Retirement Onboarding - Issues Specific to Contractors

Construction business owners have a unique set of issues when they are working through “Retirement Onboarding”.

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Contributors David Brown

Are you a first generation owner moving into a second generation of family ownership? Turning the reins over to the next generation is tough.

It’s even tougher when family is involved. First generation owners have been running “Mach 5 with their hair on fire” since the inception of the business. They have spent their entire lives working “in” the organization to, very possibly, the dismissal of many other aspects of their lives.

Retirement onboarding that includes first generation to second generation hits home in very personal ways. It can’t be just about the business. It has to be about the family as well. After all, you will continue to share a Thanksgiving table long after your retirement from the business.

Finding the right balance between family ownership, employee ownership, and how to get your money back out of the business are just a few of the critical discussions and decisions that have to be made. The sooner transparent discussions can start, the sooner everyone is on board and heading in the same direction. It’s not easy, but it can be done through open communication, frank discussions of company vision, and forward-looking strategic planning.

This is Part 2 of a 15-Part Series


Topics Covered in the Series Include:

  • Integrating Other People and Processes
  • Future Vision for Your Company
  • Communicating Family Succession Plans
  • The Ideal Lifestyle for the Retiring Contractor
  • The Construction Retirement Masterpiece

Interested in learning more? Contact us.


More from Sue Weiler-Doke
Retirement Onboarding - Integrating Other People and Processes
Retirement Onboarding seems simple enough, but it cannot occur in a vacuum. Owners need to look at all of the stakeholders that will be affected by their decision.
Retirement Onboarding - Success & Risk
Nearly all of the 6 common exit strategies for contractors require the business to continue being successful for the outgoing owner to get paid. There are a couple of things that can be done to help ensure everything stays on track.
Retirement Onboarding - Future Vision for Your Company
Owners have the unique position of having both the luxury and the responsibility of making sure that their vision for the company is the future vision of the company.