Business Family Enterprise Report - Moving From Success to Significance

A little-known combination of tax code sections lets family business owners shift real money off their returns while giving a child a paid job and a head start on retirement savings. The catch involves one entity-type mistake that wipes out the biggest benefit entirely.

August 13, 2026, 8:00 AM ET François-Xavier de Mallmann, chairman of Goldman Sachs' Investment Banking division. courtesy of Goldman Sachs Only about 12% of family-owned businesses make it to a third generation still under family control, according to a new Goldman Sachs playbook aimed at the founders and dynasties the bank counts among its most prized clients. It’s a statistic Goldman itself put in print in “Honoring Legacy and Positioning for the Future,” a paper shaped by senior leaders

Andrea Calabrò, professor at Milan’s Bocconi University has spent years studying family businesses around the world. Here, he shares what he's learned about legacy and succession

Famous for its ButterBurgers, the Wisconsin-based fast food chain Culver's was established in 1984. Nowadays, it has over a thousand locations in 26 states.

No one’s safe in this economy

Creating confidence among entrepreneurs, business owners and investors should be a key priority

How Do These Three Fit Together? In last week’s Coming Down from Yet Another Rocky Mountain High, I noted that I wasn’t going to share much content from the Rendez-Vous of the Purposeful Planning Institute in that post, but if you’re a regular reader, I’m sure you knew to expect that I’d share some takeaways […]

Family ownership can build trust, credibility, and customer loyalty—but only when it reinforces something stakeholders value. Here are five questions to ask first.

Family offices excel at managing money but often overlook the greatest threat to multigenerational success: poorly planned succession. Here's how they can help.

What happens after the founder steps aside? Interviews with successor CEOs reveal the emotional, organizational, and family dynamics that determine whether leadership transitions succeed—or stall.

Disability inclusion is more than a legal obligation. Well-designed accommodation systems can strengthen employee trust, reduce costly turnover, and preserve knowledge inside small firms.

ESOPs can be an attractive option for family firms. If you're thinking of one, start the planning well before the owner retires.

A study of German family businesses showed that as intra-family succession becomes more difficult, families are increasingly open to selling — and intermediaries are emerging to help match owners with outside buyers.

Will this be the year you sell your business? Get ready for a thrill ride of emotions. Here's what to expect.

Former family business owners shared their experiences in this panel discussion hosted by the University of St. Thomas's Family Business Center.

From family succession to liquidation, we examine different retirement options for small business owners and provide a framework for picking the best plan.

A study of German family firms shows that regular, meaningful contact between the family office and the family can preserve shared purpose after an exit.

Family businesses are often viewed as ripe for operational improvement, making them especially attractive to private equity investors seeking value creation.

A strong valuation is not enough. Families need to understand the emotional, relational, and governance consequences of selling before they commit.

Generations of local families have walked through the shop’s doors

For a decade, Donald Trump and his family have insisted that he stopped all management of his businesses while serving as president. He did not.

A third-generation family business has opened a new depot as it continues to expand across the south east.

The Brief

British firm Vitabiotics, which also owns brands including Pregnacare and Wellwoman, has been acquired by US private equity firm Bain Capital for around £900m.