No succession plan a costly risk for Alberta businesses

CALGARY, April 18, 2013 /CNW/ - We'll admit it. The importance of succession planning for small and mid-sized Alberta businesses gets lost in day-to-day concerns like cash flow, inventory and HR challenges.

Wellington Holbrook, ATB Financial's executive vice president, Business & Agriculture, says that's dangerous.

"Owners who don't pay attention to succession planning run the risk of one day closing down their business when, if planned correctly, they could sell it," adds Holbrook. "Thinking about the ultimate future of their company is not top of mind for many business owners in this province."

More than four in ten (42 per cent) of Alberta small and mid-sized business owners are 55 years of age and older but planning their retirement doesn't seem to be on their radar.

That's one of the key findings of ATB Financial's new quarterly Business Beat survey which also revealed:

• Forty-five per cent of small and mid-sized business owners in the province have been in business over 20 years
• Thirty per cent are self-described as in the 'mature or winding down' stage
• When asked about the difficulties of strategic planning, over one third are concerned with succession planning

ATB dove deeper in a separate survey through its customer panel and found only seven per cent had a formal written succession plan and almost six in 10 (58 per cent) had no succession plan at all. Valuing the business and finding a suitable buyer or successor were the top barriers.

"It can take years for a business owner to create and plan a successful transition of a business," says Holbrook. "Yet it is critical to properly value your business and maximize the return."

The Business Beat survey also revealed most Alberta business owners are optimistic about their immediate future. Eighty-seven per cent of business owners/operators in the province expect their company to be the same or better off six months from now.

Despite the optimism, almost half (49 per cent) of those surveyed place human resources and labour as the most difficult issue. Of those who put human resources as their most, or second most difficult issue, 86 per cent said finding and attracting skilled labour is the biggest challenge.

For the complete Business Beat survey results, click here.

SOURCE: ATB Financial

For further information and interview requests, please contact:
Barry Strader
Corporate Reporter
ATB Financial
[phone] (cell); [phone] (office)
e-mail: [email protected]