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Unlocking Business Value in Tampa Bay: How the “Set For Life Questionnaire” Guides Successful Exits

August 26, 2025 by Michael Shea PA

Certified Exit Planning Advisor

If you’re a business owner in the vibrant Tampa Bay area, planning for your company’s future isn’t just smart—it’s essential for maximizing your legacy and financial success. At Transworld Business Advisors, led by respected Broker Michael Shea, we empower entrepreneurs to understand the true value—and potential—of their businesses, using proven best practices like the Exit Planning Institute’s “Set For Life Questionnaire.”

Why Tampa Bay Business Owners Need an Exit Strategy

Tampa Bay’s dynamic business community, from Clearwater to St. Petersburg and beyond, is fueled by ambitious entrepreneurs. But whether you own a manufacturing company, operate in the region’s booming healthcare sector, or lead a hospitality business near our famous beaches, every owner faces the same big question: How do I exit on top?

Introducing the Set For Life Questionnaire

The “Set For Life Questionnaire” is a comprehensive tool designed to help business owners evaluate their company’s attractiveness to buyers and investors—a critical metric when planning for a sale, merger, or succession. The survey helps identify strengths and pinpoint opportunities for improvement across five key categories:

  • Personal

  • Operations

  • Market & Industry

  • Financial

  • Legal & Regulatory

Each answer is scored from 1 (bad/nonexistent) to 6 (in a class of one), helping you objectively rate areas like estate planning, management teams, customer diversification, market competitiveness, audited financials, and risk management.

What’s Your Attractiveness Score?

After completing the questionnaire, owners calculate their “business attractiveness score” as a percentage. Here’s how the results break down:

  • 0–17%: Poor or Non-Existent

  • 18–33%: Needs Improvement

  • 34–50%: Slightly Below Average

  • 51–67%: Slightly Above Average

  • 68–83%: Best-in-Class

  • 84–100%: Industry Leader (“The Standard”)

A higher score means your business will likely attract more interest, better offers, and command a higher sale price in the thriving Tampa Bay market.

Maximize Your Value with Local Expertise

Navigating exit planning is complex, with major implications for your family, partners, and employees. That’s where an expert like Michael Shea and the Transworld Business Advisors team comes in. By leveraging tools like the Set For Life Questionnaire, we guide you through improvements that not only boost your score, but also streamline the transaction process and help you achieve the best possible outcome.

Ready to Get Set For Life?

Whether you’re years away from selling or looking to transition soon, knowing your business’s attractiveness is the first step toward a successful exit. Contact Michael Shea at Transworld Business Advisors of Tampa Bay to start your assessment, unlock new value, and take control of your business future.


Optimize for Tampa Bay buyers and sellers: At Transworld Business Advisors, we bring local market knowledge and global reach to every engagement, delivering results for Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater, and the entire Tampa Bay region.

For a confidential business attractiveness assessment, reach out to Michael Shea and take the first step toward a profitable, well-planned business exit.


Michael Shea represents the Tampa Florida Transworld office. In business since 2005, he has established a reputation as a trusted business broker across Florida’s key markets- from Tampa to Orlando, Melbourne, and more. Over the past two decades, Michael and his team have closed over $1 Billion in sold business volume and presided over more than 450 transactions. His credentials include the IBBA Certified Business Intermediary®, and most recently, the prestigious Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA) credential.

Filed Under: exitplan, exitplanning, Selling A Business, Selling Your Company, Tampa Business Sales, tampabusinessbroker, transworldbusinessadvisors Tagged With: cepa, certifiedbusinessintermediary, clearwater, florida, michaelshea, orlando, stpete, tampa, tampaflorida, transworldbusinessadvisors

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