Many farm and ranch business owners desire a successor, someone who will continue the business after the current owner retires and/or eventually dies. Finding the right person is obviously the first step in the business succession process. Some have found a family member who is interested in taking over the business. Some have found a neighbor or friend and others have made connections with complete strangers. Most often the successor is a family member, a child, grandchild, niece or nephew, but finding the right person does not automatically equal success. There are barriers that prove quite difficult in many cases. The three most critical barriers to success are: Communication, Management Transfer and a Financially Feasible Plan
