Business Planning

Business Planning consists of a multifaceted approach with several focal points:

Continuation of the business upon the owner’s retirement or sudden disability or death.

A properly structured business continuation plan provides a number of advantages to a business and its owner:

		Controlling the value of the business for estate tax purposes and, in turn, the estate taxes due on the business assets.
		Ensuring the continuity or orderly disposition of the business.
		Protecting the surviving owners from gaining a member of the deceased’s family as a co-owner.
		Converting the business interest into cash to provide financial security for the deceased owner’s family.
		Ensuring that cash is available to execute the agreement.
		Ensuring the survival of a family business for future generations.
		Assuring business creditors by providing business continuity.

Improving organizational effectiveness

In our work with clients we have found that problems frequently exist in the following areas:
 

		Business strategies are typically incomplete and ineffectively communicated within the company.
		The organization is not structured for success and/or key managers do not fully understand or accept their roles.
		The development of the management team is neither planned nor purposeful.
		The rewards system is not aligned with the business strategies.
		The measurement system focuses exclusively on lagging indicators of success.

By working in conjunction with management, the client’s outside advisors (such as the attorney and accountant) and the key personnel of the organization, Cornerstone is able to effectively formulate recommendations for improving organizational effectiveness. We continue to help drive the resulting implementation plan by evaluating its effectiveness on an ongoing basis.

Business entity issues

Our strategies help identify and analyze other business issues having a significant impact on the growth and profitability of the business. Some of these issues include:

		Ownership
		Liability protection
		Capitalization and Financing
		Management (multiple owners, equal owners, centralized management)
		Sale of the business
		Taxation issues
		ESOP Planning