Tag: family business advice

A New Way to Resolve Extreme Conflict in Family Businesses

Family members may feel “trapped” in conflicts, unable to resolve substantive issues without damaging their familial relationships. This often leads to disputes that persist for decades. Conflict Read more

Merging With Another Family Firm is Safer and Smarter

Family business mergers enjoy greater harmony and better financial performance than mergers involving non-family firms. Mergers and acquisitions represent one of the most significant strategic Read more

Unready and Unadvised: The Silent Crisis in Family Wealth Transfer

A study of 13,500 family firms shows that nearly half of heirs don’t know where the assets are -- and 3 in 5 wouldn’t know what to do if the founder died suddenly. We all know plenty of Read more

A Family Council Can Help Larger Families Stay Connected

Consider one if your family business has 15 or more relatives involved, or multiple generations. Many family firms wonder about whether they need a family council: a group that helps ensure that Read more

When Family Businesses Should Think Like Private Equity Firms

Adopting all or even some PE investor strategies can add value and enhance competitiveness, especially when a successor takes over or the company may be sold. Family businesses must navigate a Read more

Your Family’s Mental Model Might Be Fueling Its Conflicts

Different ways of thinking shape how families make decisions, resolve tensions, and pass leadership across generations. Every family business has its own way of seeing the world. Some center around a Read more

The Wetherbe Thought Leadership Awards recognize EIX and FamilyBusiness.org authors whose articles have had extraordinary impact over the past decade. EIX and FamilyBusiness.org are expected to Read more

Learning to Let Go of a Startup

Handing off a family business to the next generation can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. EDITOR'S NOTE: This article is part of The Great Unretirement, a Next Avenue initiative made Read more

Congratulations! You’ve sold your business. Now prepare to be depressed. Most founders see selling their business as a gateway to new wealth and a dream come true. But many underestimate how Read more

Nonfamily CEOs Are Most Vulnerable in the Middle Stage of Their Tenure

Family businesses tend to give all CEOs time to prove themselves, but are tougher on outsiders who don’t deliver results after a few years. EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was produced in partnership Read more