Business Transition Planning for Private Companies in Arkansas | Louisiana | Texas | Florida | Georgia | Oklahoma

If most of your net worth is tied up in your business, transitioning it successfully is one of the most important financial decisions you'll ever make. At SSG Companies, we help business owners across Louisiana create thoughtful, tax-efficient plans for passing the torch—whether that means selling to a third party, transitioning to family, or exploring alternatives like ESOPs.

TRANSFER ON YOUR OWN TERMS.

Our Business Transition services are designed for privately held companies with $20M+ in revenue and a desire to transfer ownership on their own terms. We work closely with business owners, family members, and key stakeholders to protect enterprise value, reduce tax exposure, and align the transition with both personal and professional goals.

Our Process:

The Business Transition Plan

01 | Assessment & Goal Setting
We start with your vision: lifestyle goals, timing, family involvement, financial targets. From there, we assess your business’s current state, including valuation, structure, and readiness for transition.

02 | Explore Exit Options
Every business is different. We help you evaluate multiple paths, including:

• Sale to a strategic or financial buyer
  
• Transfer to family members
  
• Management buyout or key employee purchase
  
• Internal sale via ESOP
  
• Gradual transition over time
  
  

03 | Design & Structure the Plan
Once a direction is chosen, we work alongside your legal and financial advisors to:

• Prepare for due diligence
  
• Maximize business value
  
• Design tax-efficient deal structures
  
• Plan for liquidity and retirement income
  
• Address estate and gifting strategies
  
  

04 | Execute with Confidence
Whether the transition happens in two years or ten, we’ll walk with you through the details—from buyer negotiations to post-sale planning.

Who Gets the Business?

One of the most emotional—and important—questions in transition planning is deciding who should take over. If your children are involved in the business, how do you treat them fairly? If they’re not, how do you convert business value into legacy assets?



We help you answer this with honesty, clarity, and strategy. Your business deserves more than a handshake deal. Your family deserves more than guesswork.

Avoid a Forced Transition

Unfortunately, many owners wait too long to plan—and wind up with rushed exits, reduced valuations, or unexpected tax hits.

A well-designed plan avoids:

• Unplanned sales under pressure
  
• Conflict between family members
  
• Sudden liquidity needs
  
• Losing key talent during the transition
  
• Overpaying in taxes due to poor structure
  
  

Starting early gives you time to prepare leadership, communicate your vision, and exit with control.

Considering an ESOP as a Transition Path?

An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) can be a powerful succession tool that rewards employees, preserves company culture, and offers significant tax benefits. We help clients determine if an ESOP is viable and guide the process from feasibility through funding repurchase obligations. Learn more in our ESOP Services section.