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Business Succession Planning = Business Success!

Avatar photo by Casey Woods, Executive Director | July 1, 2014

All good things must come to an end.  Whether biology catches up to us, our priorities change or something else happens, all businesses need an "end game".  Business Succession can be fairly lucrative, or a financial disaster, depending on planning and your willingness to ask for help. Here are some guidelines to help you plan the transition of your business
 
Options for Transition:
– Retain family ownership and management control
– Retain ownership, but hire outside management
– Sell to someone other than family
          a. Management buy out
          b. Sell to employees
          c. Sell to an outsider
– Close the doors and liquidate the assets (this is generally the most expensive and risky option)
 
Getting started:
– Develop a retirement plan
– Ask for Help
– Set your goals for transition
– Be flexible
 
Implementation
-Create a succession team that may include Main Street, your accountant, lawyer, banker, any business advisors and an appraiser.
– Determine a plan for different Transition Options (see above)
– Determine the value of the business
– Create financing options for people interested in business purchase (the more flexible you are, the more likely you'll sell)
 
During the transition:
– Be reasonable
– Carry on business as usual
– Keep the transition confidential
– Keep your professionals (accountant, lawyer, etc.) involved
– Make sure everything (building, web site, displays, etc.) are in tip-top shape
– Put together common information that a buyer may need
– Seek to create a competitive situation
– Stay on a time schedule
 
Ensure the success of the business, post transition:
– Sign a no-compete contract
– Write down all business processes
– Produce clean financial statements
– Have a clear marketing plan/budget
– Produce clean, accurate customer information in a usable form
– Communicate with your employees
– Step up your housekeeping.
 
Whether you are growing, changing or transitioning your business, you don't have to go through it alone.  BUT, if you want our help, please get Emporia Main Street involved as soon as possible.  The more time we have to work with you and your business, the better results we can help produce for YOU (and your business)!

About the Author

Casey Woods, Executive Director

Before accepting the director position in March of 2009, Casey worked in both retail and agricultural jobs in the family businesses. A lifelong resident of the Emporia Area, Casey was a ten year volunteer for Emporia Main Street prior to his appointment as director. During that time he served as the board president and chair of the Economic Vitality Committee.

Casey also serves as a partner in PlaceMakers, LLC, a consulting firm that routinely works with both large and small communities, and their businesses, to promote sustainable economic growth through community and economic development practices. Casey consults with businesses, organizations and communities to understand their market capacity and fill vacant spaces. He has been involved in two projects that included crowdfunding as a part of their overall business funding strategies, Radius Brewing and Twin Rivers Winery & Gourmet Shoppe.