In business terminology, an ending for a business owner is called an "exit," while the planning of a defined ending is called an "exit strategy." Having an exit strategy tells others who have the occasion to view your business that you're in control of your business, that you're aware and goal focused, and that you have a plan for an organized and profitable ending. Business owners who don't plan for ownership transition are often faced with the inability to receive enough money in an ownership change to fund a comfortable retirement. This doesn't happen because such owners failed to create value in their businesses; rather, it's because they failed to do the planning that would have allowed them to keep that value.