Health concerns, however, can compel succession earlier than expected. A business owner's incapacity, incompetency, or disability may render the owner incapable of transitioning a business to a successor. But, death is unquestionably the most severe of the reasons compelling succession of a business. Given the risk that a poorly planned succession might rob the business owner's heirs of a substantial inheritance, and risk otherwise guaranteed inheritance by burdening an estate and heirs with debts and obligations, one would assume that most business owners consider carefully succession of their business.
Many, however, aren't thinking about it at all.
