The business was successful by every measure — steady revenue, strong reputation, consistent pipeline. But the ownership structure was a liability hiding in plain sight. Five cousins, all active in the business, with no formal agreement governing what happens if one wants out, becomes disabled, or passes away.
Without a buy-sell agreement, any single event — a death, a disagreement, a divorce — could force a fire sale, trigger a legal battle, or collapse the business entirely. And without knowing what the company was actually worth, there was no way to structure an agreement that was fair to everyone.
The family knew the risk. They'd talked about it for years. But without a credible, shared number to anchor the conversation, every discussion stalled. No one could agree on what the business was worth, which meant no one could agree on what a buyout should look like — and the longer they waited, the more exposed they all became.
