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Succession Planning Survey

Succession Planning Survey
Win
The Succession Sweepstakes

Confidential Feedback to help you
Beat the Odds

Our succession planning survey is designed to be completed by the owner of a family business as he/she begin to contemplate the issues that need to be addressed as they prepare for succession - to better the odds that they will "succeed at succession!"

The survey poses questions from three different segments of the succession planning process – business, personal and family.

Why is succession planning and succession management so critical for family businesses?

“Research on family businesses suggest that only about 30% successfully transition to the second generation; about 12% successfully transition to the third generation; and only about 3% make it to the fourth generation,” according to top family business expert Don Schwerzler

“What makes the situation worse? It's knowing that most of the problems that hurt or destroy a family business can be avoided.”

"Succession should be a process, not an event," notes Schwerzler.

Schwerzler has been studying and advising family businesses for more than 40 years and he is the founder of the Family Business Institute

The succession survey is a fast and easy-to-use tool that enables us to gain some general insights and to better understand the family business dynamics.

The reasons why so many family businesses fail to make it to the next generation are varied and complex. Unfortunately, for those that fail to make the transition, almost all of the problems associated with generational transition can be attributed to poor planning and/or not taking full advantage of family business succession experts and proven succession strategies.

We have developed a family succession planning tool that will help define the probabilities for the successful transition of ownership to the next generation of YOUR family.

If you are a family business owner and are interested in seeing how you compare to others like yourself, take a few minutes and complete the short quiz. Your answers will be processed and then reviewed personally by Don Schwerzler.

Please NOTE...

If you are a family member but not the family business owner, you can get an answer to your succession-related question here.

After your survey is processed, Don will review your results and e-mail his comments back to you. This confidential feedback has proven very helpful to other family business owners - it might provide the insights you need to beat the family business succession sweepstakes!

Simply check the questions that apply to you then use the "Submit" button to e-mail your succession planning survey for processing.

Beat the 30% Odds of Successful Family Business Succession

Please note that all fields followed by an asterisk must be filled in.

First Name*
First Name*

E-mail Address*
E-mail Address*

Web Site URL*
Web Site URL*

How many years has your business been operating?*
How many years has your business been operating?*

What is your age?*
What is your age?*

How many employees does your business have?*
How many employees does your business have?*

With respect to your family business, do you...

	have a company mission statement
	it has been updated in the last 5 years
	use SWOT Analysis
	understand Organizational Theory
	have a written Business Plan
	have a written Succession Plan
	have a Board of Advisors
	spend more than 50 hours a week working IN your business
	spend less than 5 hours a week working ON your business
	have a web site for your business
	consider your web site to be a profit center for your business
	have written job descriptions
	have employee handbooks
	measure job performance
	have a recent professional valuation of your business
	place more importance on the success of your business than family relationships
	have written rules of entry that govern the hiring of family members
	require that your children working in the business follow the same work rules as non family employees
	pay your children prevailing wages for their work
	have open communications with your children in the business
	have a ready buyer for your business

With respect to your personal life and arrangements, do you...

	have a will
	have disability insurance
	have key-man insurance
	get an annual physical
	take non-work related vacations
	have ex-spouses
	have any children capable of running your business
	feel concerned about being fair and equal to your children
	plan to leave your children equal shares in the business
	feel it is important to you to have your children take over the business when you retire
	have a college degree
	have financial security for you and your spouse assured outside of the business

With respect to your family, do you...

	have formal family business meetings
	have a family mission statement
	have a family business plan
	have a concern about family harmony
	have children's spouses working in your business
	have any children with substance abuse problems
	feel that family relationships are more important than having a healthy business
	place importance on religion in your family
	your children confide in you regarding their personal lives
	your children find it easier to talk to their mother than their dad
	think your spouse could run the business if something happened to you
	think your family appreciates the sacrifices you have made for them

Family Business Experts Understands
Family Values andBusiness Systems

Our succession planning survey is only one of many ways Don can help you succeed. Click here to Ask the Expert any family business question you need help with.

Please stay in touch and subscribe to our
Understanding Family Business e-zine.

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Succession Planning Survey

Succession Planning Survey WinThe Succession Sweepstakes

Confidential Feedback to help you Beat the Odds

Succession Planning Survey
Win
The Succession Sweepstakes

Confidential Feedback to help you
Beat the Odds