Prometis Partners: Exit Planning Strategies Capitalize on Long-Term Value

This article appeared in the August 2025 issue of MiMfg Magazine. Read the full issue and find past issues online.

Most business owners are so immersed in the day-to-day that they rarely stop to ask: would someone else want to buy this business? Could it run without me?

By answering those questions with clarity, owners can build a business that’s not just profitable, but transferable. They can also feel confident that the legacy they worked so hard to build can carry on in the future.

Vincent Mastrovito, founder of the Grand Rapids-based Prometis Partners succession consulting firm, helps manufacturers do just that.

Manufacturers who wish to retire, sell their businesses or transfer ownership should begin exit planning five years prior to the transition. Mastrovito provides a “Transition360 Analysis,” a comprehensive review of the company’s financials, leadership alignment, operational efficiency and strategic execution. “It’s designed to uncover the gaps that could derail a sale or succession — and help you fix them before they cost you,” he says.

Because they are so immersed in it, most owners look at the history of a business, but buyers don’t. Buyers look at the future viability of a business and how much there is to gain. Having an outside perspective can help business owners see the sale like a potential buyer would — from the outside, in.

“Buyers want to buy an investment, not a job,” Mastrovito says. “Our focus is to create a path for a business and the owner to successfully transition out of their business and monetize as much of the business’s value as they can monetize.”

There are two additional factors that are important to analyze and address prior to the transition. One is owner dependency, or how much of the business’s success can be attributed directly to the owner. Another is company culture — or, more specifically, if it poses any challenges that might detract potential buyers.

To illustrate, Mastrovito recalls assisting a client that had “disconnected” leadership and direction.

“Over a period of time, we were able to bring those two areas back together and align that with the rest of the objectives of the organization,” he says. “This allowed the owner to successfully transition out from the business and move on to the next phase of his life.”

Through MMA’s MFG Value Growth program in partnership with Prometis, MMA members can save 10 percent on Prometis Partners services.

Mastrovito says they typically work with owners who want to keep their businesses alive and thriving, not those who are considering giving up on them, and that sometimes means correcting issues that arose over time.

“If the company was making money at some point and now it’s not making money, there are reasons for that,” he says. “We can find it. We can fix it. And we can help build a business that gives you the freedom and value you’ve earned.”

See Member Benefits to learn how Prometis Partners can help you build value in your business or contact MMA’s Brenda Nalett at 517-487-8512 or nalett@mimfg.org.