Selling Your Canadian Business: A Step-by-Step Guide to Maximizing Value and Securing Your Legacy
by Karl E. Sigerist, Jr., ICD.D
Praise for ”Selling Your Canadian Business”
...Karl has done a commendable job of tackling a challenging and multifaceted subject, presenting it in a concise and user-friendly manner that is highly readable. I particularly appreciate the incorporation of real-life examples to elucidate the topics further. This book is indispensable for individuals who have not previously sold a bus
...Karl has done a commendable job of tackling a challenging and multifaceted subject, presenting it in a concise and user-friendly manner that is highly readable. I particularly appreciate the incorporation of real-life examples to elucidate the topics further. This book is indispensable for individuals who have not previously sold a business, as it meticulously guides them through what can be an exceedingly stressful process...
Jonathan Fleisher
Partner
Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
A thoughtful and comprehensive guide for business owners looking to successfully exit their business. Karl has effectively distilled his expertise and decades of experience, producing an engaging and concise resource.
Rob Normandeau
President
Sea Fort Capital Inc.
...With over three decades guiding business owners through successful exits, Karl Sigerist distills real-world experience into clear, actionable steps. A must-read for any Canadian entrepreneur ready to navigate the sale process with confidence and clarity...
Haifeng Hu
Partner
Bennett Jones LLP
...As a business owner on my third entrepreneurial journey, I found Karl’s book to be an invaluable guide for any entrepreneur preparing for what is often the most important transaction of their life. He delivers practical insights and essential reminders about preparation, strategy, and mindset. No matter how skilled you are at building
...As a business owner on my third entrepreneurial journey, I found Karl’s book to be an invaluable guide for any entrepreneur preparing for what is often the most important transaction of their life. He delivers practical insights and essential reminders about preparation, strategy, and mindset. No matter how skilled you are at building and running a business, it is important to keep in mind that most owners have never sold one, and you rarely get a second shot at making it perfect. Karl’s work is a powerful reminder of why being well-advised and well-prepared makes all the difference...
Ugo Dionne
President
M&A Club of Canada
...One of the book's strengths lies in its emphasis on protecting the legacy of an owner. Getting the most money out of a sale is key for an owner but so is ensuring that the business is being sold to someone who cares about the company’s employees, brand and its unique characteristics that drove its success...
Mario Nigro
Partner
Mergers
...One of the book's strengths lies in its emphasis on protecting the legacy of an owner. Getting the most money out of a sale is key for an owner but so is ensuring that the business is being sold to someone who cares about the company’s employees, brand and its unique characteristics that drove its success...
Mario Nigro
Partner
Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity & Venture Capital
Stikeman Elliott LLP
...Selling Your Canadian Business fills a critical gap in the Canadian market. This isn't another generic business sale guide—it's a comprehensive roadmap specifically designed for Canadian business owners dealing with our unique tax structures, regulatory environment, and M&A landscape.
What sets this book apart is its practical, step-by-
...Selling Your Canadian Business fills a critical gap in the Canadian market. This isn't another generic business sale guide—it's a comprehensive roadmap specifically designed for Canadian business owners dealing with our unique tax structures, regulatory environment, and M&A landscape.
What sets this book apart is its practical, step-by-step approach. Karl doesn't just explain what to do; he shows you how to do it, with Canadian-specific strategies for leveraging the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption, preparing your business for maximum valuation, and navigating the personal and family dynamics that can make or break a successful transition...
Mark Stephenson
President and Owner
Cube Business Media
Empowering Entrepreneurs
Are you a Canadian business owner considering selling your company? Whether you’re planning for retirement, seeking financial security, or exploring new ventures, Selling Your Canadian Business: A Step-by-Step Guide to Maximizing Value and Securing Your Legacy by Karl E. Sigerist, Jr., ICD.D, is the roadmap you need to achieve a successful sale.
Tailored for owners of businesses generating $5M to $50M in annual revenue, this book provides actionable steps to navigate the complex M&A process in Canada. From personal and family preparation to leveraging tax benefits like the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption (LCGE), Karl’s expert insights will help you maximize value and secure your legacy. With Canadian-specific strategies, real-world case studies, and practical tools, this guide empowers you to take control of your business sale.
Karl wrote The Complete Guide to Selling Your Mid-Market Canadian Business because he saw too many business owners making preventable mistakes that cost them millions of dollars and years of regret. Having personally experienced the emotional and financial complexities of building, growing, and exiting businesses, and having guided dozens of clients through successful sales, Karl recognized the need for a comprehensive, practical, and honest guide specifically for Canadian business owners navigating the lower middle-market M&A landscape.
This book distills three decades of hard-won lessons, both his own and those of the entrepreneurs he has advised, into a step-by-step roadmap that maximizes value, minimizes stress, and helps owners build fulfilling next chapters after the sale.
What sets this book apart is Karl's unique perspective: he is not a theoretical academic or an investment banker who only sees deals from the buy side. He is a former CEO who built and exited businesses himself, who understands the sleepless nights that come with customer concentration, the pride of building a great team, and the conflicted emotions of letting go of something you have poured your life into. He has also advised dozens of Canadian business owners through every phase of the sale process, from the initial "should I sell?" question through post-sale life planning.
Drawing from his coast-to-coast speaking experience at Business Transitions Forum and TechExit events, Karl has heard thousands of questions from business owners and learned what keeps them up at night when contemplating a sale. This book answers those questions with brutal honesty, practical guidance, and the deep empathy that comes from walking this path himself.
Karl's approach is characterized by straight talk, deep empathy, and relentless focus on outcomes that matter not just the highest price, but the right deal with the right buyer that honors the seller's legacy and sets them up for long-term success and satisfaction.
The Shaughnessy Group
Disclaimer: The information is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, financial, tax, or professional advice. Laws and regulations vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Readers should consult with qualified attorneys, accountants, or advisors tailored to their specific circumstances before making any decisions. The authors assume no liability for actions taken based on this content.
Copyright © 2025 SELLING YOUR CANADIAN BUSINESS - All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer
The information published by the Shaughnessy Group is provided for general informational and educational purposes only.
It does not constitute legal, financial, tax, or professional advice. Laws and regulations vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Readers should consult with qualified attorneys, accountants, or advisors tailored to their specific circumstances before making any decisions.
The Shaughnessy Group and its authors assume no liability for actions taken based on this content.