Business Explodes from Within

Written on the 18th of May 2011 by Sam Roberts

Early in my career I had a client whose husband was a partner in a successful local business and who had recently suffered a stroke. He would never be able to work again. The business was worth about $1,300,000.00 but it relied heavily on the skill of the now disabled partner to thrive.

The wife had approached the other owner to try to get him to buy out their share of the business. However, the healthy partner did not have the funds and had committed what funds he did have to a small property development.

As a result of the stroke the business suffered and after six (6) months it was unable to pay its debts and had accrued a substantial overdraft. Unfortunately for my client her family home had been given as security for the business overdraft.

After nine (9) months the business closed. Not only was my client unable to convert her husband’s share of the business to cash that was desperately needed to provide him with care and to pay the household bills, the bank was now pressuring her to sell the family home or pay $200,000.00 for the guaranteed business debts.

These circumstances were also unfortunate for the healthy business partner who lost the whole of his share in a business which he had helped build over 15 years and was forced to refinance his home to repay his guaranteed business debts.

All of these consequences could have been avoided had the partners sought advice in relation to Business Succession Planning. The number of business owners that I now speak to who are at risk due to not having any Business Succession plan is worrying.

To help business partners understand the issues relevant to Business Succession Planning Roberts Legal have now released a unique Business Succession Planning Guide which is available to download from their website at www.robertslegal.com.au.

In 2010 Roberts Legal was awarded the prestigious Yellow Pages Fastest Growing Business Award in the category of Professional, Scientific and Technical Services.
 

Disclaimer: This article is intended to provide comment and information of a general nature only and is not legal advice. While this information was accurate on the day of posting the law may have changed since that date. Roberts Legal is not responsible for any actions taken or not taken on the basis of this information. You should obtain specific legal advice on any matters of interest arising from this article.