Is your business ready? Succession, sale & scaling tips for owners

In unpredictable times, business readiness isn’t just a good idea — it’s your best strategy. It can be the difference between growth and stagnation, between navigating challenges smoothly or getting blindsided by them.

• Be proactive.
• Stay prepared.
• Remain mindful.
• Be alert.
• Practice vigilance.

You’ve heard it all before: Be ready.

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” — Benjamin Franklin

Or another favorite: “Fortune favors the prepared mind.”

These timeless quotes have stuck around for a reason. They’re reminders that in business, as in life, preparation is power.

Alison Hoffman

Why Readiness Matters for Business Growth

Running your company as efficiently and effectively as possible is one of the smartest things you can do — for your team, your customers and yourself. But let’s be honest: That’s a lot easier said than done.

Depending on your company’s size or stage, you might still be directly involved in almost every critical task. You may still wear multiple hats: CEO, CFO, HR manager, designer, project manager, purchaser, driver, superintendent — even crew member. You’re not just running the show; you are the show.

And if you’ve grown beyond that phase, congratulations. But even now, especially at the beginning of a new season, you may still find yourself swept up in the daily fires — the tyranny of the urgent. There’s pressure to hit sales targets, delight customers, retain good employees and make sure every moving part stays on track.

But somewhere in the middle of the daily hustle, you begin to think bigger. How can I run this business better — not just today, but for the long haul? 

That’s where business readiness comes in. You start reading more, joining peer groups, attending industry events, learning what makes other businesses thrive. Slowly but surely, you begin to shift from being in the business to working on the business. That’s a major milestone.

Common Weak Spots in Small Business Operations

Still, when things are going well, it’s easy to ignore the weak spots.

Maybe your $5 million operation still lacks clear career paths, or it lacks a structured compensation plan that ties employee performance to company goals. Maybe you’ve always relied on gut instinct when it comes to financials and haven’t truly taken ownership of your reports. Or perhaps you avoid surveying your clients because you’re worried they’ll bring up issues you’d rather not face. If there’s no visible fire, why go looking for one?

But here’s the thing: Today’s business landscape is shifting — fast. Market fluctuations, global disruptions and unexpected challenges can hit without warning. The more uncertainty there is in the world, the more critical it is to be ready — not just to weather storms but to seize new opportunities as they emerge.

How to Build a Culture of Readiness

So, what does business readiness mean for you and your company right now?

It means taking a hard look at your systems, your structure, your leadership and your team. It means being honest about what’s working — and what needs to change. It means doing a readiness assessment, not just of your operations, but of your mindset. Are you prepared to pivot? To scale? To lead through change?

And if you are one of the many business owners who are thinking about retiring, selling your company or passing it on to the next generation, business readiness takes on even greater significance. There are two sides to consider:

First, are you personally ready for that transition? Can you afford it? Have you thought about what it will look like without the responsibilities of ownership? How will you channel your time, energy and talent?

Preparing for Ownership Transition or Sale

Second, is the business ready for sale or other transition? Is it in a strong, healthy position for a new owner or leader to step in and succeed? Will the buyer or the next generation find a healthy business with the systems, culture and momentum to thrive in the future?

Being ready isn’t a one-time task — it’s a way of thinking, a culture you build.

Final thoughts

Business readiness doesn’t require perfection — it requires intention. Start small if you need to but start somewhere. Evaluate where your business stands today, identify areas of improvement and commit to making progress. Empower your team, tighten your systems and stay alert to change. When you lead with a mindset of preparation, you build resilience, earn trust and position your business not just to survive — but to thrive. So, ask yourself again: Are you ready?

Cream of the Crop features a rotating panel from the Harvest Group, a landscape business consulting company. Alison Hoffman is the M&A representative. Contact her at harvest@giemedia.com