Two Cents - Insights Brought to you by Vectra Bank

Every small-business owner identifies deeply with the company they've created. Entrepreneurs put lots of passion and effort into their ventures in the hopes of success, so when it comes, the sentiment can be particularly sweet.

Yet the day will likely come when an owner steps aside from the business. Though they may not think about retirement often — other than saving for it — they face a crucial decision about what will happen once they leave.

Anyone running a business can tell you how hard it is to focus on retirement, which is later, when there's no much to do now. The same is likely said about business succession and continuity planning. But no matter how hard it may be to make time for such prep work, it's vital to manage risk and set your post-exit course.

Here are some ways businesses owners can get down to the task and ensure the future of their businesses after retirement:

Start identifying successors

Whether it's family, tenured employees or a promising talent with big ideas, there's rarely a shortage of successors to consider. There's no need to rush the process along, but when you starting seeing the horizon of your business exit, it's essential to vet your candidates as thoroughly as you can.

It's important to find someone who shares your vision and mission, can handle operations, thinks critically and shows ambition. You'll want to ID a successor soon enough so you can map out a transition process, instead of one day them being handed the entire reins to the business without sufficient preparation.

Research what's ahead 

Lots of businesses and established industries have been caught off-guard by disruption and technology. You don't want to leave the future of your business at risk of such turbulence if you can avoid it. As you plan out a business exit, it's important to consider the time frame and what may be happening in the market by that date. Researching current trends like artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and automation can help you integrate such concepts in advance of a reckoning other businesses have had to deal with.

Ensuring the viability and continuity of your business after you leave will depend in part on how well you lay a foundation for a lasting business. It's not just what you've done to build the business up to this point, but what you can do to further entrench those roots and grow.

Talk to a bank

Planning for a business exit ultimately entails financial planning. With something as important as the future of the business on the line, owners should seek expert advice when they can. Finding solutions from a bank that can aid in exit planning can be an invaluable resource.

When looking to discuss your business exit strategy, contact Vectra Bank for more information about how our services can help.

To learn more about business planning; please contact your local Vectra Bank or complete the short form below and we'll reach out to you!

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