The death of a co-owner is a tragedy for many reasons. For many co-owned businesses, co-owners are also close friends. What makes the suffering worse is when the death of a co-owner hurts the business in the months and years after the death. It not only makes it nearly impossible to mourn and heal but also affects the surviving owner’s …

Successful business owners do a lot of things well, and they make it look easy. This is often a sign of well-running processes and years of discipline. However, it can also be a trap for successful business owners who intend to pass their businesses onto their children or business insiders. While you may love the idea of keeping the business …

Running a successful business requires incredible amounts of effort, ingenuity, and capital. And when it comes to planning for the business’s future—both with and without the owner—many business owners ask, “What will this cost me?” Let’s look at the difference between the price of planning, and the costs of shooting from the hip. Understanding the price of planning It’s impossible …

It’s not uncommon to hear the phrase “Don’t take it personally” in terms of business decisions. But when you own a business, it’s difficult—if not impossible—to not take business decisions personally. After all, it’s likely that you, your family, and others you care about rely on your business to maintain their lifestyles or their sense of family legacy. This can …

Running a successful business is complex per se. Adding the element of “family” to a business often creates more complexities, especially as the business grows. Lifelong family bonds and expectations can run headlong into business realities and needs. Today, we’ll share some ideas about how to keep the family business running and the business family happy. First, a definition Let’s …

Successful business owners may face a conundrum as they pursue success. “Though my competitors do something similar, they don’t do it the way I do it. So, how do I know the right way to achieve success, especially if I don’t do things their way?” It’s a bit of a paradox: How can you build and enhance your company’s unique …

Success is rarely linear. As a business owner, it’s important to both acknowledge that fact and create plans that can provide short-term results while having long-term impacts. Today, we’ll show you four areas in which strong planning and realistic goals can position you to achieve more success in the coming year. Building strong management teams Strong management teams implement your …

Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships. –Michael Jordan You are a talented business owner. It’s why you win in your market. But when it comes to long-term planning, having an intelligent team to support your talents can position you for even bigger wins, such as continued business success, financial independence, and a fulfilling retirement. Today, we’ll show …

Successful business owners constantly strive for growth. And when everything’s humming along, it can be easy to think the good times will last forever. However, it’s crucial to protect yourself, your company, and your future against employee risk throughout your growth and planning. While it’s likely that many of your employees are good people working in good faith, just one …