BUSINESS PLANNING

Ultimately, all business owners must decide in what capacity they want their business to continue, what their own long-term individual contributions will be, the best way to ensure the ongoing care of their clients, and the optimal direction and strategy to execute those objectives. If your business has not yet developed or communicated a plan for business continuation in the event of an unexpected incident or catastrophe (e.g., the unexpected death or disability of an owner or key decision-maker, or a natural disaster), you are missing an opportunity to help protect your business from potential devastation.

While financial considerations are often the primary focus, philosophical and emotional considerations that may not be as clear also play a vital role in the approach and design of a plan. We will work closely with you and your professional advisors to identify areas of concern and opportunity and provide solutions that help to bring certainty to the future of your business. We design plans that work to help ensure that your reputation—your business identity within your community, among your customers, and within your industry—remains intact in the event of a significant change.

BUSINESS VALUATION

A company’s value is often a tax challenge between the IRS and business owners. The IRS obviously wants to set your company’s value as high as possible to generate the highest tax revenue.

You can anticipate this situation by estimating now, within your succession plan, a bona fide value of your company. “Fair market value” is defined as “the amount a willing buyer would pay to a willing seller with neither being under any compulsion to conclude the transaction.” You can determine your company’s fair market value by doing market value research through an independent appraiser.