In The Media

Small and medium business valuations hit a record high of $1.4 trillion in June before the latest wave of COVID-19 lockdowns hit businesses across Australia, fresh data from Australia’s biggest succession planning advisory firm shows.

New research by Succession Plus found the total value of Australian SMEs was $1.437 trillion at the end of June, or an average of $605,079 per business. And while owners sat on record values for their businesses, many were looking to sell, with listings up 5.86% since the previous quarter.

A local digital platform has expanded to North America.

On Thursday, Australasian business succession and exit planning advisory firm, Succession Plus, confirmed the news and said that the Capitaliz platform will help North American advisers “unlock untapped value for small to medium-sized businesses”.

Capitaliz enables automatic businesses automation, benchmarking and value enhancement guidance for advisers to deliver successful exits for their clients.

A local digital platform has expanded to North America.

On Thursday, Australasian business succession and exit planning advisory firm, Succession Plus, confirmed the news and said that the Capitaliz platform will help North American advisers “unlock untapped value for small to medium-sized businesses”.
Capitaliz enables automatic businesses automation, benchmarking and value enhancement guidance for advisers to deliver successful exits for their clients.

One of the few positives to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic is that the feeling of uncertainty has led people to address setting up or updating their estate plan which otherwise would have fallen into the “I’ll get to it later” basket.

While financial advisers should be discussing estate plans with their clients, they should not forget about their own estate plan either especially if they own their practice.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Tax and Revenue has today presented its report titled Owning a Share of Your Work: Tax Treatment of Employee Share Schemes. The Committee’s overarching recommendation is that Employee Share Schemes be treated as capital for the purposes of taxation, and that a tax liability would arise on the disposal of the assets granted, using the current capital gains tax regime. Succession Plus CEO Craig West takes us through it.

Australian lockdowns are likely to send a recovering financial adviser mergers and acquisition (M&A) market into reverse as owners realise the lockdown will negatively impact their business’ valuation.

Firms seeking to put a succession plan in place would benefit from hiring younger advisers who will be at the firm for the long-term.

As many advisers left the industry, this was creating gaps that needed to be filled but there was a lack of suitable advisers available. This meant there were opportunities for younger advisers or graduates who were seeking their first role.

“Begin with the end in mind, from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen R. Covey (habit #2). This means making sure each and every decision you make in business gets you closer to your endgame.

“The people you employ, the business model you adopt, the financial strategy you map out and the way you market and promote your product, your pricing model, your client service and delivery – all need to focus on the endgame. If you look at a decision that is taking you further away from that, it is the wrong decision.

The Australian government has released exposure draught legislation proposing tax and regulatory changes that will make it easier to implement ESSs.

Employee incentive schemes (ESSs) are used by employers to attract, retain, and motivate employees by issuing shares, share options, interests in shares, or other benefits resulting from shares.

Australia has a large number of baby boomer business owners that are currently heading towards or preparing for retirement with no real plan for an exit from their business.

The first thing to do is begin with the end in mind, start to think about – what does my exit look like?

Interest in Employee share ownership plans (ESOPs) has increased dramatically in the last 12 months as business owners seek to ensure their workforce is aligned, motivated and focussed amid the disruption to work arrangements brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The reluctance of business owners to sell their advice firms is leaving a generation of advisers unable to progress, according to Succession Plus.

Many owners were now working into their advanced years which meant there was “no natural pathway” for younger members of staff to take over the business.