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What is a Buy-Sell Agreement and why do business owners need one?

If you're a business owner, you know that running a business can be tough. There are a lot of things to think about, like how to make a profit, how to keep your customers happy, and how to make sure your employees are doing their jobs well. But there's one thing that's really important that you might not have thought about: a buy-sell agreement.


So, what is a buy-sell agreement? Simply put, it's a legal agreement between the owners of a business that says what will happen if one of them wants to sell their share of the business, or if something happens to one of them, like if they pass away or become disabled. It's kind of like a plan for the future, just in case something unexpected happens.


Why is a buy-sell agreement important? Well, think about it this way: if you own a business with someone else, you're like partners. You both have a say in how the business is run, and you both share in the profits. But what happens if one of you wants to sell your share of the business? Or worse, what happens if one of you dies or becomes disabled? Without a buy-sell agreement, things could get really messy. The person who wants to sell might not be able to find a buyer, or the other owner might not want to buy them out. And if one of you dies, their share of the business might go to their family members, who might not know anything about running a business. It could be a real disaster.


But with a buy-sell agreement, you can plan for these kinds of situations in advance. You can agree on things like how much the business is worth, how much each owner's share is worth, and who gets to buy out the other person's share if they want to sell. You can also agree on what will happen if one of you dies or becomes disabled, like whether the other owner will buy out their share or whether their share will be sold to someone else.


Having a buy-sell agreement in place can give you peace of mind, because you'll know that if something unexpected happens, you have a plan in place. It can also make things a lot easier for your family members or other people who might be involved in the business if something happens to you.


So, if you're a business owner, it's really important to have a buy-sell agreement. It might not be something you want to think about, but it's better to be prepared than to be caught off guard. Whenever you are ready, connect with me and we can discuss.

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