The Arena Partners Expands Exit Planning Advisory Services Nationwide as McKinsey Projects $5 Trillion in Business Transitions
The Arena Partners, an exit planning advisory firm serving mid-market business owners, has announced the expansion of its advisory services to all 50 United States. The expansion comes as a February 2026 McKinsey report on the Great Ownership Transfer revealed that six million U.S. businesses representing up to $5 trillion in enterprise value will face ownership transitions over the next decade as baby boomer owners approach retirement.
The McKinsey findings paint a stark picture for business owners approaching retirement. Of the six million small and mid-size businesses facing ownership transitions by 2035, 92 percent of current market exits occur through closure rather than sale. Only 5 percent of small business transitions are completed as sales. For owners who have spent decades building value, these numbers represent a potential loss of retirement wealth, employee livelihoods, and community economic stability.
The challenge is particularly acute for mid-market businesses generating $20 million or more in annual revenue. These companies are often too large for simple brokerage but too small to attract institutional advisory support. Many owners have built substantial enterprises yet remain deeply embedded in daily operations, creating a founder dependency that significantly reduces the value a buyer is willing to pay.
The Arena Partners addresses this gap through the Transferable Method, a five-phase advisory framework designed to reduce founder dependency and increase standalone business value. The method guides owners through five stages of operational readiness: Align, Map, Document, Automate, and Scale. Each phase targets a specific area that buyers and investors evaluate during acquisition due diligence. Training can be found here: The Arena Partners
“The McKinsey data confirms what we see every day working with business owners. Most have spent 20 or 30 years building something valuable, but fewer than one in five have a documented plan to transfer that value. Our nationwide expansion means that owners in every state now have access to a structured exit planning advisory process that starts years before the actual transition,” said Jean Louis, Managing Partner of The Arena Partners.
The nationwide rollout includes virtual and in-person advisory engagements, regional workshops for business owners, and partnerships with financial advisors, CPAs, and attorneys who serve the exit planning ecosystem. The Arena Partners plans to establish advisory relationships in key metropolitan markets throughout 2026, with a focus on industrial services, mechanical services, and professional services sectors.
The firm distinguishes its approach from traditional business brokerage by focusing on long-term value creation rather than immediate transaction facilitation. Engagements typically begin two to five years before a planned ownership transition, allowing time to implement operational improvements, document institutional knowledge, and develop leadership teams capable of running the business independently.
“The McKinsey report projects that annual business exits could rise 42 percent above 2011 levels by 2035. That means more sellers competing for fewer qualified buyers. The owners who will achieve the strongest outcomes are those who start building transferable value now, while they still have time to prepare,” added Jean Louis.
Business owners interested in learning more about exit planning advisory services can visit their website to call or book for additional information on the Transferable Method and available advisory engagements. https://arenabusinessadvisors.com/
About The Arena Partners
The Arena Partners is an exit planning advisory firm that helps business owners build transferable value using the Transferable Method framework. The firm works with owners of mid-market businesses generating $5 million and above in annual revenue, guiding them through structured preparation for ownership transitions. The Arena Partners focuses on reducing founder dependency, strengthening operational systems, and building businesses that retain their value independently of any single individual.
For more information, visit https://arenabusinessadvisors.com/
Media Contact
Company Name: The Arena Partners
Contact Person: Jean Louis Hardy
Email: Send Email
Country: United States
Website: https://arenabusinessadvisors.com/
