HALO Score vs Exit Readiness
Company health diagnostic across four strategic pillars — compared to — Exit preparedness with EBITDA impact mapping. Here's how to choose and in what order to run them.
The Short Answer
You should probably run both
These are not competing diagnostics — they measure different dimensions of your company. The question is sequencing and priority, not either/or.
Exit Readiness is the right starting point when: Founders within 1–3 years of a planned exit who need to know which specific gaps will kill deal value.
Side-by-Side
What each diagnostic measures
The HALO Score measures your company across four deterministic pillars: High Assets (recurring revenue, IP, customer concentration), Low Obsolescence (competitive moat, technology currency), Growth Readiness (pipeline, team, systems), and Exit Readiness (financial structure, deal risk). Twelve questions. Three minutes. Free.
- Recurring revenue quality
- IP and intangible assets
- Customer concentration risk
- Competitive moat depth
- Technology obsolescence risk
- Pipeline and growth systems
- Exit readiness indicators
The Exit Readiness diagnostic evaluates your company's specific readiness to execute a liquidity event: financial structure, management depth without founder dependence, customer and revenue quality, and legal/compliance preparedness. Each gap is mapped to its likely EBITDA multiple impact.
- Financial statement quality
- Revenue transferability
- Management team depth
- Founder dependency risk
- Customer concentration
- Legal and IP cleanliness
- Deal structure readiness
Comparison Table
At a glance
| Dimension | HALO Score | Exit Readiness |
|---|---|---|
| Focus area | Company health diagnostic across four strategic pillars | Exit preparedness with EBITDA impact mapping |
| Time to complete | 3 min | 5 min |
| Questions | 12 | 20 |
| Cost | Free | Paid (Navigator+) |
| Best for | Getting a complete picture of where your company stands before deciding which area to address first. | Founders within 1–3 years of a planned exit who need to know which specific gaps will kill deal value. |
| Primary output | Composite score + pillar breakdown | Composite score + pillar breakdown |
Recommended Order
How to sequence these diagnostics
Start with HALO Score to understand your company's full strategic health across all four pillars. This gives you the context to interpret Exit Readiness results accurately and prioritize action.
HALO Score
Run first to establish your baseline and frame your priorities.
Exit Readiness
Run second to add depth in the specific dimension you need to address.
Review & prioritize
Compare results side-by-side in your dashboard. Your lowest-scoring pillar across both diagnostics is your highest-leverage starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions
What does HALO Score measure?
The HALO Score measures your company across four deterministic pillars: High Assets (recurring revenue, IP, customer concentration), Low Obsolescence (competitive moat, technology currency), Growth Readiness (pipeline, team, systems), and Exit Readiness (financial structure, deal risk). Twelve questions. Three minutes. Free.
What does Exit Readiness measure?
The Exit Readiness diagnostic evaluates your company's specific readiness to execute a liquidity event: financial structure, management depth without founder dependence, customer and revenue quality, and legal/compliance preparedness. Each gap is mapped to its likely EBITDA multiple impact.
Should I run HALO Score or Exit Readiness first?
Start with HALO Score to understand your company's full strategic health across all four pillars. This gives you the context to interpret Exit Readiness results accurately and prioritize action.
Can I run both HALO Score and Exit Readiness?
Yes. Running both diagnostics gives you a more complete picture than either alone. HALO Score and Exit Readiness measure complementary dimensions of business performance. Together, they help you identify not just where you have gaps but which gaps are interrelated.
Who should use HALO Score vs Exit Readiness?
HALO Score: Getting a complete picture of where your company stands before deciding which area to address first. Exit Readiness: Founders within 1–3 years of a planned exit who need to know which specific gaps will kill deal value.
Run both diagnostics today
Start with HALO Score (free). Then layer in Exit Readiness for deeper context. Most users who run both report that the combined picture changes their priorities.
Start HALO Score (Free) Start Exit ReadinessMore Comparisons
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