Assess your readiness. Plan your exit. Sell for more.
Built for business owners across North America. Measure your business and personal readiness against the nine dimensions professional buyers use to value companies, and get a personalized gap analysis in under five minutes.
Trusted by leading institutions, and brought to you by Rise Up BC
You've put everything into your business. Exit planning is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make, and one of the least discussed. We partnered with Optionality so you can access their exit readiness assessment for free, because knowing your options is part of running a resilient business.
From running a business to planning your legacy.
A clear path from where you are today to the exit you want, at your pace, never on someone else's clock. Built for business owners across North America: no advisor at the door, no transaction you didn't choose. You decide when each step makes sense, and how far you go.
- 01
Get your preliminary readiness report
Answer 30 questions and see where you stand across the nine dimensions buyers look at. Free, about five minutes.
- 02
Unlock your full exit plan
Take the full questionnaire and turn your snapshot into a prioritized, multi-year plan to build value and get deal-ready. Free.
- 03
Act on it, your way
Work the plan on your own, or experience the power of working with a seasoned Guide to support your exit planning journey.
- 04
Track your progress
Update your plan monthly, watch your readiness climb, and tap our network of advisors, accountants, and lenders as you need them.
- 05
Sell on your terms — and pay it forward
When you're ready, exit on your terms. And if you choose to, come back as a coach for the next generation of owners.
The gaps that cost owners the most - and how to close them.
A five-minute readiness assessment showing where you stand on the nine dimensions buyers actually look at, and the three priorities that reduce risk and lift your value before any sale.
- Your 9-dimension score
Benchmarked against the buyer criteria that move actual transaction multiples.
- Top 3 value gaps
The specific weaknesses that most often discount price or break deals at diligence.
- A clear place to start
The moves that lift your value most, sequenced so you know what to start now and what can wait.
Headline diagnosis
Sellable, once the business can run without you.
Owner-dependence & organizational readiness is the binding constraint, with 18 months of focused work, you'll move into the Ready band.
The three things to tackle first
- 01Begin proactive tax & estate planning40
- 02Institutionalize your sales process53
- 03Elevate a middle management layer53
Built by Operators Who've Been in Your Seat
We created Optionality in Montreal after going through the uncertainty, preparation, negotiations, and timing decisions that come with selling a business. We know the North American market, its buyers, its bilingual complexity, and its unique challenges for business owners.
Backed by EY, BMO, La Caisse, FTQ, Google for Startups, Cohere, iNovia and Luge. In partnership with Rise Up BC. Featured in La Presse and Les Affaires.
Team history
Repeat founder with 2 exits
Guided 5 founder exits
M&A advisor to founder-led businesses
CEPA, 2026 Exit Planner of the Year
The right growth story can completely change how a buyer understands the future of your business.
Answers before you start.
Is this really free for Rise Up BC members?
Yes, completely. Rise Up BC partnered with Optionality to give their members free access to the full exit readiness assessment. No credit card, no catch, no obligation to go further.
Isn't it too early to start if I'm years from selling?
It's the opposite, this is the ideal time. The owners who exit best start years out, while there's still runway to build value and fix what buyers discount. Starting now is the advantage.
Am I committing to selling?
Not at all. Every step is yours to take when it makes sense, and nothing here pushes you toward a transaction. Most owners use Optionality to understand their options long before any decision. You sell when, and if, you're ready.
Is my information confidential?
Yes. Your answers and your business details are private and never shared, not even with Rise Up BC. Discretion is the whole point.
How is this different from a broker or my accountant?
A broker shows up when you're ready to transact; an accountant looks backward at your books. Optionality helps you plan forward, understand your value, build it, see your buyers, and prepare, over the time that actually determines your outcome.
Do you actually help me find buyers and sell?
When you choose to. You can map acquirers and acquisition targets from our company and private-equity database, and bring in an M&A advisor to help you prepare and run a process, entirely on your terms, with no obligation to approach anyone.
What does it cost?
The readiness diagnostic and the full exit-readiness assessment are free. Valuation, planning, and advisor support are there if and when you want them.
Who is EMA?
EMA is our AI exit-planning specialist. She turns your answers into clear insights and a practical roadmap, and answers your questions along the way.
The best exits start years early. Start yours today.
See where you stand right now. Your readiness, your gaps, and what to build before you sell. Free, confidential, about five minutes.