redactedredactedMost Canadian business owners will exit their companies in the next decade. Very few have a plan to do it. A 2023 study by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) found that 76 per cent of small business owners plan to exit their business within the next 10 years, yet only nine per cent have a formal succession plan in place. CFIB estimates more than $2 trillion in business assets could change hands over that period. That gap is the backdrop for tonight's Commerce After Hours event, hosted by the Romanian Board of Trade in Toronto (RBTT), where David Prowse, CPA, CA, CVA, CEPA, CM&AA, is the featured speaker. A sold-out evening The Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, event is sold out, according to RBTT member Sergiu Hirtescu, CFP, FCSI, CIM, who announced the evening on LinkedIn. Attendees can expect an evening of food, networking and practical business insight. The event is being held at the event space of Renolux Restore Group, offered by president and CEO Peter Sandica while Hirtescu's Richmond Hill office undergoes renovations. Members of the Association of Romanian Engineers in Canada (AREC) are also expected to attend. David is a chartered professional accountant and certified valuation analyst who works with Canadian business owners on growth planning, exit planning and business valuation. He is also the host of the Selling Your Canadian Business expert interview series. About the host organization The Romanian Board of Trade in Toronto runs a regular program for its professional community, including Commerce After Hours evening events and Coffee and Commerce morning sessions. The board is chaired by George Vasilache, AMP. Planning your own exit Whether your business is a small firm or approaching $50 million in annual revenue, the decisions you make years before a sale shape the value you receive. The Canadian Exit Briefing delivers one practical exit planning topic each month, from the publisher of Selling Your Canadian Business. redacted