Estate Planning | Making a Difference One Family at a Time

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business succession planningOnce upon a time, small family businesses were the backbone of the American economy. Children learned trades and/or management skills from helping in the family business and it was assumed that one of those children would assume control of the business upon the retirement, disability, or death of the patriarch or matriarch of the family. After decades of decline, family businesses are rebounding once again in the United States.  If you own a family business, protecting that business should include incorporating business succession planning in your comprehensive estate plan.

Unique Challenges of a Family Business

Although a family business is managed and operates in essentially the same way as any other business, there are unique challenges a family business tends to face. These challenges make the need for succession planning even more obvious.  Most of these challenges relate to the desire to keep the business in the family. As you have likely read, the majority of small business do not successfully make the transition from one generation to the next. If your business has a fighting chance of staying afloat in your absence – whether because of retirement, incapacity, or death – a solid business succession plan is the key. To illustrate the need for planning, ask yourself the following questions:

  • If you are incapacitated tomorrow in a tragic accident, who will take over the immediate day to day control of your business?
  • Is it clear to your employees, business associates, and family who will take over?
  • Does the individual designated to take over have the legal authority to do so?
  • Will your family continue to benefit from the business’s success in your absence?
  • If you become permanently disabled or retire, who will take over your business?
  • Will your business be included in the probate of your estate?
  • If your business will be part of your estate, what will happen to the value of your interest in the business if it is sold?
  • If your business is a family owned business have you prepared the next generation to take over?
  • Have you set up the proper legal structure for the business to facilitate the transfer to the next generation?
  • What will the tax implications be for your business should you die?
  • Does the business have sufficient liquid assets to cover any tax debt that might be owed when you die?
  • How will your family get by financially if the business is involved in the probate of your estate?

These questions just scratch the surface of the factors that should be considered when discussing the need for nosiness succession planning. Without a plan, the hard work you put into getting your business off the ground and turning a profit will be for naught and the very future of your business will be uncertain.

What Should Be in My Business Succession Plan?

Exactly what tools, strategies, and documents will be included in your business succession planning component will depend on the details of your business and your plans for its continuation in your absence. For example, if you plan to pass down your interest in the business to your children, you may want to create a Family Limited Partnership (FLP). With an FPL you maintain majority control and day to day management of the company for as long as you wish; however, your successor can also begin to learn the business while you are still around to provide guidance and advice. You are also able to slowly transfer your legal interest in the business to your child(ren) over time that produces some significant tax advantages.

If, on the other hand, you have already established that none of your children wish to take over the business (and you really do need to establish this one way or the other), entering into a buy-sell agreement ensures that your loved ones will be entitled to the benefit of the value of your interest in the business. A buy-sell agreement works best when you have a partner; however, you can enter into one with an uninterested third party. In short, a buy-sell agreement allows you to determine ahead of time what your interest in the business is worth or, in the alternative, provides an agreed upon method of valuing the business when the time comes. Your partner(s) agrees to purchase your interest in the business should certain events occur. This ensures the continuation of the business and a fair price for the sale of your interest in the business, the proceeds of which will then become part of your estate or will go directly to your loved ones.

The details of your family business succession plan will be as unique as your business. The important point is that you have a plan in place to ensure that your business will survive in the event of your retirement, incapacity, or death.

Contact Connecticut Business Succession Planning Lawyers

For more information, please download our FREE estate planning worksheet. If you have additional questions or concerns about family business succession planning, contact the experienced business succession planning lawyers at Nirenstein, Horowitz & Associates, P.C. by calling (860) 548-1000 to schedule an appointment.

Jeffrey A. Nirenstein, Estate Planning Attorney
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