Succession Planning Checklist

This is a starting point, not a complete plan. Use it to see where you are and what to talk through with your advisors.

Foundations

Whether you're planning a sale, a family transfer, or a management buyout, the starting point is the same: knowing what you want, and by when. From there, this checklist walks through what buyers look at first, the business itself, your people, and the advisors you'll need, so you can see where you stand before you talk to anyone.

What Buyers Actually Look At

• Clear personal goals and a rough timeline.
• A view of the path that fits you: sale, family transfer, or management buyout.
• A personal financial plan for life after the business.

The Business

• Clean, current financial records.
• Documented processes and systems.
• Reduced reliance on you personally.
• Contracts, leases, and corporate records in order.

The People

• A team that can carry the business forward.
• A plan for how and when to tell key people.
• Family conversations, if a family transfer is in view.

The Advisors

• An accountant and a lawyer who know your business.
• An M&A advisor for the process itself.

This checklist is general information, not advice. Your plan should be built with qualified professionals who know your situation.