Problems in transfer of business experienced by Finnish entrepreneurs

Abstract

Transfer of business will become more and more important in the immediate future as large numbers of entrepreneurs in Europe are growing older. The attention paid to the phenomenon is still not adequate. The research aims at giving a recent picture on the Finnish transfer of business situation. Various writers have come up with different scenarios as to a successful transfer of business. In this research, compare some recent Finnish findings are compared with the data collected in connection with a larger small family business research programme. The paper presents similarities to and dissimilarities from previous findings. Technical, hard issues (financing, taxation) are not the most problematic issues in transfer of business as experienced by Finnish entrepreneurs; the problems are in obtaining assistance in transfer of business planning and finding a successor/buyer. Limitations are discussed and suggestions for future research are put forward where findings challenge previous research.