Optimize Your Exit. Secure Your Legacy.
We combine over a decade of financial expertise with the firsthand experience of a serial entrepreneur to maximize the value of your life’s work.
Schedule a Confidential ConsultationMeet Ryan Fitzgerald
Founder & Managing Partner, Timberline Exit Partners
Ryan Fitzgerald is a seasoned entrepreneur and business strategist dedicated to helping small business owners unlock the full value of their life’s work. With over two decades of hands-on experience, he brings a rare, real-world perspective to every transaction.
He’s launched and grown multiple ventures across industries—including a residential playground construction company, a retail bookstore, a thrift store, and a real estate photography agency. These businesses were built from the ground up, giving Ryan a rare ability to relate to sellers on a peer level: he’s walked in their shoes.
A Foundation of Real-World Experience
In parallel to his entrepreneurial journey, Ryan has spent over a decade in the tax and financial services industry as a licensed tax preparer. His background includes former licensure as a real estate broker and insurance agent, providing him with a deep understanding of business valuation, deal structuring, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation. This unique combination of financial acumen and entrepreneurial empathy is the cornerstone of the Timberline Exit Partners approach.
Timberline Exit Partners was founded to meet a growing, urgent need: the generational wave of small business owners heading toward retirement—many without a clear succession plan. With millions of small businesses at risk of closure, Ryan’s mission is to help owners exit on their terms, preserve local legacies, and unlock the value they’ve spent decades building.
Now based in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and sons, Ryan continues to serve the small business community with the same passion, diligence, and real-world insight that has guided his entire career. Whether it’s preparing a business for market, identifying the right buyer, or structuring a win-win transition, Ryan leads Timberline with the belief that every exit deserves to be a successful one.
Our Services
We offer a focused suite of services to guide you, whether you’re ready to sell today or planning for the future.
Seller Representation (Our Core Service)
Our comprehensive advisory service for business owners committed to selling. We manage the entire process for the business entity, from valuation to transition. For property owners, we seamlessly coordinate with our real estate partners to provide a unified, stress-free transaction.
Currently OfferedBroker’s Opinion of Value (BOV)
A standalone, fee-based valuation service focused exclusively on your business operation. This provides a clear, defensible understanding of your company’s market value for exit planning, strategic decisions, or partnership buyouts.
Currently OfferedFuture Service: Exit Planning Consultation
We will be offering proactive consulting engagements to help owners prepare their business for a future sale by improving value drivers over a 1-3 year period.
Market Insights: A Historic Time to Sell
The “Silver Tsunami” of retiring Baby Boomers is creating the largest wave of business transitions in history. Understanding the data behind this trend is key to planning a successful exit.
A significant portion of all U.S. small businesses are owned by the Baby Boomer generation, driving the need for expert exit strategies.
What is Your Business *Really* Worth?
A business’s true value isn’t its net profit. Buyers and lenders focus on Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE)—the total financial benefit to the owner. This is found by adding back owner-specific and non-recurring expenses.
SDE provides a clear picture of the true earning power a new owner can expect.
Valuation is determined by applying a market-based multiple to the SDE, which varies significantly by industry.
Our Proven Process
We provide a confidential, structured process designed to demystify the sale of your business and maximize your outcome.
Valuation & Preparation
We conduct a deep financial analysis to establish a defensible market value and prepare professional marketing materials for the business.
Confidential Marketing
We launch a targeted campaign to attract a wide pool of qualified buyers while protecting your confidentiality.
Buyer Vetting & Negotiation
We screen all buyers, manage offers, and lead negotiations to secure the best possible price and terms for you.
Due Diligence & Closing
We project-manage the due diligence process and coordinate with all parties (including real estate partners) to ensure a smooth, successful closing.
Plan Your Next Chapter
Reach out for a no-obligation, completely confidential conversation about your business and your goals.