For Business Owners and Key People

Concerns/questions during ownership:

Many of the following questions can be addressed with no real “cost”, rather a shifting of resources.

• How will I assure a satisfactory retirement income?
• How can I minimize the impact of taxes?
• How can I keep liquid cash available and growing?
• Can I retain key people, even during a transition such as the sale of my business or my death?
• Are there ways to “handcuff” them, potentially increasing the business value and lowering risk?
• Will they be “on board” when there is a transition or, out of fear or greed, will they look elsewhere for safety or opportunities?
• Can I protect my assets from predators?
• Is it possible to hold cash for potential venture capital, make a certain%, and have liquidity?

Concerns when exiting/selling:

• How much can I get for my business?
• Will I be satisfied with my income after I sell this business?
• Do I want to look at discounting the value of the business, using tools such as minority interests?
• Can I implement a key person bonus program to go towards a down payment in equity buyout? ..Or as incentive to stay on with the new owner?
• Can I do such a thing without a burdensome pull on cash?

Concerns at death:

• How will business maintain its value, get sold or managed if I die?
• If I die and its’ not sold, what happens?
• Will my family have enough financial security if I die?
• Will my key people run, manage, maintain and/or sell business after my death?
• Will competitive forces cause problems with client relationships and staff retention?
• Will my kids be spoiled by inheritance or will they seize the opportunity?

Concerns regarding estate planning:

• Can I shifting business growth out of my estate?
• How will I be able to equalize inheritance?
• How can I protect assets?
• I have 3 potential beneficiaries: family, government, charity. Are there any uninvited guests? Should I include or exclude any of these?
• Do I have clear vision of how things will play out for beneficiaries?
• Can my beneficiaries avoid taxation: Estate, Income, other?