Capitaliz builds strong international market traction on back of significant demographic trends

Craig West

Australasia’s largest succession and exit planning advisory firm, Succession Plus is building its international presence with Capitaliz, a digital tool designed to service the baby-boomer generation seeking to unlock value in their businesses prior to retirement.

Capitaliz was launched in September 2021 following a 2020 capital raise by Succession Plus capital. The launch of Capitaliz converted the 21-step business succession and exit planning process and Business Insights Report, into a real time online platform for unlisted mid-market businesses.

Now distributing to the US and Canadian markets, Capitaliz has already achieved rapid commercial success, signing a major 12-month project representing more than US$1.4 million in revenue and accrediting 12 North American based advisers.

Capitaliz has also entered international partnerships with the Exit Planning Institute and the International Business Brokers Association, which both represent significant adviser constituencies. Capitaliz Founder Craig West will present at their annual conferences in USA in May and the tool will be promoted to their audiences via digital marketing, webinars and member training programs.

Further, the valuation model used by the Capitaliz platform has been verified for use in the USA market by the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts. Capitaliz has also been chosen to participate in the NSW Going Global export programs for Singapore and the UK which will provide access to international markets and a source for future growth.

According to Succession Plus Founder Craig West, Capitaliz’s success in the US and Canada aligns with the broader demographic trend sweeping the world as baby-boomers sell their businesses and plan for retirement, generating a major inter-generational transfer of wealth. He said the OECD predicts in the US and Canada alone, more than 12 million SME’s are owned by baby-boomers, with their businesses estimated to be valued at greater than US$10 trillion.

“Most baby boomers who have grown their own businesses face the overwhelming reality that they are unprepared to unlock the value held in their privately-owned business assets and without a plan, the value of their business will retire as soon as they do,” said West.

Competitive advantages of Capitaliz include the provision of consistent valuations, benchmarking and non-financial metrics to make like for like comparisons while the quarterly Value Potential Index tracks key metrics which influence SME valuations.

To use Capitaliz, advisers must become accredited through the Capitaliz Academy, which includes eight core units of theory and practice and is an estimated 20 hour time commitment. This accreditation strengthens the consistent valuation method delivered by Capitaliz and ensures a quality client experience.

“Investing time in business succession and exit planning is one of the most important financial decisions a business owner will ever make,” said West. “For business owners, a large proportion of their wealth is tied up in the business and related assets and the extraction of that wealth is a key component to adequately funding their retirement.”