Family Business Advisory Services

July 2, 2021

Summer 2021 Reading

Family Business Director is off enjoying 4th of July festivities this week. For our readers that are looking for some beach reading, we thought we would direct your attention to some of our more popular posts in case you missed them the first time around.

Valuation Principles Family Business Directors Should Know in 2021

Family business directors will make plenty of difficult decisions in the remainder of 2021, and many of those decisions will require assessing the value of the company’s shares, a particular business segment, or a potential acquisition target. What should you and your fellow directors know about valuation? In our experience, there are six basic valuation principles that can guide directors as they make tough valuation-related decisions in the coming year.

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Navigating Tough Family Business Conversations

How should your family business have discussions around sensitive topics? Perhaps it is a patriarch who has run one too many strategic board meetings, the cousin who refuses to take their Vice President role seriously, or the aunt who is rather loose in defining what a “business meal” is. “No Aunt Millie, this is not a case of defining what ‘is‘ is”.

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The Three-Legged Stool of Family Business

Our family business advisory practice is focused on three strategic financial questions that weigh on family business directors and can keep them awake at night. Clients often solicit our advice because they are struggling with one of these questions. But, in our experience, the questions can’t really be tackled in isolation. Each question comprises one leg of the three-legged stool of the family business. As an engineering-minded client recently pointed out to us, while it is impossible for a three-legged stool to wobble, it can be crooked. If the three legs are not designed to work together, the stool won’t be level, and won’t hold anything valuable for long.

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All EBITDA Is Not Created Equal

In the world of family-owned and other private businesses, EBITDA is the most commonly cited performance measure. Every company has EBITDA, but some EBITDA is better than others. Why is that?

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The Economics of Family Shareholder Redemptions

Regardless of the reason, significant shareholder redemptions are among the least understood corporate transactions. In this post, we consider the economics of family shareholder redemptions from three perspectives: the selling shareholder, the family business, and the remaining shareholders.

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We hope you have a relaxing and enjoyable summer break. If you know a family business director or advisor that might benefit from our content, forward this note or email us and we will be sure to add them as a subscriber. Happy reading!

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What Should We Tell Shareholders When Results Are Strong, but the Dividend Is Not Increasing?
What Should We Tell Shareholders When Results Are Strong, But the Dividend Is Not Increasing?

You Asked. We Answer.

Strong business results do not always support a higher dividend when cash is needed for investment, debt reduction, working capital, or financial reserves. Directors can build shareholder confidence by clearly explaining how retained cash supports strategy and aligns with a consistent dividend policy.
Why Can the Same Business Have Different Values?
Why Can the Same Business Have Different Values?

You Asked. We Answer.

Business valuation is driven by future cash flow, growth, risk, and the specific purpose of the valuation, not by a single universal formula. Understanding why a valuation is being performed helps directors and shareholders interpret differing conclusions with greater confidence.
Should We Borrow Money If We Don’t Have To?
Should We Borrow Money If We Don’t Have To?

You Asked. We Answer.

Thoughtful borrowing can strengthen a family business when it aligns with strategy, preserves financial flexibility, and supports long-term shareholder value. Directors should evaluate debt as a governance decision rather than assuming a debt-free balance sheet is always the most prudent choice.

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