BUSINESS PLANNING
Is your business ready for when you’re no longer running it?
Business planning means deciding in advance how your business will carry on when ownership changes hands.
Whether your plan is to pass your business to family, sell it, or transition ownership another way, having a clear plan in place protects what you’ve built. Business succession planning ensures the right people can step in and the business continues operating as intended, without leaving your family, partners, or employees scrambling to figure things out.
Business Planning
Most of our clients don’t come to us looking for a trust.
They come in because something changed, or is about to.
Business Formation
A business built without long-term transitions in mind can create confusion when even small changes are made later. We help you understand how business is structured today and whether it supports future ownership changes.
Succession Planning
Succession planning is about more than naming a successor. It’s about making clear decisions for the future of your business and deciding who has the authority to make those decisions after you, without unnecessary disruption.
Everything Starts with a Conversation
No checklist of assets, no legal jargon-heavy speeches, and no pressure to make decisions on the spot. Our role is to help you understand what actually needs attention, take the lead where it adds value, and keep you in control of the decisions throughout. You don’t need to have everything figured out — just a willingness to talk it through and decide what comes next.
Business Formation
Choosing the right structure today gives you more options when it’s time to step back. Which type of entity makes the most sense? It sounds like a straightforward question, but LLCs, corporations, tax treatment, and personal liability exposure each solve one problem while creating another. What looks “right” on paper doesn’t always align with how the business actually operates, who’s involved, or how much flexibility you may want later on.
We work with you to think through your options in context. That includes helping establish the right entity, coordinating with accountants when needed, and making sure the foundational pieces are in place so future transitions don’t become more complicated than they need to be.
Succession Planning
There’s more than one way to step back from your business.
Many business owners know succession is possible but feel stuck trying to define the “right” path, while others assume succession is an all-or-nothing decision, not realizing there are ways to plan for change while remaining fully involved until you’re ready to step back.
We understand the responsibility of keeping a business running while people rely on your decisions, because we’ve navigated those realities ourselves. We bring decades of experience advising owners on moving beyond assumption-driven choices and focusing on what continuity realistically looks like. So that, when ownership changes hands, the business can continue without unnecessary disruption.
Attend a Workshop
Not everyone’s ready for a one-on-one conversation right away. Our estate planning workshops are a great place to start. Come learn, listen, and ask questions — without pressure or expectations. It’s a good way to see if our approach feels right for you.
In Our Clients' Words
Hear from business owners we’ve helped navigate structure, succession, and long-term planning.
Talk to Our Team
The moment a business needs direction is usually too late to start documenting it. Taking time to talk things through now helps ensure the business you worked hard to build isn’t left to chance later.
No Cost, No Obligation
This 15-minute call is free and you have no obligation to contract our services afterwards.
Flexible Scheduling
Choose a date and time that works best for you. You can cancel or reschedule at any time.
What Happens Next?
One of our team members will call you at your scheduled time to learn more about your Business Planning needs.
Can’t Wait? CALL NOW!
If you don’t want to schedule a time, give us a call at 909-981-6177. We’re open weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm.
Learn More About Business Planning
What happens to my business if I die?
In California, the outcome depends on what kind of entity you have and how ownership is titled. If your ownership interest is still in your personal name and there’s no clear transfer plan, your family may be dealing with probate timing and “who has authority” questions right when the business needs quick decisions.
Do I need a succession plan if I already have a will?
This is one of the most common misunderstandings we see. A will tells the court who inherits, but it often doesn’t solve who can run the business immediately, access accounts, sign contracts, or make payroll. Succession planning fills that gap by lining up authority and ownership so the business can keep moving.
Should my trust own my LLC or corporation?
This can work well, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all shortcut. Often, a trust can be an effective way to hold business ownership in California, but the details matter. With an LLC, transferring or inheriting an interest typically transfers financial rights, but it doesn’t automatically give someone the right to vote or manage unless the operating agreement allows it. If you own an S corporation, trust ownership comes with additional IRS rules and may require specific trust elections, so this is one to handle carefully.
How do I keep my business running if I’m incapacitated (not dead)?
In California, a durable power of attorney can give someone legal authority to handle financial matters if you’re unable to do so. But for business continuity, your operating agreement or bylaws also need to clearly spell out who can step in and what authority they have, so the company doesn’t freeze at the exact moment decisions are needed.
How is my business valued for an exit or buyout?
In most cases, the value of a business is determined by having a well-drafted buy-sell agreement or ownership document that sets the valuation in advance. If valuation occurs during probate, California law requires a formal inventory and appraisal process, which may involve a probate referee or other independent expert.
Can my spouse or kids inherit my business if I have partners?
They can usually inherit the financial value of your ownership, but that doesn’t always mean they inherit control of the business. For California LLCs, ownership interests can transfer without automatically granting voting or management rights unless the operating agreement allows it. When those rules aren’t clearly defined, families and business partners can end up in conflict.
Does forming an LLC avoid probate?
Not automatically, which surprises a lot of business owners. In California, probate is largely determined by what’s still titled in your personal name when you die. There are simplified options for smaller estates. For example, for deaths on or after April 1, 2025, the “collection of personal property” limit is $208,850, with exclusions and specific rules, but entity ownership alone doesn’t eliminate probate by itself.
Do I really need an operating agreement if it’s just me?
Yes. Even in a single-member LLC, an operating agreement provides clear guidance instead of leaving decisions to assumption later. While California law may recognize implied and oral agreements, they can create confusion if something unexpected happens. California law can trigger dissolution of a single-member LLC after the owner’s death unless there are clear documentation.
What happens if my business partner dies?
In California partnerships, a partner’s death is considered a legal separation event. What happens next, whether the business continues, a buyout occurs, or the company dissolves, depends on the partnership agreement or buy-sell plan. Without one, surviving owners and families can find themselves stuck at exactly the wrong time.
Can I put my business real estate in a separate LLC?
Yes, and it can be a smart way to separate risk between the operating business and the property. But in California, entity transfers and ownership changes can trigger property tax reassessment under “change in control” rules. This is something to plan intentionally.