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    Zwyrtek
    Private and family businessSuccession

    Succession of a family business.

    Succession is not just about transferring shares. It is a decision about who is to control the company, who is to manage the wealth, and how to safeguard the continuity of the business and family relationships.

    Free consultationPrivate and family business

    When to start the conversation about succession.

    The best moment is while the owner still has full control over the company, time and decisions. Succession planned calmly gives choice; succession carried out in a rush usually offers only necessity.

    • the owner is thinking about reducing operational involvement,
    • a question arises within the family about the next generation's role,
    • the company is growing faster than its current ownership structure,
    • selling the company or bringing in an investor is under consideration.

    What a succession plan covers.

    A succession plan combines family, ownership and management decisions. It is not a single document — it is a set of consistent decisions that cannot be made in isolation from one another.

    • the owner's and family's long-term goals,
    • the ownership structure and control over the companies,
    • the rules for sharing profits and decisions,
    • the next generation's role in the company and in the wealth,
    • legal tools: gifts, testamentary bequests, shareholders' agreements, a family constitution, the family foundation,
    • tax, risks and the implementation timetable.

    Succession and the family foundation.

    The Polish family foundation can be an effective succession tool — it allows ownership of the wealth to be separated from its day-to-day management and keeps the company within a single structure across many generations. It is not, however, always the right solution. We take the decision only after analysing the owner's goals, the wealth and the family situation.

    Succession and selling the company.

    Succession and selling the company are not mutually exclusive — in many situations, an orderly ownership structure is a precondition for a well-run transaction. We combine succession planning with our M&A practice, so that ownership and transactional decisions stay consistent.

    How Zwyrtek Group supports owners.

    We work in a small team led by partners. We combine tax, legal, financial and transactional advisory — from the first conversation about goals, through selecting the right tools, to implementation and ongoing support for the owner and the family.

    Related areas

    See also.

    FAQ

    Frequently asked questions.

    Ideally while the owner still has full control and time to decide — realistically, 5–10 years ahead. Succession carried out in a rush, under the pressure of ill health or conflict, offers far fewer options than succession planned calmly.

    No. Succession means transferring control and wealth — not necessarily to the same people. Some families opt for professional management, a family foundation, selling the company, or a mixed model in which the children are owners but do not manage the business operationally.

    A family foundation allows ownership of the wealth to be separated from its day-to-day management, sets rules for payouts to beneficiaries, and keeps the company within a single structure across many generations. The purpose and shape of the foundation depend on the owner's goals, the structure of the wealth and family relationships.

    Yes. In many situations, an orderly ownership structure is a precondition for a well-run transaction. Succession planning and preparation for a sale should be treated as a single process, run with sufficient lead time.

    We start with a conversation with the owner about their goals, family situation and the structure of the wealth. Only on that basis do we propose specific tools and a timetable. We work in a small team led by partners, with full confidentiality.

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