In Quebec, transferring a business is undoubtedly one of the biggest intergenerational handovers of assets in our time. As the largest cohort of business owners retires from the SME sector and passes the torch to the next generation, major challenges will emerge over the next decade, and professional advice will be essential to ensuring the long-term survival of our entrepreneurial fabric. In this context, the demand for expertise is likely to accelerate and advisors interested in this industry must be prepared.
According to Statistics Canada, more than 15,000 businesses will change hands in Quebec this year alone. That’s about one in four (25%) business owners who intend to transfer. Furthermore, the pandemic is believed to have doubled the number of intentions to hand over ownership.
The process of transferring a business poses significant and underestimated generational challenges that can jeopardize its success, says Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton (RCGT). The gap is all the more important since over 80% of SMEs are family businesses. One variable that is often overlooked is the difficulty of creating links between sellers and buyers.In a study produced by Familles en affaires - HEC Montréal, the authors noted that “succession is the main challenge facing a family business.”
Two numbers from this survey are highly revealing:
— 43% of family firms have no succession plan.
— 30% rely only on an informal plan.
Many owner-managers underestimate the complexity of transferring a family business, which can lead to failures that leave SMEs vulnerable and also cause conflicts between the family members involved.
Over the past five years, 52,000 business transfers in Quebec were successful, but worryingly, this is only one third of all transfers, the rest having failed.
Our file on this topic will help you understand the importance of knowing your clients and their businesses, as well as the growing role played by women in the succession process. Also, since tax issues are unavoidable, the services of an ally who is a recognized tax expert will be key to the success of a business transfer. Finally, thanks to your expertise and your vision of the big picture, your involvement is more important than ever to help entrepreneurs achieve a successful transfer. The rest is up to you.
Helping entrepreneurs improve their succession planning
Quebec is currently going through a major period of business transfers, but many business owners neglect to prepare for this process, at the risk of having to shut down their SME. Professional financial advisors can help address this problem.
A bright future for female entrepreneurs
For a long time women were excluded from business transfer plans, but now they are increasingly taking on roles worthy of their ambitions. This trend is expected to gather momentum over the next few years.
Tax implications of transferring a business
Tax planning is a key element in the transfer of a business. Making the right decisions at the right time can result in significant tax savings. For example, this is the case with the lifetime capital gains exemption.
Reference guide: Le transfert d’entreprise
The CSF welcomes the publication of the reference guide Le transfert d’entreprise by the Chaire IG Gestion de patrimoine en planification financière of the Faculté des sciences de l’administration de l’Université Laval (FSA ULaval).