Succession Ontario

What's next for your business?

Whether you're planning to sell, transfer the business to employees or family, or wind down, the future of your business deserves a plan.

As your local Ontario Small Business Advisory Centre, the Stratford Perth Centre for Business is proud to be part of Succession Ontario, the province's first centralized succession planning hub, created to help small business owners take their next step with confidence.

What is succession planning, and why does it matter?

Succession planning is the process of preparing for the eventual transition of your business. It covers everything from understanding what your business is worth, to assembling the right team of advisors, to mapping out a realistic timeline for your exit.

The majority of Ontario's small business owners expect to transition out of their businesses within the next decade, yet only one in ten have a formal succession plan in place. Planning early gives you options, protects the value you've created, and helps ensure your business as well as the jobs and community connections that come with it continues to thrive.

Free tools and resources built for you

Through Succession Ontario, you have access to a growing library of free, self-paced resources designed specifically for small and micro-business owners:

• Online learning modules that walk you through the succession planning process step by step, at your own pace
• A free business valuation estimate to help you understand what your business may be worth in today's market
• Practical planning tools for building a transition roadmap, preparing your financials, and assembling your advisory team
• Guidance on your exit options, including transferring to family, selling to employees or a third party, and wind-downs

Everything is free, practical, and built to meet you wherever you are in your journey.