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About SRG

Succession Resource Group is a boutique succession consulting firm based in the Pacific Northwest, serving clients across the country. SRG was founded by David Grau Jr., MBA in 2012 after nearly a decade of helping advisors with valuation and succession planning. SRG's team of experts leverage their industry expertise, combined with best-in-class resources, to help advisors, agents, and accountants manage the equity in their businesses...

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2 min read

Plan for the worst...Hope for the best

Feb 27, 2020 11:37:21 AM

At some point in your career as a small business owner, you will find yourself either needing or wanting a partner (I use the term "partner" in the loosest sense of the term). Whether it is for the purposes of adding/retaining talent, expanding your business and talent pool, sharing expenses, or building a succession/exit plan, finding someone to partner with in serving your clients is essential for businesses to survive for multiple generations.

There are plenty of horror stories on partnerships gone bad. However, there are many benefits that come with teaming, whether it is with a peer or up-and-coming junior partner. So, when the time is right, make sure you plan for the worst and hope for the best.

This means that if you have a partner, or partners, you should have a partnership agreement of some sort (or a Shareholder Agreement, Buy-Sell Agreement, etc.). These agreements can serve many purposes and the contents vary widely, but, the goal is consistent: Protect all parties involved, reduce potential conflict, and make sure the business can survive a break-up without the clients suffering. So, what does a partnership agreement look like? A basic partnership agreement will typically include:

  • Initial contributions
  • Nature of the business
  • Roles, duties, and titles
  • Compensation and expense sharing
  • Voting rights and things that require a vote (i.e. large expenditures, encumbering the company, admitting new partners)
  • How disputes will be resolved
  • How profits (or losses) will be handled
  • Buy-out provisions in case of an owner's death/disability
  • Non-solicit/no-serve clauses for firm clients
  • Valuation methodology

There are also a variety of interesting optional provisions we provide our clients, like one included for a recent client, referred to as a "Shotgun Clause" which is designed to ensure a buy-out can/will occur if there is ever a dispute that cannot be resolved. This type of clause essentially allows one owner to offer his/her ownership at a named price. If the other owner agrees, then a sale/purchase will occur. If they do not elect to purchase, then they must sell their shares to the offering owner. As you can see, this clause, when triggered, ends the partnership but can help avoid long drawn out legal battles where everyone loses. Partnership agreements may be long and comprehensive or they may be short and concise. The key is to have a plan that helps provide structure for the relationship in case there are ever disagreements, questions, or issues that arise.

 

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Topics: Equity Sharing
David Grau Jr.

Written by David Grau Jr.

David Grau Jr., founder and CEO of Succession Resource Group, specializes in succession and M&A consulting for advisors. As a leading M&A consultant with a history of service in the United States Navy, David is recognized as a thought leader and accomplished speaker. He is prominent in the financial services industry, especially on topics related to M&A and next-generation strategies, having delivered over 200 presentations for organizations like the Financial Services Institute (FSI) and FPA.