Selling a business can completely change your financial position. For many entrepreneurs, the majority of their wealth has been tied up in one company for years. A successful sale can suddenly leave you with a substantial amount of cash and a completely different set of financial decisions to make.
Use our wealth management finder to compare the best wealth managers for entrepreneurs who have sold a business.
How To Choose The Best Wealth Managers For Entrepreneurs That Have Sold Their Business
The best wealth managers for entrepreneurs should therefore offer more than investment management. They should be able to help you prepare for a business sale, manage the proceeds afterwards and build a long-term financial plan around your new circumstances.
Speak to a wealth manager before you sell
Ideally, financial planning should begin before the transaction completes rather than after the sale proceeds arrive in your bank account.
The structure and timing of a business disposal can have significant tax consequences. Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR). From 6 April 2026, qualifying gains are subject to Capital Gains Tax at 18%, with a £1 million lifetime limit on qualifying gains.
A wealth manager shouldn’t replace specialist tax or legal advice, but a good one should be comfortable working alongside your accountant, corporate finance adviser and solicitor before and during the transaction.
Work out what you actually need
One of the biggest changes following a business sale is that your investments may now need to support your lifestyle.
Before investing the proceeds, your wealth manager should establish how much money you need for property, tax bills, future businesses, family commitments and other expenditure.
They should then determine how much can genuinely be invested for the long term. FCA suitability guidance highlights the importance of understanding a client’s financial position, objectives, investment experience, attitude to risk and capacity for loss.
Don’t rush to invest the proceeds
After spending years building a company, it can feel strange having several million pounds sitting in cash. But that doesn’t mean it needs to be invested immediately.
A wealth manager should explain the advantages and disadvantages of investing a lump sum immediately versus gradually putting the money into markets.
You may also want to retain a substantial cash reserve, particularly if you intend to start another business or make angel investments.
Diversify away from your business
Entrepreneurs are often comfortable with concentrated risk. After all, you may have had most of your net worth invested in a single private company.
After selling, however, you have an opportunity to diversify.
A wealth manager should be able to construct a portfolio across different companies, markets and asset classes so that your future financial security isn’t dependent on the fortunes of one investment.
Be particularly careful about replacing one concentrated risk with another by investing too much of your sale proceeds into private companies, venture capital or the businesses of friends and former colleagues.
Consider your next venture
Selling your company doesn’t necessarily mean retiring.
You may want to start another business, become an angel investor or acquire other companies. Make sure your wealth manager understands this and doesn’t invest money you are likely to need.
For entrepreneurs, liquidity can be particularly important. Your investment portfolio should complement your entrepreneurial activities rather than restrict them.
Think about your family and estate
A business sale can also be the point at which estate planning becomes much more important.
Your wealth manager should help you consider how your assets fit together and, where appropriate, work with tax and legal specialists on inheritance and estate planning.
This can be particularly important if the sale has created significant wealth that you ultimately want to pass to children or other family members.
Look beyond investment performance
Finally, don’t choose a wealth manager simply because they present an impressive investment