Business Succession Planning - Planned Liquidation

Retention of the Business for the Family | Sale of the Business to Co-Owners, Employee or Third Party | Planned Liquidation of the Business

In some situations, there is no family member capable of or willing to continue the business and a willing buyer cannot be identified. In these situations, the only alternative may be to liquidate the business at the owner's death or disability.

Without proper advance planning, however, a financially-disastrous forced liquidation may result. A forced liquidation can greatly diminish the value of the business asset, while eliminating the source of income upon which the owner or surviving family depended.

When a business cannot be retained by the family, or sold at an owner's death or disability, advance planning can enable a planned orderly liquidation of the business by providing the funds needed to:

• Pay estate taxes and other estate settlement costs or
• Continue an income to the disabled owner or surviving family.
• Allow the time for a planned liquidation that can help maximize the liquidation value of the business.
• Offset the diminished value of the business that results from even a planned liquidation.