FROM SCALE TO SALE
What Should You Be Doing TODAY to Profitably Exit Your Business in 3–5 Years?
An Executive Panel Discussion for Business Owners & Entrepreneurs
| When: | Monday, August 31, 2026 |
| Time: | 5:30 PM – Networking 6:00–7:00 PM – Expert Panel Discussion |
| Where: | Union League Club of Chicago 65 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL |
Union League Club Special Interest Group Sponsor: Business Leaders Group
Co-Facilitated By
Marne Smiley
Founder, Bumper Lanes
Carl Kutsmode
2X Exited Founder & Current founder & President, B2B-VIP Executive Alliance
Don’t Wait Until You’re Ready to Exit to Start Preparing for a Sale.
Successful business owners are understandably focused on growing revenue, serving customers, managing people, and scaling their companies. But many of the decisions that ultimately determine what your business is worth—and how much you keep when you sell—need to be made years before a transaction.
From Scale to Sale brings together experienced M&A, legal, financial, valuation, and business-growth experts to discuss the practical steps owners should consider 3–5 years before a potential sale or succession.
Our panel will share lessons learned from real transactions and identify low-cost and no-cost actions you can start taking today to build a more valuable, transferable, and exit-ready business.
Register Here
Key Takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Maximize Business Valuation – Understand the financial, operational, leadership, and growth factors buyers value most.
- Prepare 3–5 Years Ahead – Identify steps you can take now to make your company more attractive and transaction-ready.
- Minimize Taxes & Protect Wealth – Understand why tax and wealth planning should begin well before a sale.
- Avoid Costly Exit Mistakes – Recognize issues that can reduce valuation or create problems during due diligence.
- Reduce Owner Dependency – Build the leadership, systems, and succession plan needed for the business to thrive without you.
- Understand Your Options – Explore strategic sales, growth capital, recapitalizations, acquisitions, partial liquidity, and succession alternatives.
Expert Panel Perspectives
Hear from experienced professionals representing:
- Investment Banking / M&A & Growth Capital
- Transaction & M&A Law
- CPA / Business Valuation & Tax Advisory
- Leadership, Growth & Exit Readiness
Who Should Attend?
Designed for business owners and founders considering succession, growth capital, or a potential exit within the next 3–5 years, as well as:
- Entrepreneurs pursuing acquisitions or growth capital
- Fractional CFOs, CPAs and valuation consultants
- M&A and growth advisors
- Transaction attorneys and other professionals advising business owners
The best time to identify what could reduce the value of your business isn’t during buyer due diligence. It’s years earlier.