Special Issue: Selling Your Business
//July 20, 2026 - Issue #171
How to Weigh the Consequences of Selling the Family Business A strong valuation is not enough. Families need to understand the emotional, relational, and governance consequences of selling before they commit.
Why PE Firms Want to Buy Your Family Firm (and Change it) Family businesses are often viewed as ripe for operational improvement, making them especially attractive to private equity investors seeking value creation.
Can a Family Stay a Business Family After Selling the Business? A study of German family firms shows that regular, meaningful contact between the family office and the family can preserve shared purpose after an exit.
Surprising reasons owners exit family businesses Concentrate less on succession planning and more on managing conflict and making the firm profitable.
Retirement Options and their Consequences for Small Business Owners From family succession to liquidation, we examine different retirement options for small business owners and provide a framework for picking the best plan.
Seven Things to Consider Before Selling the Family Firm Former family business owners shared their experiences in this panel discussion hosted by the University of St. Thomas's Family Business Center.
Exiting a Business: the Challenges and Rewards Will this be the year you sell your business? Get ready for a thrill ride of emotions. Here's what to expect. The Emotional Downside of Selling Your Business
When Keeping the Business in the Family No Longer Makes Sense A study of German family businesses showed that as intra-family succession becomes more difficult, families are increasingly open to selling — and intermediaries are emerging to help match owners with outside buyers.
Should Family Businesses Have Employee Ownership Plans? ESOPs can be an attractive option for family firms. If you're thinking of one, start the planning well before the owner retires.
Family Firms Prosper When Shareholders Think Like Trustees A trustee mentality helps make large families with many shareholders more cohesive, and preserves wealth for generations.Search & Save Enter search below to create an easy reading list
Recent
What Family Businesses in Africa Can Teach Us About Women Leaders
by Jan-Philipp Ahrens, Maria Giuseppina Bruna, Cinzia COLAPINTO, and Salam SAMI
/ Research Insight
Large family firms in countries such as Ghana, Kenya, and Madagascar show that women’s leadership can thrive when families widen their view of succession. Read more...
Why Family Business Founders Struggle to Step Back During Succession
by Paul Edelman
/ Practice Insight
Founder resistance is often more complicated than control. Empathy can help families understand what founders are trying to protect — and what their continued involvement may be preventing. Read more...
Fair Does Not Always Mean Equal: Ownership Decisions in Family Business
by Claudia Binz Astrachan, Lindsay Hardie, and Joseph Astrachan
/ Practice Insight
Families often struggle to decide whether shares should be divided equally among children or reflect leadership, sacrifice, and “sweat equity.” Read more...
Why Family Business Strengths Can Become Weaknesses in a Crisis
by Michael Kuttner
/ Research Insight
Family businesses often rely on loyalty, long-term thinking and strong relationships. But research shows those same strengths can backfire when crisis hits. Read more...
Trending
Things to Consider When Transferring Family Business Ownership
by Susan Lanz, Gary Burke, Kajsa Haag, and Omid Omidvar
How Family Dynamics Shape Family Businesses
by Joseph Astrachan and Claudia Binz Astrachan
Let the Next Generation of Family Firm Leaders Chart Their Own Path
by Klaus Lüber and Nadine Kammerlander
5 Practical Tips for Making Business Decisions With Family Members
by Rostyslav Vovk
How to Run a Family Business Successfully
by Kerry Hannon
Helping Daughters Become Successful Family Business Leaders
by Simon Caspary and Tom Rüsen
Editorial offices located at St Thomas University
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How Leaders Can Transfer Their Great Instincts to Successors
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What Japan's Oldest Businesses Can Teach Us About Longevity
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Avoid Legal Minefields When Acquiring Another Company
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Outside Leadership Can Save the Family Business
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The 'Fredo Factor:' How Deadbeats and Troublemakers Hurt Family Businesses
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Should I Participate in a Business Accelerator?
by Jon Eckhardt
Supported by the Richard M Schulze Family Foundation