Business Succession Planning

Melbourne | FREE Consultation

Your Will Doesn't Control Your Business.If you own a company, trust, or partnership—you need succession planning, not just a will.

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Problem

What Happens to Your Business If You Die Tomorrow?

Who controls it? Who owns it? Who runs it?

Without succession planning:

Your family doesn't automatically inherit your business
Business partners may have control
Trusts continue without clear direction
Your family fights with partners over value
The business you built collapses

A will distributes your personal assets. It doesn't control companies or trusts.

Who Needs Succession Planning

You Need Succession Planning If You Have:

Family Business

Who takes over when you retire or die?
How do you transfer control without destroying value?
What if your kids don't want the business?

Family Trust

Who controls the trust after you're gone?
How do you protect beneficiaries from poor decisions?
How do you prevent disputes over distributions?

Business Partners

What happens if you die? Does your family inherit your share?
Can partners force a sale?
How is value calculated?

Valuable Assets in Super or Companies

How do you minimise tax on transfer?
How do you protect assets from challenges?

Solution

What Succession Planning Actually Does

1
We design structures that:
Transfer control smoothly
- Clear rules for who takes over
- Triggers for transition (death, retirement, incapacity)
- Governance structures that work
2
Minimise tax
- Coordinate with accountants
- Use tax-effective structures
- Plan super and CGT exposure
3
Prevent disputes
- Clear roles and rights for family members
- Exit pathways if someone wants out
- Valuation mechanisms for buyouts
4
Protect the business
- Ensure continuity of operations
- Maintain key relationships and contracts
- Preserve value you built

Tools We Use

Succession Planning Tools

Buy-Sell Agreements

Partners agree on what happens if one dies or wants out
Pre-agreed valuation method
Funded with insurance

Shareholder Agreements

Control who can buy shares
Rules for transfer on death or retirement
Protection for minority shareholders

Trust Deeds & Variations

Update trust to clarify succession
Appointer provisions
Control mechanisms

Wills Coordinated with Business Structures

Your will works with your business entities
No gaps or conflicts
Clear instructions for executors

book free will consultation

Process

How We Build Your Succession Plan

Map Your Structure (FREE Consultation)

We review:

All your entities (companies, trusts, partnerships)
Who has control now
What happens on your death/retirement under current structure
Gaps and risks

Design the Plan

We work with your accountant to:

Design tax-effective transition
Draft agreements and amendments
Coordinate with your will

Implement

We execute all documents properly:

Deeds, agreements, will updates
Stored securely
Instructions for family/executors

Review & Update

We recommend reviews:

Every 3-5 years
After major business changes
When family circumstances change

succession

Frequently Asked Questions

We plan for:

Sale to partners or third parties
Management succession (family owns, others run it)
Gradual transition with earn-outs

Yes. Your will doesn't control:

Company shares (governed by shareholder agreements)
Trust assets (controlled by trust deed)
Partnership interests (governed by partnership agreement)

Succession planning fills these gaps.

Don't Leave Your Business to Chance

Get a FREE succession planning review.

We'll assess your current structure and identify risks.