Every year, thousands of business leaders delay a question that can no longer wait: who and what will their company become when they step down? For a significant number of business owners, succession planning remains a delicate matter, frequently deferred beyond the optimal timeframe. However, an inadequately prepared transition can ultimately threaten employment, accumulated know-how and decades of dedication.
In light of this, the government has unveiled the ‘Objectif Reprises’ plan, presented at the Ministry of Finance by Serge Papin, Minister for SMEs. The aim is clear: to revitalise business takeovers in France and provide better support for business owners during the handover process.
For micro-enterprises, SMEs, the self-employed, franchises, and even cross-border business owners between France and Belgium, this plan marks a significant development. And in this context, the role of the chartered accountant becomes more strategic than ever.
Informing and raising awareness among business owners and buyers
One of the main issues identified by the government is a lack of forward planning. Currently, fewer than one in three business owners begin preparing for the sale of their business more than two years before they step down. Yet a successful business handover is often planned several years in advance.
The government therefore wishes to instil a genuine culture of forward planning. From the age of 55, business owners will receive a letter designed to raise their awareness of the need to prepare for their retirement and the future sale of their business.
This measure directly affects entrepreneurs. Many still believe that it is sufficient to find a buyer at the last minute. In reality, a business is handed over more smoothly when the process is prepared for gradually: valuing the business, organising finances, securing contracts, clarifying governance and optimising tax arrangements.
For individuals, the situation is different. The measures announced are likely to affect mainly employees wishing to take over their company or invest in an entrepreneurial project. The impacts are therefore more indirect.
The plan also provides for a single national guide aimed at sellers and buyers to make the process more accessible.The aim is to explain concepts that are often considered complex, such as the Dutreil Pact, financing mechanisms and the various legal forms of business takeovers.
Bringing sellers and buyers together
Another major challenge is that many business takeover opportunities remain hidden. Many business owners are reluctant to publicise their plans to sell for fear of causing concern among their employees, customers or partners.
To address this issue, Bpifrance’s Business Transfer Exchange will be modernised to become a simpler and more effective platform for connecting sellers and buyers.
For entrepreneurs, this development could save a considerable amount of time. An industrial SME manager in the Hauts-de-France region or a self-employed professional nearing retirement will thus be able to benefit from an expanded network and new channels to identify serious buyers.
The government also wishes to increase the number of on-the-ground meetings organised by the Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI) and Chambers of Crafts and Trade (CMA). These events will help to build more bridges between project leaders and business owners looking to hand over their business.
For individuals interested in entrepreneurship, acquiring an existing business can be a compelling alternative to starting from scratch. It offers an immediate advantage: an established customer base, a trained workforce and a proven business model already in place.
Supporting and facilitating business transfers
The third pillar of the plan aims to remove certain financial and tax barriers associated with business transfers.
The Dutreil Pact, which remains largely unknown among business leaders, will be preserved and more clearly communicated. This scheme is designed, in particular, to facilitate the transfer of a business within a family while limiting the tax burden of the transaction.
The government also wishes to encourage employee buyouts. To this day, this solution remains underused, despite being an effective way of preserving jobs and ensuring business continuity.
Another key measure is vendor credit. This mechanism allows the seller to be paid in instalments following the sale. The plan provides for a more favourable deferral of capital gains tax, making this practice more attractive to both parties.
For business owners, these measures can make it practically easier to finance a takeover and provide reassurance during negotiations. At a time of economic uncertainty, this kind of support becomes essential.
As for individuals, specific financing tools and savings schemes are available to help them fund a takeover project.
The Chartered Accountant at the Heart of Business Succession
As part of the ‘Objectif Reprises’ plan, the government has highlighted the vital role played by chartered accountants in supporting business owners. This recognition is only natural, given that the chartered accountant is often the business owner’s trusted advisor throughout the life of their business.
At Alliés Conseils, we regularly support the owners of micro-enterprises, SMEs and the self-employed as they consider business succession and business takeovers. Because we understand the history of your business, your financial challenges and your personal goals, we can help you make the right decisions at the right time.
Preparing for a sale involves more than simply setting a selling price. A successful handover also requires in-depth work on the business’s profitability, the quality of its accounts, the valuation of the business, financing solutions and internal organisation. The earlier this preparation begins, the more levers the business owner has to secure their plan and preserve the value of their business.
For business owners operating across the France-Belgium border, this support is all the more strategic. Tax, wealth management and legal issues require a comprehensive approach tailored to the specificities of both countries. Drawing on its local expertise, Alliés Conseils helps business owners approach the handover of their business with greater clarity and peace of mind.
Plan today to ensure a smooth business handover tomorrow
With ‘Objectif Reprises’, the government aims to make business succession a national economic priority. The challenge now is to turn these announcements into tangible results for business owners.
One thing is certain: the earlier a sale is prepared, the greater the chance it will be completed successfully. Planning ahead helps protect the value of your business, reassure your teams and secure your retirement plans.
At Alliés Conseils, we support business owners at every stage of their decision-making process, whether it involves an initial valuation, preparing for a handover or planning a business takeover. Receiving support at an early stage often turns a concern into a real opportunity.
