Who would take the reins of your family business if you had to take a step back from it? Turns out just one-in-six businesses have a proper plan in place. But rest assured you can develop your own succession plan fairly painlessly, with the help of a new guide.

So … it turns out the Murdochs aren’t alone when it comes to succession headaches.

Latest family business data from KPMG shows that just 17% of Australian family businesses have a documented succession plan to safeguard the longevity of their business.

That means a whopping 83% of businesses intend to wing it and do it on the fly.

Fortunately, the newly released ‘Introductory Guide to Family Business Succession Planning’ provides a step-by-step guide to passing the family business on to the next generation.

“Succession planning can be challenging,” Family Business Australia (FBA) CEO Greg Griffith says.

“But with the right approach, supported by quality information and advice, you can achieve rewarding outcomes.”

Why it’s important to have a plan in place

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell says there has never been a more important time to initiate a succession plan, given the highest proportion of business owners are aged between 45 and 59 years.

“Australia’s most successful family business stories – and there are many – are a result of well-executed succession planning,” Ms Carnell says.

“More than 60% of employing small business owners are approaching retirement age. This generational shift presents a number of challenges for the sector and the economy more broadly as some business owners may find it difficult to attract a buyer.”

Mr Griffith adds the easy-to-read guide offers tips on how to handle the kinds of tense conversations that can occur between family members throughout the transition phase.

“The key to families working well together is to have really open and honest communication – which can be difficult when your boss, colleague or direct report is also a member of your family,” Mr Griffith says.

“Our succession planning guide offers practical tips to ensure an orderly transition process.”

Understanding your family business’s finance situation

One critical area highlighted in the guide is the importance of your successor understanding your family business’s finance situation.

“You may also want to engage people outside the family and the business. In our experience, businesses can benefit from guidance from advisors in areas such as business finance: to understand the nuances of your family and business finances,” the report states.

Now, we understand that money and finances can be a difficult subject to discuss with family members.

So if you’re thinking of passing the baton to a family member – and you’d like help bringing them up-to-speed on your business’s finance obligations, opportunities and outlook – then please get in touch today.

We’re here to help your business succeed now, and in the hands of the next generation (engage!).

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.

How well placed is your retail business when it comes to its digital transformation? Today we’ll look at some of the ways your competitors might be complementing their bricks and mortar stores with online empires.

For some retailers, COVID-19 was the death knell for their business. For others, it gave a much-needed nudge to supplement in-store sales with thriving online hubs.

So how well did you transform your business compared to your competitors in 2020?

Well, Retail Express conducted a benchmarking study of 22,000 Australian and New Zealand retailers across multiple sectors throughout 2020.

It looked at something called “omni-channel” retail, which is defined as “an approach to sales that focuses on providing seamless customer experience whether the client is shopping online, from a mobile device, a laptop or in a brick-and-mortar store”.

The study’s key findings

Founder and CEO of Retail Express, Aaron Blackman, says “the quality of a retailer’s eCommerce store, Click & Collect services and home delivery speed have now become key factors in who consumers decide to shop with.”

And the study demonstrates significant opportunities for Australian retail businesses to improve, with less than a third of surveyed retailers offering key omni-channel practices:

Click and collect: 26% of retailers offer this service

Display stock in store on website: 14%

Display live inventory available for online orders: 3%

Ship from store: 21%

Cross-channel gift vouchers: 26%

Inter-store stock transfers: 21%

Pre-orders: 13%

Investing in tech moving forward

As a business owner, it’s important not to think of 2020 as a once-off. Instead, consider that disruption is the new normal.

As such, Mr Blackman says retailers should be constantly thinking of ways to improve their omni-channel offerings.

“Just offering online shopping with Click & Collect will no longer be a competitive advantage, same day Click & Collect, and the speed of home delivery will be the benchmark,” he suggests.

In 2021 and beyond, digital transformation will be a significant priority as retailers look for ways to adapt to future disruptions, adds Mr Blackman.

“Now is the time for retailers to plan and design a robust and flexible operating model including a review of current systems and technology looking for all possible efficiency gains,” he says.

Get in touch

If you think now is the time to invest in your digital offerings, then get in touch today to discuss your funding options.

Obtaining the right finance is an important step when it comes to implementing the right technology, processes and personnel to fund your business’s future.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.