Succession planning for business owners
Good succession planning starts years before you step back. Here's how to think about it — and how we can help.
For many owners, the hardest question isn't whether to step back but how. There may be no family member ready to take over, a management team that can't fund a buyout alone, or simply no clear plan for what happens next.
Succession planning means deciding who will own and run the business after you, and preparing it so that the transition protects its value, its people and its reputation. The earlier you start, the more options you have.
Your succession options
Most owners of established industrial businesses choose between a handful of routes. Each has trade-offs on price, speed, certainty and what happens to the business afterwards.
- Passing the business to family members
- A management buyout, often with outside backing
- A sale to a trade buyer or competitor
- A sale to an investor such as INFRANOVA, full or partial
Who we help
We work with the owners of established, founder-led UK businesses — often people who started or inherited the company, built it over decades and now want to plan what comes next. Some want to retire completely. Some want to step back gradually. Some want a partner with capital and operating experience to take the business further than they could on their own.
What they have in common is that they care about what happens after they sell. They want their staff looked after, their customers served properly and the name above the door to mean something for years to come. That is exactly the kind of owner we want to work with.
What we look for
We keep our criteria simple and we share them openly, so you can judge quickly whether a conversation is worthwhile. If your business doesn't fit neatly, talk to us anyway — we consider every enquiry on its merits.
- Based in the UK
- Enterprise value of roughly £2m–£10m
- 10+ years trading
- Profitable, with consistent cash generation
- A skilled workforce and loyal customers
- No single customer ideally above 15–20% of revenue
How a sale works with us
Selling a business shouldn't mean months of uncertainty before you know where you stand. We aim to give you a straight answer early, and a clear timetable after that.
- Initial screen: we'll tell you within days whether there's likely to be a fit.
- First conversation and site visit: we meet you, walk the floor and listen.
- Indicative offer: a clear view on value, explained openly, before any lengthy process.
- Due diligence: typically 4–8 weeks, run with as little disruption to the business as possible.
- Completion and handover: a structured transition, typically 6–24 months, at a pace that suits you.
What happens to your staff, customers and name
We buy businesses to build them, not to strip them. Your skilled workforce is the business, and protecting good people is central to how we create value. We don't plan to close sites or cut jobs to hit a number.
The relationships you have built with customers and suppliers are protected through the handover, and we introduce ourselves to them only when you're ready. Your business keeps its name, identity and heritage — we preserve what works and build on it. Our commitments are written down in our Owner's Charter so you can hold us to them.
Preparing your business
Buyers value businesses that can run without their owner. Strengthening your management team, documenting processes, tidying up contracts and producing reliable monthly financial information will all make a sale smoother and support a stronger price.
We're happy to have an early, no-obligation conversation even if you're years away from acting — it often helps owners see which steps matter most.
Questions owners ask us.
Start a confidential conversation.
Tell us a little about your business. All conversations are strictly confidential.