Guide to Operating a Successful Family Business

No doubt about it, running a business with a spouse, parents, siblings, children or other family members presents unique challenges over and above the usual problems a small business faces. That's why only one in three family businesses survives to the next generation.

Here are four essentials for striking the right balance when operating a family business.

1. Set some boundaries. It's easy for family members involved in a business to talk shop 24/7. But mixing business, personal and home life creates a volatile brew. Limit business discussions outside of the office.
2. Establish clear and regular methods of communication. Problems and differences of opinion are inevitable. Consider weekly meetings to assess progress, air any differences and resolve disputes.
3. Divide roles and responsibilities. While various family members may be qualified for similar tasks, duties should be divvied up to avoid conflicts.
4. Treat it like a business. A common pitfall in a family business is placing too much emphasis on "family" and not enough on "business."

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Seek better balance with outside advice

Decision-making in a family business can sometimes be too closed. Fresh ideas and creative thinking can get lost in the tangled Web of family relationships. Seeking guidance from outside advisors who are not affiliated with any family members can be a good way to give the business a reality check.

I recommend: The Family Firm Institute offers an excellent guide for finding and choosing a family business consultant. Family Business Magazine also has an advisor directory. Membership in FFI will get your family business access to a variety of other services and information. Family Business Consulting Group offers consulting services and a lot of helpful publications through Family Enterprise Publishers.

Join up with a university-based family business center

Many major universities across the U.S. have developed specialized family business centers that are a terrific place to network with other family business owners and experts.

I recommend: Check the Family Firm Institute's comprehensive list of Family Business Centers, Education Programs & Forums around the world.

Keep up to date on family business matters

Family Business Magazine calls itself "The Guide for Family Companies."

I recommend: The Family Business Magazine eNewsletter is free and will keep you abreast of the latest news and operating tips for and about family-owned companies. Family Business Magazine also lists family business conferences of interest. Family Business Review, published by FFI, is another good resource.

Get your family business properly insured

Family-owned businesses have unique needs for insurance

I recommend: Mass Mutual, the big insurance company, has specialized in meeting small and family-owned business needs for over 150 years. The firm has developed a list of solutions that can help your family business avoid common mistakes. Mass Mutual also sponsors 60 university-based family business centers across the country.

Stay abreast of estate tax matters that impact family business owners

Family-owned businesses have a big stake in and changes the federal government makes in the estate tax laws.

I recommend: The IRS small business/self-employed site has answers to estate tax questions.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Family-owned businesses offer unique benefits. One is access to human capital in the form of other family members. This can be a key to survival, as family members can provide low-cost or no-cost labor, or emergency loans.
• Treat family members fairly. Qualified family members can be a great asset to the business. But avoid favoritism. Pay scales, promotions, work schedules, criticism and praise should be evenhanded between family and non-family employees. Don't set standards higher or lower for family members than for others.
• Put business relationships in writing. Be clear up front about compensation, exit plans and other details before they become a problem.
• Develop a succession plan. A family business without a formal succession plan is asking for trouble. The plan should spell out the details of how and when the torch will be passed to a younger generation.
• Require outside experience first. If your children will be joining the business, make sure they get at least three to five years business experience elsewhere first; preferably in an unrelated industry.

The official source of Operating a Successful Family Business is
the Family-Owned Business Education and Training page at Business.com