succession planning

I talk to a lot of business owners who say, “I’d love to give my team a stake in the business, but I’m not ready to hand it over.”

Good. You don’t have to.

Ownership doesn’t have to be all or nothing. There are smart, flexible ways to bring key people in, reward loyalty, and build commitment — without giving up control or cash flow too early.

A few ways to do it

• Gradual ownership transfers. You can set milestones where equity is earned over time — based on performance, tenure, or contribut…

Family-owned and closely held businesses are built on trust, shared purpose, and legacy. But they’re also built on relationships—and relationships, as we all know, can get complicated.

When family, finances, and the future collide, emotions can run high. Disagreements aren’t a sign that something’s broken—they’re a sign that people care deeply about the outcome. The healthiest businesses I’ve worked with aren’t free from conflict; they’ve just built systems to handle it with clarity, fairness, …

I recently joined Gary Heldt on his podcast, Grow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth, and we got into a topic that’s hard for a lot of business owners to face—but absolutely critical if you care about what happens to your business when you’re no longer running it.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: Almost half of family-owned businesses go bankrupt within two years of the founder’s death.
Not because they weren’t profitable… but because they weren’t prepared.

In this episode, I talk about what I’ve …

For business owners thinking about selling, transitioning ownership, or simply strengthening their company’s financial position, understanding business valuation is essential. The market doesn’t just look at revenue—it assesses profitability, risk, industry conditions, and future potential. Knowing what factors drive business value can help owners make smarter decisions to increase their company’s worth.

Key Factors That Determine Business Value

1. Financial Performance – Profitability, cash fl…