Services / Family Businesses

The dynamics of a family-owned business have no parallel. Relevant issues run the gamut; from the basics of running and growing a successful business to the more specific problems of succession planning, dealing with siblings, developing an exit strategy, profit share entitlement and more. We have long recognised that these needs are unique. The dynamics are tricky, and the decision making is complex. Our clients hire and retain us for our in-depth advice and counsel. We help families make informed, smart decisions that will enable them to reach common business objectives. To do this, we move family members beyond their differences to plan for the organisation's future.

We advise on structuring the company for growth and reinforcing its leadership team. Well before succession is imminent, we help plan for a seamless transfer of ownership, while creating family fairness. We focus on the specific needs of each family business. Our experience with other family-owned businesses  can specifically help when we recall and relate prior successfully run family businesses as well as failures. We have encountered many typical family problems before such as: siblings believing they are working harder than others and deserve more of the profits? Second generation family members being unhappy with the way the first generation are running the business? Family members seeing problems in a business but being afraid to address them with the hierarchy out of respect and fear. You name it and we have seen it, and being outsiders, can often talk about sensitive business topics without emotional attachment thereby achieving business goals in the process.

Our experience allows us to assist with:

• Succession planning
• Corporate structure
• Transferring ownership
• Buy/sell agreements
• Valuation services
• Estate planning and wealth preservation
• Compensation strategies
• Recruiting non-family management
• Resolving conflict
• Accounting and auditing
• Tax planning and compliance
• Profit enhancement programs