New research finds more than half plan to leave their businesses within 10 years, but 3 out of 4 have no plan in place
Small business owners planning to exit their businesses for retirement or other reasons may be in for a rude awakening.
New research conducted by Securian Financial Group shows the vast majority of small business owners are unprepared for exiting their businesses. The financial ramifications, especially for business owners counting on their companies to fund their retirement, could be significant.
“While 54 percent of business owners plan to leave their business in the next 10 years, 72 percent have taken no exit planning action,” said Andrew O’Brien, who directs Securian’s business owner client solutions group. “For most small business owners, the business is by far their largest asset. Not properly planning for the sale or transfer of their business can leave a lot of people—including the business owner—in a very difficult position.”
The study found that 50 percent of small business owners want to sell their business to a partner, key employee or third party, while 37 percent want to transfer the business to family members.
“A sale or transfer of a business involves multiple financial and legal steps that tend not to work well for the owner when rushed,” said Channing Schmidt, who leads a team of Securian associates who advise financial professionals and their business owner clients on advanced planning. “A written exit plan developed by a team of experts working in concert with the business owner is the best way to prepare for a successful transition.”
Six hundred small business owners with an average of 27 employees and annual revenue ranging from $250,000 to more than $20 million were surveyed in August and September 2015 for the Securian Small Business Owner Life Stage Study. More information is available at www.securiannews.com.
One-page summary of survey and potential implications
ABOUT SECURIAN FINANCIAL GROUP
Since 1880, Securian Financial Group and its affiliates have provided financial security for individuals and businesses in the form of insurance, investments and retirement plans. Now one of the nation’s largest financial services providers, Securian is the holding company parent of a group of companies that offer a broad range of financial services.
