Is this you? Do you think retirement and/or mortality are difficult topics to think about? Are you afraid succession planning may lead to uncomfortable family conflicts? Are your business goals often confused with your personal goals? Does long term planning feel like giving up control? Do you have a lack of confidence in potential new leader(s)? One of the key reasons why family owned businesses don’t survive past the original owner is because that owner fails to plan for their inevitable exit from the business.

How will Planning Your Succession™ help? A succession plan is an integral part of your overall business plan document. It will clearly map out what must happen for you to exit the business—how and when you choose. Putting a formal succession plan in place will help you: Survive changes in ownership and continue as a successful entity Identify and address family issues before they become disagreements Minimize tax liabilities and maximize return Ensure an orderly transfer of control and competencies Prepare the business and future leadership for transition Succession planning is a multi-disciplinary process that presents owners with a comprehensive and strategic approach to the orderly transition of the management and ownership of their business. The key to long term survival is a clear and early focus on the importance of succession planning. It’s critical that owners start planning for their exit as soon as possible. Although they may not be planning to retire for some time, unexpected change may occur before then. Planning now will give them time to conceptualize how and when they want to exit, what options will work best for the stakeholders, and where the gaps are in the business that need to be filled before transition. The longer they wait to plan for succession, the harder it will be to put something in place that meets their needs.

Our four phase approach to Planning Your Succession™ … Phase One: Determine the exit timing and requirements of key stakeholders Phase Two: Prepare the business for a smooth succession Step One Two Three Four Phase Phase Four: Select the preferred options and develop an implementation plan Phase Three: Research and consider all viable succession options Our approach to succession planning includes a comprehensive, four-phase process that is customized to fit each situation. Phase One is where you will work with the owner to determine an actual exit date, as well as their requirements upon exiting the business. It’s also recommended that this phase also include a family meeting and individual interviews of each family member and other key stakeholder to document their requirements. Phase Two is where you will help the business prepare for the exit date. What are the gaps in talent and processes? How will the owner’s core competencies be transferred? Phase Three is where you will use the all of the agreed-upon stakeholder, legal and financial parameters to research and present all viable succession options for review. Phase Four involves helping the stakeholders agree on a final option based on their needs, and develop an implementation plan that includes all actions required to get the business ready for transition and finalize the exit option.

Why you need to do this… Your business will face an ownership transition one day. The time to plan for the future is now. There are many options and issues to consider. One key to succession planning is to make sure that when the transition occurs, it is sensitive and structured, and results in the preservation of as much wealth as possible. Another key is to have an experienced consultant coordinating all parties involved, ensuring all needs are met and that implementation is smooth and successful. We would like to play that role for you in developing your succession plan. Close with a strong message that succession planning is not a luxury, but a necessity. If they want their business to survive beyond them, they have got to bite the bullet and make the hard decisions. You are the most qualified firm/consultant to do that. You’ve got the experience, tools, resources and desire. Exit