For business owners, a successful exit starts years before a buyer is found. In this interview, David Prowse of the Shaughnessy Group speaks with Canadian CPA Bob Gauvreau about the crucial steps owners must take to prepare for a sale. Their conversation covers the shift from reactive to proactive tax planning, navigating the $1.25-million Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption, and the importance of establishing the right corporate structure well in advance. They also explore the “value gap” between owners and buyers, the negotiations between asset and share sales, and why clean financial projections and quality-of-earnings reports are critical for minimizing buyer risk and maximizing a company's sale price. Guest Background: Bob Gauvreau is a Canadian CPA who founded his professional-services firm in 2008 after leaving a multinational organization to focus exclusively on business owners. Operations: He leads a team of approximately 200 professionals, with major offices located in Peterborough, Ontario, and Winnipeg, Manitoba. Services: His firm operates as a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs, offering financial reporting, bookkeeping, fractional CFO services, business valuation, and complex tax restructuring. Integrated Expertise: In Ontario, his team's capabilities also expand into integrated legal services to assist with corporate reorganizations and transaction structuring.