You Just Sold Your Company. What Should You Do in the First 90 Days?

Reviewed by Herman Schroeder, CFA

Educational article, not personal advice

As of October 26, 2026.

The short answer

After a sale, the money usually lands faster than the plan. The best first move is often a slow one: put the cash somewhere safe and easy to reach, set aside what you may owe in taxes, and give yourself a few months before making big, hard-to-undo decisions. Speed matters for a few things. For most things, it does not.

Why the first few months feel strange

For years, most of your wealth was tied up in one business you understood well. Now it is a number in a bank account. That can feel great and unsettling at the same time.

It is also when the calls start. Friends with deals, new products, and people who want to manage the money all show up at once. None of that needs an answer this week.

Step one: park it safely

Before you invest anything, make sure the money is safe while you think.

  • Deposits at FDIC-insured banks are covered up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category. A large sale can blow past that at one bank.

  • Short-term Treasury bills and government money market funds are common places to hold cash while you decide.

  • Keep enough in plain checking to cover the next year of living costs and any taxes coming due.

The goal here is not a high return. It is not losing sleep.

Step two: set aside the tax money

A large one-time gain can mean a large tax bill. Withholding from a paycheck usually does not cover it, so many sellers make an estimated tax payment. The next federal estimated payment for 2026 income is due January 15, 2027.

How much you owe depends on how the deal was structured: stock sale or asset sale, cash now or payments over time, and whether part of the price was an earnout. We keep this high-level on purpose. Before you spend or invest the proceeds, ask whoever prepares your return to estimate the bill, then move that amount to its own account so it is not mixed in with everything else.

Step three: decide slowly

Once the cash is safe and the taxes are set aside, the rest can wait for a plan. A few questions help.

  • What do you want your days to look like now?

  • How much do you need each year to live well, and for how long?

  • What is the money for: family, a next venture, giving, or simply never having to worry?

  • How much risk can you live with, now that there is no business to fall back on?

Many people find it helps to invest in steps over a set number of months instead of all at once. It removes the pressure of picking the perfect day.

Things people often forget

  • Updating a will, trust, and beneficiaries now that the estate looks very different

  • Health insurance, if it came through the company

  • Any part of the price still to come, like an earnout or escrow, which is not cash yet

  • Insurance that fits the new picture, like an umbrella policy

How we help

At Schroeder Capital, we help business owners and others who have had a big payout build a calm, written plan for what comes next. If you have just sold, or are about to, we are happy to talk it through. You can reach us on our contact page.

Sources

This is general education, not individualized tax, legal, or investment advice. Deal terms, your own situation, and changes in law or IRS guidance all matter. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Treasury bills and money market funds are not bank deposits; money market funds are not FDIC insured and can lose value. Coordinate tax questions with the professional who prepares your return. CFA® is a trademark owned by CFA Institute. Schroeder Capital Management, LLC is not affiliated with CFA Institute.