Make 2026 Your Best Year Yet
Make 2026 Your Best Year Yet
It Starts with Planning, Preparation & the Right Knowledge
For CEOs and founders, Q4 is more than just closing out the year, it’s when next year’s success is won. Whether your 2026 goals involve accelerating growth, preparing for a capital raise, exploring acquisitions, or setting the stage for a future liquidity event, the steps you take now will determine the opportunities you can capture later.
Utilize the below resources to start your journey. And, set up time with our team to start planning and setting the stage for your best year yet.
Annual Operating Plans
Unlike large public companies with layers of FP&A infrastructure, many privately held businesses approach budgeting reactively. But that can create blind spots—especially when growth accelerates or a transaction is on the horizon.
A well-structured AOP brings several benefits:
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Alignment across teams – everyone is working toward shared goals with clear priorities.
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Investor and lender confidence – a disciplined plan shows you know where you’re going and how to get there.
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Valuation support – predictability and rigor are rewarded in both financing and M&A processes.
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Transparency and trust – organized planning simplifies diligence and builds credibility with stakeholders.
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Risk management – proactive planning signals foresight and operational maturity
In other words, AOPs aren’t just about operational control, they’re about strategic visibility and financial leadership.
Utilize our Annual Operating Plans guide to get started or schedule time with our team today.
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Disclaimer: By submitting your information, we will save and store it for our internal team to reference. Your information will not be shared with outside parties.
Questions? Contact [email protected]
Securing a Premium Valuation
Best practices for CEOs in the lower middle market
You’ve spent years building a business that serves customers, employs people, and delivers real results. But when it comes time to raise capital or sell, the market doesn’t just reward hard work, it rewards strategic preparation.
In the lower middle-market, great companies can sometimes be overlooked. Others, with similar numbers, attract multiple bidders and command premium valuations. The difference? Preparation, positioning, and timing.
At Westlake Securities, we help founders and CEOs turn the value they’ve built into the value the market will recognize and reward. Whether you’re planning a transaction this year or laying the groundwork for the future, understanding what drives premium valuations is the first step.
Our Securing a Premium Valuation guide provides a clear, actionable best practices you can apply, well before a transaction process begins. It’s designed to help you think like a buyer, prioritize like an investor, and execute like a leader.
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Disclaimer: By submitting your information, we will save and store it for our internal team to reference. Your information will not be shared with outside parties.
Questions? Contact [email protected]
Refinancing Best Practices
You’ve built a business that’s growing and evolving — but capital structures often don’t evolve at the same pace. As markets shift and interest rates change, what worked two or three years ago may no longer be optimal today. Strategic refinancing can unlock flexibility, lower costs, and position your company for stronger growth or future transactions.
In the lower middle-market, many companies carry debt structures that no longer reflect their current scale or strategy. Others miss opportunities to restructure proactively and end up reacting under pressure. The difference between strong refinancing outcomes and costly missteps often comes down to timing, preparation, and knowing your options early.
At Westlake Securities, we help founders and CEOs assess their capital structures, identify opportunities to optimize, and engage the right financing partners. Whether you’re approaching maturity on existing facilities or planning for expansion, understanding your refinancing options now can give you strategic control later.
Our Refinancing Strategies Guide lays out the key considerations, best practices, and sequencing CEOs should know — so you can refinance from a position of strength, not necessity.
All information shared within this form will be treated as confidential by Westlake Securities.
Disclaimer: By submitting your information, we will save and store it for our internal team to reference. Your information will not be shared with outside parties.
Questions? Contact [email protected]
Structuring a Board: Best Practices
A well-structured board can be one of your company’s greatest strategic assets — but many private companies treat board formation as a formality rather than a catalyst. The right board brings governance discipline, strategic insight, and credibility with investors, lenders, and buyers.
In the lower middle-market, some companies operate with informal advisory groups or legacy boards that don’t reflect where the business is headed. Others use their boards strategically to drive accountability, professionalize operations, and create real enterprise value. The difference lies in intentional design and clarity of purpose.
At Westlake Securities, we help CEOs and founders design board structures that support growth, capital strategy, and eventual transactions. Whether you’re looking to strengthen oversight, prepare for institutional capital, or align leadership for the next chapter, board structure matters.
Our Board Structuring Best Practices Guide walks you through proven approaches to governance, composition, and strategic alignment — helping you build a board that adds value, not just formality.
All information shared within this form will be treated as confidential by Westlake Securities.
Disclaimer: By submitting your information, we will save and store it for our internal team to reference. Your information will not be shared with outside parties.
Questions? Contact [email protected]
The Modern Liquidity Playbook
Best practices for CEOs in the lower middle market
For many founders, the business represents both their life’s work and their largest asset. Liquidity planning isn’t just about “selling” — it’s about creating strategic options that align personal goals, company objectives, and market realities.
In the lower middle-market, too many owners wait until they “have to” transact, missing opportunities to shape outcomes on their terms. Others build optionality early — exploring partial liquidity, recapitalizations, or minority investments — and position themselves to capture value when the time is right. The difference is foresight, planning, and the right guidance.
At Westlake Securities, we help founders and CEOs understand the full spectrum of liquidity strategies available — from capital raises and recapitalizations to full or partial exits. Whether a transaction is imminent or still years away, knowing your playbook today allows you to move with confidence when opportunities arise.
Our Modern Liquidity Playbook outlines strategic pathways, timing considerations, and best practices to help you build flexibility into your future and make informed decisions on your timeline.
All information shared within this form will be treated as confidential by Westlake Securities.
Disclaimer: By submitting your information, we will save and store it for our internal team to reference. Your information will not be shared with outside parties.
Questions? Contact [email protected]
Plan Early. Execute with Confidence.