The Exit Planning Institute (EPI) Southeast Michigan Chapter will host its 4th annual Southeast Michigan Business Owner Forum on November 5 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Orchard Lake Country Club, located at 5000 W Shore Dr., West Bloomfield, MI 48324. The half-day event is designed for business owners and focuses on how to grow a stronger, more valuable, and more transferable business.
The forum will feature panels with business owners, TED Talk-inspired sessions, and a fireside chat with an owner who recently exited their business. Attendees will hear firsthand from peers and industry experts about the challenges other owners have faced and the innovative solutions they found. Exit planning professionals, including financial advisors and business consultants, will have opportunities to network with other advisors and entrepreneurs on topics related to exit planning.
This event matters because it provides a rare platform for business owners to learn directly from those who have navigated the exit process. For many owners, their business represents a significant portion of their personal wealth, yet few have a formal plan for transitioning out. By sharing real-world experiences and expert guidance, the forum aims to help owners enhance the value and transferability of their companies, which can lead to better outcomes when they eventually sell or transition. The networking component also strengthens the local ecosystem of advisors who support these transitions, potentially improving the quality of advice available to Michigan business owners.
The Exit Planning Institute was formed in 2005 to serve professional business advisors' educational and resource needs. Its Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) credential program is described as the most widely endorsed professional exit planning program in the world, providing advisors with the content, tools, and training needed to engage business owners and become their most valued advisors. The Southeast Michigan Chapter's annual forum reflects EPI's broader mission of advancing exit planning education and connecting advisors with business owners.
For business owners considering an eventual exit, the forum offers a concentrated opportunity to gain insights without a significant time commitment. The half-day format is designed to be accessible while still delivering substantive content through peer panels and expert sessions. Advisors attending can expect to deepen their understanding of owner concerns and expand their professional networks. More information about EPI Southeast Michigan and the Business Owner Forum is available on the EPI site. Those interested in EPI's broader resources and the CEPA program can visit Exit Planning Institute®.
The event's focus on transferable business value aligns with a growing awareness among owners that exit planning is not merely a transaction but a long-term strategy. By bringing together owners who have exited and those still running their companies, the forum creates a feedback loop of practical knowledge that can help mitigate the risks and uncertainties of major business transitions.
