Southern Indiana Business September-October 2020 | Page 9

PAID ADVERTISEMENT The primary goal of the second and third generation family business leader is to begin to professionalize the business, so that a platform for growth and expansion can be established, as well as a merit-based, professional culture. As the founder exits the business, decision making may no longer concentrated in one person. Collaborative decision making is often a foreign concept to companies who’ve been ruled by one person for many years. Nevertheless, in order to scale up and grow, an entire company cannot report to one individual. A professional management team and collaborative culture must be established. If the goal is to build a legacy family business that will endure for multiple generations, a dual family and corporate governance infrastructure should be in place by the third generation. Policies should be in place governing the interaction of the family and the business. Independent directors should begin to make their presence known on the board. There is great separation between family and business issues, and even management and ownership by this stage. Certain best practices are in place that have been researched and established as being essential to long term family business sustainability. Where are you along the family business generational continuum? What transitional stage do you find yourself in? Are you aware of the tension points ahead and do you have a plan to proactively address them? A trusted family business advisor can help you answer these questions and help move your business forward for generations to come. Family is everything. We think so too. We proactively work with family businesses to achieve goals and build legacies. 812.670.3400 | www.mcmcpa.com | September / October 2020 9