SUCCESSION PLANNING

We offer consulting engagements to help family and closely held businesses to map out the financial, interpersonal, and relational logistics of an internal succession to the next generation of business leaders.

We define ‘Succession Planning’ as the process of working with a business toward an internal buyout by key employee(s) or next-generation family. For owners considering a third-party sale, see Exit Planning.

While transactional sales get the most media attention, the fact is that for most closely held businesses, an internal succession is the most common path toward founder/owner retirement. The beauty of an internal succession is that we can model the transition over a period of several years using cash flow from the business to minimize the tax impact, including deferred buyout even after the senior owner leaves the business. We work mostly with C-Corps, S-Corps, LLCs, Partnerships or Limited Partnerships. Visit Our Work to see the some of the industries we have experience in.

Succession Planning addresses the following questions:

• “What does the next generation need to succeed?”
• “How do I steward a business to last beyond my lifetime?”
• “How am I doing?” or “Where do I start?”

We will coordinate with your CPA and attorney, as well as bankers, financial advisor, specialty legal, estate attorney, etc. (as applicable) to draft an ideal plan and set it into motion. Our team will drive the planning process for this “important but not urgent” work, allowing you to remain fully involved in the everyday operations of your business. Depending on the needs of the business and scope of work, our engagement fees for an internal succession plan range from $15,000-$30,000.

Contact us to set up a free in-person or phone consultation with one of our partners and get the conversation started.