Estate & Succession Planning

Protect your wealth. Secure your business. Plan ahead with confidence.

Estate and succession planning for business owners, combining tax, structuring and implementation to ensure your business and personal affairs are properly protected.

‍

The Challenge

For many business owners, their business is their largest asset. But it is often the least formally planned for.

If something happens unexpectedly, the risks can be immediate:

• The business may be unable to operate
• Access to bank accounts may be restricted
• Key decisions cannot be made
• Uncertainty is created for family, staff and customers

In many cases, businesses can grind to a halt very quickly.

Alongside this, there are longer-term considerations:

• How wealth is passed on
• How tax is managed
• How ownership is transferred

Without proper planning, this can create significant disruption and unnecessary cost.

‍

Our Approach

We provide a structured approach to estate and succession planning, designed specifically for business owners.

Our focus is on:

• protecting the continuity of your business
• ensuring your affairs are properly structured
• reducing tax exposure where possible
• and putting clear plans in place
  

So that both your business and personal position are protected.

‍

What This Covers

Our estate and succession planning service typically includes:

Planning and Structuring

• Inheritance tax planning
• Business and personal structuring
• Succession planning for business owners
• Planning for business continuity
  

Implementation

• Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney (provided by Somerset Accountancy Wills Ltd)
• Shareholder agreements
• Partnership agreements

Estate Administration

• Inheritance tax returns
• Probate applications
• Acting as executor (where appropriate)
• Supporting executors and personal representatives

‍

Business Continuity Comes First

A key part of this work is ensuring your business can continue to operate if something unexpected happens.
‍

This may include:

• ensuring appropriate authorities are in place
• planning for decision-making
• aligning ownership and control
• putting clear succession arrangements in place

So that your business is protected, not left exposed.

‍

A Joined-Up Approach

Because we already work with you as your accountant and adviser, we understand:

• how your business operates
• how it is structured
• your financial position

This allows us to ensure your estate and succession planning works in practice, not just in theory.

‍

A Long-Term Perspective

Estate and succession planning is not a one-off exercise. As your business and personal circumstances change, your plans should evolve.

We support this over time, ensuring your arrangements remain appropriate and effective.