When we think about “business succession planning” for private companies, some people only consider tax and estate planning, while others focus on the transition of the share ownership of a business. While those are each important elements of succession planning, on their own they do not cover everything that needs to be included in an effective succession plan.
Tax plans or estate plans can quickly become meaningless if nobody is able to run the business. The same goes for the potential sale of a business; if only the owner can run the business then it is essentially worthless to any other potential owner. As a result, it’s important to consider management succession as you prepare for the transition of a business.
All businesses lose leadership talent over time; whether it’s through retirement, promotion, a change in ownership, death, prolonged illness, or simple attrition. In many of these cases the reason for the change is a surprise to those in charge, and this can become a major hurdle for the company when a key leadership position needs to be filled quickly. A well thought out management succession plan can ensure that the transfer of leadership responsibilities occurs smoothly under most circumstances. By the same token, a strong management succession plan can make a private company much more valuable and saleable, because the potential purchaser has more confidence that the business can run well even without the hands-on involvement of the previous owner.
Here are five things to consider when preparing your own management succession plan:
1. Write out a formal job description for each of the key positions in the company. You first need to have clarity on what skills and abilities are required for a particular role within the business.
2. Review the pool of available talent within your business and identify individuals with the skills and attributes necessary to grow into the leadership roles above them.
3. Document the gaps in knowledge and skills of where the potential successor is today, to where they need to be when they step into the new role.
4. Make a plan for how you can bridge those gaps in knowledge and skills. For some, bridging this gap may mean they need to take an accounting course, while others might simply need to job shadow their current manager for a period of time.
5. Communicate the plan to the people within your business: your lawyer, your accountant, your banker, and any other professional advisors that should be aware and might be able to provide valuable feedback.
Advantages of a management succession plan
Preparing a management succession plan can have a number of advantages for a private company, including the following:
-
Business continuity. When there is a management succession plan in place the business will continue to function at a high level, even in the sudden loss of a key leader. People will quickly fill the gaps because they are prepared.
-
Staff retention. Simply knowing that they are being groomed for a leadership position will likely incentivize your best people to stay with the business. Also, knowing that their company has a documented plan for the future will boost workforce morale.
-
Finance. All businesses require cash to be constantly flowing in, so that it can survive. Suppliers and bankers — among others — will have more confidence in a customer that they know has a strong management succession plan in place. It is not uncommon to see a business being afforded looser credit terms and more financing because their management succession plan was strong. Conversely, an aging business owner will undoubtedly come under more and more financial pressure from their suppliers and bankers when there is no succession plan in place.
-
Valuation. Where a strong succession plan exists, potential buyers may be willing to pay a premium for any given business based on the assurance of seamless business continuity.
Seek Advice
Management succession planning is ultimately a process, not an event. Unfortunately, this process may sometimes feel painful for private company owners, as it can be another issue that forces them to confront their own retirement or mortality. But painful or not, all businesses will have to deal with management continuity eventually, and the best way to deal with this is to be prepared.
For more information, please contact your BMO financial professional.
Information contained in this publication is based on sources such as issuer reports, statistical services and industry communications, which we believe are reliable but are not represented as accurate or complete. Opinions expressed in this publication are current opinions only and are subject to change. BMO Private Wealth accepts no liability whatsoever for any loss arising from any use of this commentary or its contents. The information, opinions, estimates, projections and other materials contained herein are not to be construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation for or an offer to buy, any products or services referenced herein (including, without limitation, any commodities, securities or other financial instruments), nor shall such information, opinions, estimates, projections and other materials be considered as investment advice, tax advice, a recommendation to enter into any transaction or an assurance or guarantee as to the expected results of any transaction.
You should not act or rely on the information contained in this publication without seeking the advice of an appropriate professional advisor.
BMO Private Wealth is a brand name for a business group consisting of Bank of Montreal and certain of its affiliates in providing private wealth management products and services. Not all products and services are offered by all legal entities within BMO Private Wealth. Banking services are offered through Bank of Montreal. Investment management, wealth planning, tax planning and philanthropy planning services are offered through BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. and BMO Private Investment Counsel Inc. Estate, trust, and custodial services are offered through BMO Trust Company. BMO Private Wealth legal entities do not offer tax advice. BMO Trust Company and BMO Bank of Montreal are Members of CDIC.
®Registered trademark of Bank of Montreal, used under license.
