “David lead the Alair Homes Saskatchewan team through an exceptional and eye-opening experience as we unpacked and mastered each of the EOS core tools. This experience provided our franchise owners with immediate impact, results, and value. We intend to continue our EOS journey with David's strong facilitation skills leading us along the way.”

    Doug Elder, Regional Developer
    Alair Homes

  • “Really enjoyed working with SMT Business Strategies. Our business is far better off having received their services. Highly recommend!.”

    Adam Stenerson, Owner
    Wheatland Dental