18 FAQs people ask about succession planning and passing their business onto their family
- How far in advance should I start planning to pass the business on to my family?
- What are the main considerations when succession planning?
- Is it a good idea to pass the business on to the family?
- What alternatives do I have to passing the business on to my family?
- When should I pass the business on to my family?
- How can I share ownership of my business among several children?
- How can I share control of my business among several children?
- How can I treat my children fairly if some work in the business and some do not?
- What can I do if my successor isn't ready to take control of my family business?
- Am I free to choose whoever I like to be my business successor?
- How can I ensure that the business continues to keep to my values after I pass it on?
- How do I develop a family successor?
- Who should be involved in succession planning?
- What are the most common problems in a family succession and how can we minimise the risks?
- Should I stay on as an adviser after I retire from the family business?
- Should I retain a financial interest in the business after I retire?
- How can I pass the business on to my children but protect my spouse?
- What is the best way to take money out of the business as part of the succession process?
1. How far in advance should I start planning to pass the business on to my family?
Most people find that it takes at least a couple of years to prepare. Although it is possible to pass a business on at short notice, it can take several years to handle all the elements such as training your successor and planning the most tax-efficient exit. The sooner you can discuss your plans with your advisers, the better.
2. What are the main areas I need to consider when succession planning?
Areas to consider include:
- whether you want to retain any investment in the business
- whether you want to realise any capital from the business and whether the business needs to raise additional financing to allow for this
- how ownership of the business will be shared between yourself, your spouse, your children and any other owners
- how any transfers of shares or assets can be arranged tax-efficiently
- who will manage the business, including whether you will have any future role in management
- training your chosen successor and planning the handover of control
3. Is it a good idea to pass the business on to the family?
In many cases, passing the business on to your family is as much a matter of personal preference as a commercial decision. Nevertheless, it is worth thinking about the possible commercial implications.
Passing ownership of the business to your family can avoid much of the expense and disruption of other forms of sale - for example, a trade sale to wholly new owners. However, a reluctance to involve external investors may constrain the business's ability to grow. Retaining family ownership may also mean that the family's investments are heavily concentrated in the business, leaving the family at risk if the business runs into problems.
As far as management is concerned, the overriding concern is whether any family member is interested and has the right skills and experience. Even then, keeping management in the family can lead to a narrow-minded outlook and lack of ambition. However, family managers will understand the culture of the company, and are often good at taking a long-term view of what is best for the business.
4. What alternatives do I have to passing the business on to the family?
If you own shares in a company, you have several options. For example:
- arranging a trade sale of the business
- floating the company and selling some or all of your shares publicly
- selling some or all of your shares privately to existing shareholders, to new investors or to the current business management team (a management buyout or MBO)
- selling some or all of your shares back to the company
Your options may be limited by the business's circumstances such as the company’s profitability and cash position. They may also be limited by any shareholders’ agreement or the company’s articles of association. For example, you might be required to offer your shares to existing shareholders before you can offer them to outsiders.
Another option is for the family to retain ownership of the shares, but to choose to recruit external managers or directors.
Your options will be different if the business is not a company.
If you are a sole trader, you will generally need to sell the business or its assets. Alternatively, you can form a limited company, transfer the business to this new company and then sell shares in it.
If you are a partner in a business partnership, the partnership agreement will normally specify what capital (if any) you can withdraw on retirement and how this will be handled.
In every case, you will need advice on the best option and the tax implications.
5. When should I pass the business on to my family?
In practice, many businesses are passed on when the owner decides to retire - many owners are unwilling to give up ownership and control before this. A more flexible approach takes into account when you expect your successor to be ready to take control of the business.
Tax planning considerations may make it advantageous to transfer ownership of assets sooner rather than later.
6. How can I share ownership of my business among several children?
The most common option is to share ownership by giving each child shares in the company. An appropriate shareholders' agreement will help clarify how the business is to be run and minimise the risk of conflict.
Where several children want to take an active role, or family members have different views on the future direction of the business, an alternative may be to split the business into separate companies. This avoids the complications that can arise when family members manage a business together.
7. How can I share control of my business among several children?
Be wary of splitting management responsibility between various children. You can, however, split ownership: for example, by giving each child shares without dividing management.
Prepare (or update) a shareholders' agreement. Talk through all the key issues such as what the company's business strategy will be. Ensure that the discussion covers ways of resolving disputes and what will happen if one of the children wants to share their share of the business. If the other children will have to buy those shares, consider how they will finance the purchase.
Think also about the potential for conflict between children who work in the business, and those who only own shares. You could choose to give them different rights. For example, the children who will run the business could have voting shares, while others had non-voting shares but with preferential rights to dividends.
8. How can I treat my children fairly if some work in the business and some do not?
In practice, children who work for the business may be at an advantage: for example, if they are overpaid for their work, or if they have disproportionate control of decision-making. (In some instances, the opposite is true.) The most straightforward way to avoid this is by using a suitable shareholders' agreement. Among other things, the agreement can include that family members will be paid and promoted on the same basis as other employees. It can also include measures to protect the rights of family members who control a minority of the voting rights.
9. What can I do if my successor isn't ready to take control of my family business?
You may want to find an interim successor, with a view to passing control to your child later. If so, it's best to be open about it. The interim successor is likely to find out anyway, and may be able to plan more effectively if they know what timeframe is available. You will also want to ensure that the interim successor's contractual arrangements reflect your plans. Of course, some potential successors may be unwilling to take on the role in these circumstances.
In terms of ownership, you may wish to transfer assets even if you are not yet ready to transfer control: for example, if you are concerned about possible inheritance tax. If you feel that your child can't yet be trusted to make the right decisions, you might do this by issuing non-voting shares, or by placing assets in a trust. This is a complex area where advice is essential.
10. Am I free to choose whoever I like to be my business successor?
In a company, directors are usually nominated by the board of directors and approved by the shareholders. The mechanism will depend on the company's articles of association, and any shareholders' agreement. If you own a majority of the shares and you control the board, this means that you will be able to nominate whoever you like as your successor.
11. How can I ensure that the business continues to keep to my values after I pass it on?
You can retain control - for example, by retaining a majority of the voting rights. However, this is rarely a satisfactory solution, as your successors are likely to resent your interference.
A more practical approach is to discuss your wishes with your successors, and agree what values you want to see retained. These can be enforced either through a shareholders' agreement, or by amending the company's articles of association.
Be wary of limiting the ability of the business to react appropriately as circumstances change in the future.
12. How do I develop a family successor?
Try to understand what skills and experience will be most valuable to your successor. The strengths that enabled you to build up the business may not be what our successor needs to take it forward in the future.
A common approach is to have your successor work in different areas of the business to familiarise themselves with the different functions of the business. It is also often a good idea for your successor to get exposure to new ideas and different ways of doing things. This can be accomplished by gaining experience working for another business, and through suitable training.
It's usually helpful to work towards a planned handover date. During the final month or two, your successor can work alongside you. You can also use this time to ensure that they have all the information they need and have been introduced to all the key contacts within and outside the business.
13. Who should be involved in succession planning?
It's a good idea to involve everyone who has an interest in the business, including any other shareholders, major lenders and key employees. By talking your plans over with them, you stand a better chance of convincing them that the appointment is in their interests and overcoming any concerns they may have.
14. What are the most common problems in a family succession and how can we minimise the risks?
Potential problems include:
- the business suffering a loss of direction, particularly if the founder was a dominant leader
- the business underperforming if not enough thought has been put into finding and training a suitable successor
- management becoming confused and disillusioned if the retired founder continues to interfere or the long-term plan has not been effectively communicated
- key employees resigning or becoming disillusioned if they don't like a new strategy or feel they have been unfairly treated
- key customer and supplier relationships suffering if these were personal relationships of the founder
- contracts which include clauses that allow them to be terminated if there is a change of management
- the business becoming financially vulnerable if the founder takes too much capital out
All of these risks can be reduced by planning in advance and taking suitable advice. As with any other major change, involving key personnel from the outset can help to reduce problems.
15. Should I stay on as an adviser after I retire from the family business?
It may well be a good idea for you to stay on as an adviser, but on the basis that you only give advice when asked for. Otherwise, both your successor and employees can become confused about who is really in control, and the business suffers.
If you have been a director of a family company, this approach would normally mean that you resign your directorship. You should bear in mind that if you continue to exert influence through the other directors, you might be considered a 'shadow' director of the company. If the board of directors subsequently faces a claim (for example, for 'wrongful trading', if the directors allow the company to carry on trading when they ought to have known that there was no reasonable prospect of avoiding insolvency) you could also be held personally liable.
16. Should I retain a financial interest in the business after I retire?
Retaining a financial interest can cause problems, particularly if the business represents a significant proportion of your capital (or generates a significant proportion of your income). Not only will you be at risk if the business runs into trouble, but you may find the temptation to interfere irresistible.
17. How can I pass the business on to my children but protect my spouse?
Depending on your personal financial assets, and the financial position of the business, it may be possible to provide adequate security for your spouse regardless of the business: for example, through suitable investment, pension and life insurance arrangements.
Alternatively, you may want to use an appropriate form of trust. This can be structured so that your spouse benefits during his or her lifetime, but the children are able to manage the business secure in the knowledge that they will benefit thereafter. This is a complex area, not least in terms of taking into account the potential tax consequences, so expert advice is essential.
18. What is the best way to take money out of the business as part of the succession process?
Options can include selling shares to existing or new investors, selling shares back to the company, paying dividends to shareholders, or making payments into your pension fund. Depending on the financial position of the business, it may make sense to increase business borrowings to fund these payments. It may also be appropriate to sell part of the business or some of its assets. You should take advice on the tax consequences of the different options and the best choice given your circumstances.