Boring is better: New venture promises to acquire Australian businesses without a succession plan

Australia’s small and medium business sector is poised for a major generational shift, as senior custodians prepare for retirement and consider their succession options.

Yet entrepreneurship remains a hard sell for many younger Australians, causing many family-run businesses to question if they will stay family-run.

That uncertainty is opening new opportunities for outside investors, who promise a third option beyond voluntary wind-ups or sale to a competitor.

Aging demographics raise hard questions

Founding a small business was once considered a mainstream ticket to financial security, or at least a fair chance to make a living.

Contemporary data suggests that has changed in the past 40 years, and young people are less likely to lead a small business than they once were.