At Moore Barlow, we work with agricultural and rural business owners at key moments; whether planning for growth, bringing in investment or preparing to hand over or sell.
Earlier this year during a conversation with Agrilook co-founder Alexander Preston, one insight stood out: too many rural businesses lose value when it matters most simply because the conversation about structure and succession starts too late.
Farms and agribusinesses are more than commercial ventures. They’re part of families, communities and identities. That’s why having a clear, well-structured strategy matters as it protects both the financial and personal legacy you’ve built.
In this guide, David Bright, Partner in our Corporate team, shares practical steps to help agribusiness owners prepare for the next stage – whether that’s succession, investment or exit.
Understanding your exit and growth options
Every agribusiness reaches a transition point. The right approach depends on your goals, whether that’s maximising value, maintaining family control, or ensuring a smooth handover.
Here are the most common routes:
Family succession
Passing the business to the next generation, either directly or through a structure such as a Family Investment Company (FIC), can preserve family ownership while creating flexibility around taxation and control.
Share sale
If your agribusiness is incorporated, selling shares to an external buyer (often a larger competitor or supplier) allows you to exit while transferring the business as a going concern.
Management buyout (MBO)
An MBO lets your management team buy the business, maintaining continuity and protecting jobs. This can reassure customers, employees and suppliers.
Asset sale
Selling individual assets such as land, livestock or equipment, may be appropriate when the business isn’t incorporated or when you want to sell parts of the operation separately.
The best approach may combine several of these options. What’s most important is aligning the structure with your long-term vision for the farm’s future.
Five steps to prepare your Agribusiness for transition
Early planning allows you to strengthen your position, attract better offers, and protect the value you’ve worked hard to build.
Develop a clear exit strategy
Define your objectives from the start. Do you want to:
- Achieve the highest sale value?
- Keep the business in the family?
- Protect your team and local reputation?
There’s no right answer but clarity here will guide every other decision. A professional valuation will also ground your expectations in reality and help shape your plan.
Conduct a pre-sale health check
Before buyers or investors begin due diligence, conduct your own. Review the financial, legal and operational areas of your business, to identify issues early.
Fixing gaps before negotiations begin helps maintain buyer confidence and protects against unexpected delays or price reductions.
Get your finances in order
Buyers and investors want transparency. Make sure your profit and loss, cash flow, and balance sheets are accurate, consistent and up-to-date.
Clear records show your business is well managed and can significantly improve perceived value.
Strengthen your management team
Strong leadership reassures investors that the business can thrive without you. Empower key staff, delegate responsibilities and document internal processes.
A capable, confident team adds long-term stability which is a major plus in negotiations.
Choose the right professional advisors
The right expertise will save you time, money and stress.
Key advisors include:
- Business Broker: Finds and qualifies buyers or investors.
- Lawyer: Manages contracts and compliance, and who are ideally experienced in rural business sales.
- Accountant: Ensures tax efficiency and advises on financial structure.
- Agriculture Specialist: Understands sector-specific regulations and subsidies.
Together, they’ll help you navigate the process efficiently while you stay focused on running your business.
Why planning early pays off
Preparing for investment or exit isn’t just about the future, it strengthens your business today.
By improving financial transparency, governance and management, you make your business more efficient, more valuable and more resilient.
Ultimately, planning early puts you in control, whether you:
- Sell to a larger agricultural business
- Pass the farm to the next generation
- Bring in investors to fund growth
With the right preparation, you can protect your legacy and realise the full potential of your agribusiness.
How Moore Barlow can help
At Moore Barlow, we understand that agricultural businesses are built on more than assets. They are built on people, relationships and heritage.
Our Rural and Corporate teams work together to:
- Develop succession and exit strategies that align with your goals
- Support you through complex sales, mergers and investments
- Protect both the commercial and emotional value of your business
We’re proud to guide our clients through some of their biggest decisions with advice that’s practical, personal and always in tune with what really matters.
This article first appeared in AgroLook issue #008- July 2025.
