When it comes to selling your business, most entrepreneurs wait too long to prepare. They obsess over growth metrics, product-market fit, and operational efficiency — but neglect one of the most critical phases of entrepreneurship: the exit.

Here’s the truth: a great exit doesn’t happen at the negotiating table — it’s built years in advance.

At Mavacy, we help founders create businesses that are built to scale and designed to sell. As legal counsel, our role goes beyond contracts. We help founders architect clean structures, minimize risk, and align strategy with the expectations of buyers, investors, and stakeholders. The more prepared and educated you are heading into a transaction, the smoother it will go — and the more valuable your business becomes in the eyes of the buyer.

Whether you’re bootstrapped or venture-backed, these seven books are essential reading if you’re even thinking about selling in the next few years.

1. The Art of Selling Your Business — John Warrillow

• Maximize your sale price through strategic positioning
• Learn how buyers value different types of businesses
• Explore the “Freedom Point” — when to sell for optimal return
• Includes real-world seller stories and deal structures
• A must-read if you’re looking to attract strategic or financial buyers

2. Before the Exit — Dan Andrews

• Packed with decision-making exercises for founder clarity
• Encourages you to evaluate the why behind selling
• Helps you emotionally and mentally prepare for life post-sale
• Aligns exit timing with your personal and professional goals
• Ideal for founders struggling with “Should I sell now?”

3. The Exitpreneur’s Playbook — Joe Valley

• Tactical, step-by-step guide for online business exits
• Teaches how to prepare clean, trustworthy financials
• Breaks down common deal structures and buyer personas
• Helps identify key value levers buyers care about
• Bonus: Includes a free seller checklist

4. Exit Right — Mark Achler & Mert Iseri

• Deep dive into legal and financial due diligence
• Avoid costly mistakes and blind spots during negotiation
• Prepares you to lead your team and your emotions through the process
• Balances impact, culture, and value in the exit
• Reinforces how early legal prep leads to smoother closings

5. Finish Big — Bo Burlingham

• Focuses on exits that feel meaningful, not just lucrative
• Uncovers 8 traits of fulfilling exits from real founders
• Explores leadership transition, identity, and legacy
• Avoids the common regret of “exiting too soon or too late.”
• Must-read if you’re thinking about what’s next after the sale

6. Get Acquired for Millions — Linda Rose

• Learn valuation strategies for tech and SaaS businesses
• Clean up your cap table, data room, and KPIs
• Get your business buyer-ready — even if you’re years away
  Includes a personal and financial readiness checklist
• Written by a founder-turned-M&A advisor who has been in your shoes

7. Built to Sell — John Warrillow

• Story-based guide to building a sellable service company
• Shows how to make your business less dependent on you
• Emphasizes process, repeatability, and transferability
• Helps you step back and let systems — not you — drive growth
• Often the first book we recommend to new clients

Here’s What Most Founders Miss…

You don’t wait until you’re sick to find a doctor — and you don’t wait until you get a term sheet to find a lawyer. The sooner you involve experienced legal counsel, the more value you’ll preserve (and create) on the backend.

A good lawyer won’t just “review documents.” We help founders:

• Structure their companies to be acquisition-ready
• Avoid red-flag liabilities that spook buyers
• Negotiate favorable terms that protect value and legacy
• Prep their team and stakeholders for the transition
• Maintain control while maximizing upside

Final Thought

The best exits don’t happen by accident — they happen by design. These seven books offer insight into how to build a company that’s not only profitable, but also positioned for a strong and satisfying sale.

But here’s the part most founders overlook: you don’t just need a plan — you need partners. A great lawyer does more than just protect your downside; they help you maximize your upside. From clean structuring and legal hygiene to negotiation tactics and stakeholder alignment, legal guidance can be the difference between closing a deal… and closing the right deal. founders overlook: You don’t just need a plan — you need partners. A great lawyer does more than protect your downside; they help you amplify your upside. From clean structuring and legal hygiene to negotiation strategy and stakeholder alignment, legal guidance can be the difference between closing a deal…and closing the right deal.

If you’re even thinking about selling in the next few years, start learning now. Read a book. Ask better questions. Clean up your business — and surround yourself with the right advisors.

Because when the opportunity shows up, you won’t want to start preparing — you’ll want to be ready.