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Effectively transitioning a business to the next generation of owners through a business succession plan that incorporates estate tax planning will result in the most value being retained by the owners and their families. Whether the business is entirely family owned or has unrelated owners, each scenario comes with its own complications but with considerable overlap in planning opportunities.

“You only sell your company once” is a phrase founder/family-owned business leaders often hear before embarking on a major liquidity event. It demonstrates the enormity of the undertaking to effectively sell a business. Ensuring your company is prepared for a sale is crucial to any exit strategy, and should be considered long before beginning a sale process. This article outlines key questions that business owners should expect and aspire to have answers to leading up to a liquidity, followed by four critical focus areas that are important for them to consider.

For many business owners, their tax accountant has been with them for years, and therefore understands the business, along with some aspects of the industry, key employee roles, and family dynamics at play. In addition, a tax accountant who is viewed as a trusted advisor is in a key position to help a family-owned enterprise think through some of the most pertinent questions when it comes to succession planning.

Individuals with substantial business holdings often face complicated estate tax issues. Failing to recognize and plan for these issues may adversely impact the ability of the estate to timely pay any estate tax it owes. What is more, a lack of planning can affect the ability of the business to continue operating in the manner envisioned by the current and succeeding owners.

By exploring the essence of legacy and its impact on business performance, this report brings together the detailed analysis, academic insights, and the firsthand experiences of family business CEOS to contribute to a deeper understanding of the importance of balancing tradition and innovation for long-term success in family businesses. From this report, you can learn more about the steps you and your family can take to uncover the strengths of your legacy.

The concept of transferring ownership of a private business to a purpose trust was first popularized when the Patagonia transaction was announced—instead of “going public,” they were “going purpose” to allow the owner to monetize his stake in the business while at the same time ensure that the values of the business are preserved for future generations. This guidebook by Northern Trust offers insights for business owners who may be interested in exploring a purpose trust transaction structure for their own business.

Drawing examples from HBO’s hit show Succession, where the members of the wealthy Roy family each vie for control of their family-owned business, attorney Stephanie Derks of Foley & Lardner’s Estate & Trusts Practice Group joins Brian Lucareli to discuss the importance of business succession planning. In this 10-minute interview, Stephanie also offers insights and planning ideas and considerations to help family-run businesses to prepare for the day when the family can no longer run their business.

With more business families going global, it’s imperative that family businesses consider the tax implications as well as the business and personal factors when planning a family business transfer. In this report, KPMG offers two case studies on taxing family business transfers and the significant disparities between tax regimes. The report also compares the vastly different tax implications of transferring the family business through gifting during the owner’s lifetime (including on retirement) and through inheritance across 57 countries, territories, and jurisdictions worldwide.