The Photographer Who Happened to Be an Accountant 

When Peter first walked into our office, I knew we had something special. Here was a 65-year-old sole practitioner who was absolutely clear about what he wanted: a clean exit from his regional practice so he could pursue his real passion. 

Photography. 

Not the weekend hobby kind. The serious, artistic, "I-want-to-capture-landscapes-that-take-your-breath-away" kind of photography that requires time, patience, and the freedom to chase perfect light at dawn. 

But Peter had a problem that keeps many business owners stuck longer than they want to be: he cared too much about his people to just walk away. 

"John," he said, "I need to know my clients will be looked after and my team won't be left hanging. I'd rather work another five years than sell to the wrong person." 

That's when I knew we had our work cut out for us. 

The Two-Year Preparation Strategy 

Most sellers want to list their practice today and settle next month. Peter was smarter than that. 

He came to us two years before he wanted to exit, which gave us the runway to do things properly. He joined our twelve-month Sale Ready program alongside other sole practitioners who shared the same goal: engineering an exit that honors their legacy while achieving their personal dreams. 

Here's what made Peter special: he was coachable, personable, and reasonable. No ego battles. No "that won't work in my practice" resistance. He applied the learning, tuned his processes, and lifted his firm's presentation so it would stand up to serious buyer scrutiny. 

By the time we finished that preparation year, Peter's practice looked like something you'd want to own, not just something someone was trying to dump on the market. 

The difference was night and day. 

Finding the Right Buyer (Not Just Any Buyer) 

When the firm was ready, we went to the market with a disciplined approach. 

We built a genuine shortlist of prospective buyers and removed anyone who wasn't a cultural fit. A few would-be buyers were frustrated not to be shortlisted, but I've learned something over 157 transactions: culture comes first, everything else is negotiable. 

Peter was initially skeptical about one of our finalists. He'd formed a perception about their brand from a distance, and it wasn't positive. But we knew the people behind the brand. We knew their culture was excellent. We asked him to meet them with an open mind. 

Here's where it gets interesting: Peter had structured his whole exit around stepping back quickly after settlement to pursue photography full-time. So, we built the transition accordingly, with a defined handover and a very light role for him after the initial phase. 

The meetings changed everything. 

Peter saw the caliber of the team he'd doubted and selected our preferred buyer from the shortlist. Sometimes your initial impressions are wrong, and sometimes being wrong is the best thing that could happen. 

From Heads of Agreement to New Life 

The deal moved smoothly from preliminary discussions to settlement because all the groundwork had been done during Sale Ready. 

No surprises. No last-minute drama. No panicked calls about clients threatening to leave. 

Clients were introduced early with consistent messaging. Staff had absolute clarity about their futures. The handover plan was followed like a project timeline, not left to chance. 

From seller mandate to settlement: just under nine months. 

The one-year transition: executed exactly as planned. 

But here's the beautiful twist in Peter's story... 

The Plot Twist That Made Everything Better 

Almost seven years later, Peter finally retired officially. 

Seven years! Not the quick exit he'd originally planned. 

Here's what happened: Peter took up his photography as intended, but he chose to stay involved in a lighter capacity far longer than expected. Why? Because he was genuinely respected by the new team and, surprisingly, he was enjoying the work more than he had in years. 

The buyers didn't just acquire his practice. They invited him to be part of something bigger and better than what he'd built alone. 

The outcome exceeded even Peter's own expectations. He got his photography time, his coastal lifestyle dreams, and the satisfaction of watching his life's work flourish under new leadership. 

Sometimes the best retirement isn't a complete break. It's the freedom to choose exactly how much you want to contribute. 

What Made This Work (The Framework Every Seller Needs) 

After watching Peter's journey from preparation to perfect outcome, here are the critical success factors: 

Early Preparation Wins Every Time 

Two years of runway and twelve months of focused Sale Ready work delivered a clean, confident sale. Rushed exits usually create rushed mistakes. 

Cultural Fit Beats Brand Assumptions 

Meeting the actual people behind the logo replaced doubt with trust. Don't judge a potential buyer by their marketing; judge them by their character. 

Design Your Transition Around Your Dreams 

Peter's light post-sale role protected his lifestyle goals while preserving continuity. The structure enabled his photography passion while keeping options open. 

Disciplined Buyer Selection Works 

A tight shortlist and respectful decline of poor fits kept momentum and protected value. Better to say no to the wrong buyer than yes to a problem. 

Over-Communication Prevents Under-Performance 

Staff and top clients received consistent updates throughout the process. Certainty retains value better than any other strategy. 

The Real Lesson (That Most Sellers Miss) 

Peter's story proves something that contradicts conventional wisdom about selling practices. 

Most sellers think they need to choose between getting what they want and protecting the people they care about. Peter proved you can have both, but only if you're willing to invest in preparation and prioritise fit over speed. 

The irony? By taking longer to find the right buyer, Peter actually achieved a better outcome faster than if he'd grabbed the first offer that came along. 

Sometimes slowing down is the fastest way to get where you want to go. 

Today, Peter splits his time between capturing stunning regional landscapes and consulting on complex client matters that genuinely interest him. He's living proof that retirement doesn't have to mean complete withdrawal from work you love. 

It can mean freedom to choose exactly how you want to contribute. 

Your Next Step 

If you're a sole practitioner in a regional area planning your exit, Peter's framework can work for you too. 

Our Sale Ready Program follows the exact preparation process Peter used: systematising operations, optimising financial presentation, and defining your ideal buyer profile before you need them. 

Because here's what I've learned: the best sellers don't just prepare their practice for sale. They prepare themselves for what comes next. 

Ready to start engineering your perfect exit? 

Download your Seller's Guide here

About the Author 

John Peterson has guided 157 successful practice transitions, including Peter's seamless journey from regional accountant to fulfilled photographer-consultant. His Sale Ready methodology ensures practices achieve maximum value while protecting the relationships that matter most. Currently building his own $13M practice roll-up, John understands the preparation required for extraordinary outcomes. 

"Great exits don't happen by accident. They're engineered by people who care enough to do the work."