Harri Lloyd Davies – Partner
01792 410104
Seven Steps To Successful Business Transition
Harri Lloyd Davies, partner at Bevan & Buckland, explains the importance of succession planning – however young your business it is vital that you look to the future.
In all successful businesses the issue of succession from the current owner to the next generation comes up, and one question that often arises is: when is the most appropriate time to begin planning for succession? The start-up phase is obviously too early, but all too often business owners wait until the last minute – when many options are closed before beginning the process.
Bevan & Buckland has seen a significant increase in the number of business sales and management buy outs over the last 12 months, often with owners who have been waiting to sell since the beginning of the financial crisis.
With this in mind it is worth all business owners understanding when they should start planning for transition.
There are generally seven stages of business succession:
1. Survival
The early years are often the most difficult and challenging. Once the business has survived the start-up stage, the founder should begin giving consideration to succession, regardless of his or her age.
2. Commitment
The founder must commit to the concept that the business has to continue in order to create opportunity for those to come. This commitment must be communicated extensively and often. Think of the businessas very much having its own identity.
3. Recruitment
The organisation cannot survive unless it is staffed with the best people. Recruiting good people will always pay dividends and is a key item in succession planning.
4. Development
Investing time in developing your family members and other management team members and allowing them to exercise authority and control is key to a successful transition.
5. Selection
Having developed a successful transition plan and recruited the right people, selecting a successor or successors becomes easier. By empowering a broad range of key people, the selection process is simplified and options are enhanced.
6. Announcement
Having come this far, it is time for the founder to announce his or her future plans. This gives key management people and family successors a clear path to the future and a definite goal.
7. Implementation
In implementing the succession plan, the founder must be ready to step aside and allow his or her successors to take over. The founder needs to be prepared to take on new challenges in retirement knowing that his or her financial future is secure.
If you are interested in preparing your business for a management buyout. Please contact Harri on 01792 410104 or via email hld@bevanbuckland.co.uk