Family Business Consulting

We are a Philippine-based boutique law and consultancy firm. We have a particular focus on family businesses. We know that more than 80% of enterprises in the Philippines are owned and run by families.  Over ninety percent of small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) are family businesses.  We cannot underestimate the success and failure of family companies. They serve as the foundation of our economy.  We need to grasp the factors driving the success and evolution of family businesses. They will assist us in maintaining and expanding our national economy. Founders and family members involved in a family business must understand these factors. There are overlapping systems driving the success and failure of a family enterprise. It is best to understand The Dynamics of Family Businesses to be able to address the challenges.

The family business was established to provide for the family. It is the means for security, prosperity, and happiness. As a business founder, it is more than just a means to a better life. Working with family businesses, we’ve seen a lot on your plate. There are things you need to do. There are things you want to do. Some things are more desirable than others. We know you would want a lot of the good things. Most of the good things are difficult to do. We know you have certainly tried at some point. Some may still be an aspiration. Let’s look a small part of that job you have placed upon your shoulders:

• Maintain and strengthen family relationships.
• Promote effective communication among family members.
• Establish shared family values and vision.
• Develop a healthy family dynamic within the business context.
• Prepare the next generation for future involvement.
• Manage family conflicts and disagreements.
• Establish and maintain a clear ownership structure.
• Formulating effective shareholder agreements.
• Plan for ownership succession and transfer.
• Manage ownership rights, roles, and responsibilities.
• Optimize the financial aspects of ownership (e.g., tax planning, dividends).
• Establishing alignment between your ownership goals and business strategy.
• Establish and maintain a clear ownership structure.
• Optimize business operations and processes.
• Develop effective organizational structures.
• Install professional management practices.
• Attract, keep, and develop talent (family and non-family).
• Ensure strategic alignment and execution.
• Foster innovation and adapt to change.
• Establish clear governance and accountability.

We know it’s just the tip of the iceberg. And, we know you have a lot more to tell us, once we get to meet. When we do, we will keep that talk in confidence. Family matters are always a very personal and intimate thing.

Are your customers raving about you on social media? Share their great stories to help turn potential customers into loyal ones.We've only mentioned the most common things you do. We know there are more under the surface. It's not always easy.  You're always racking your brains to get around hurdles. It's the pain of wanting to do the right thing. Here are the common pains we know you are dealing with:

• Family disputes negatively affecting the business.
• Lack of clear communication channels.
• Differing values and goals among family members.
• Emotional complexities interfering with business decisions.
• Apprehension about the future of the family and the business.
• Difficulty balancing family and business roles.
• Disputes and conflicts among family owners.
• Unclear ownership roles and responsibilities.
• Lack of a plan for future ownership transitions.
• Concerns about fairness and equity in ownership.
• Complexity of legal and financial issues related to ownership.
• Risk of losing control of the business.
• Inefficiencies in business operations and workflows.
• Lack of professional business management.
• Difficulty attracting and retaining skilled employees.
• Resistance to change and innovation.
• Unclear roles and responsibilities.
• Conflicts between family and non-family employees.
• Poor strategic planning and implementation.

You can always talk to us about these pains. You can send us a short message about them and we can give you some insights to have a better grasp of these things. You can do it right now. Right here.

We know that the success of a family business is only a means to an end for you. We get that. It's a path to your hopes and aspirations. As a founder and as a head of the family you want to gain something from all that effort. A reward for overcoming challenges. We've heard so much of it interacting with founders. We've seen it written down. We've seen some of it achieved. For many, these are still hopes. They are still aspirations, dreams to go for. Here's a list that might be all familiar to you:

• Improved family harmony and unity.
• Open and honest communication.
• A strong sense of shared values and common purpose among family members.
• Positive family relationships supporting the business.
• Prepared and an engaged next generation.
• A framework for managing and resolving conflicts.
• Clarity and agreement on ownership structure.
• Well-defined rights and obligations of owners.
• A smooth and organized ownership succession process.
• Minimized conflicts and enhanced family harmony.
• Effective management of ownership finances.
• Longevity in the family's ownership and legacy.
• Increased efficiency and productivity in business operations.
• Improved organizational effectiveness.
• Stronger leadership and governance.
• A high-performing workforce.
• Successful strategic execution.
• Enhanced adaptability and competitiveness.
• Sustainable growth and profitability.

Are any of those mentioned in your To-Do list? It should be. A lot of those we mentioned are a way for an enduring legacy. It is the cornerstone to family business longevity. There's a way to achieve them. You need to understand what it takes. You need to see with clarity the means to get there. We can get you there. It will take a more serious talk to see the bigger picture. You can start now.

Given a chance, you would want to avoid all that pain you went through. Or, you would want to avoid the greatest pain other founders have experienced. You would hope you never go through all that pain ever. You’re wondering if there’s ever going to be a way around them. We can tell you now there is. You need to adapt a system tailored to your family and family business. And this is how the system should function to address those pains we described:

• Addresses and resolves family conflicts.
• Improves communication and understanding.
• Provides tools and frameworks for healthy family interaction.
• A guidance system on balancing family and business needs.
• Gears up the family for future challenges and transitions.
• Resolves ownership disputes and miscommunication.
• Provides guidance on complex legal and financial matters.
• Addresses concerns about fairness and equity.
• Reduces the risk of family conflict disrupting the business.
• Helps to create a shared vision for ownership.
• Streamlines operations and improves efficiency of business.
• Professionalizes management practices.
• Attracts and retains top talent.
• Facilitates change and fosters innovation.
• Clarifies roles and responsibilities.
• Resolves conflicts within the organization.
• Enhances strategic decision-making.

Putting such a system in place in the family business is what we refer to as Operational Excellence. It's doable. The best companies in the world use it. It's been around for some time now but people are not using it the right way. We're willing to hold your hand to do it the right way. We'll find a way to do it right the first time. Let's do it together.

We’ve worked with family businesses in different capacities. Most on resolving issues in the business systems. There are always underlying family and ownership dynamics in a business system. We know it and you know it. Often, it is difficult which system drives what. If you've been an entrepreneur for long, you develop this feeling in your gut. Feelings about things affecting your family and your business. You can’t put your finger on what are triggering factors in the dynamics. We can work with you in untangling and unraveling these dynamics. This is how we can work with you and your family:

• Do family meetings and retreats facilitation.
• Communication skills training.
• Conflict resolution and mediation.
• Family values clarification and vision development.
• Next-generation education and development.
• Family governance structures and processes.
• Ownership structure design and implementation.
• Shareholder agreement development and review.
• Succession planning and ownership transfer strategies.
• Family governance and ownership policies.
• Facilitation of family meetings and ownership discussions.
• Education and training for family owners.
• Organizational design and restructuring.
• Process improvement and optimization.
• Human resources management and talent development.
• Strategic planning and implementation.
• Change management and innovation.
• Performance management systems.
• Management training and development.

We can introduce you to frameworks to unravel family business systems. Allow you to unravel the dynamic systems affecting your family and your business. The more you understand these dynamics, the more confident you are about your trajectory. You have a clearer vision of your growth path. We can help you get there. We can help you through the process to define your goals. We have many services you can harness to get the outcome you desire. Most leverage the inherent strengths of a family to achieve them. Get to know these services now!

Families are unique. The context of family enterprises is often unique. It is no wonder that you can't always use what works in one family in another. There's always a context to reckon with. But despite a family's uniqueness, there is a common aspiration across families. There's a common thread that leads to the most desirable outcomes. Our services can help you achieve them. We work with the families' best qualities and their strongest values. We can achieve things.

• Strengthen family bonds and relationships.
• Create a positive and supportive family environment.
• Align family members toward common goals.
• Sustain continuity of family values and legacy.
• Foster a resilient and adaptable family business.
• Establish a solid foundation for long-term success.
• Preserve family ownership and legacy across generations.
• Enhance communication and relationships among family owners.
• Align ownership with the strategic direction of the business.
• Ensure a smooth and effective ownership transition.
• Boost productivity and profitability.
• Create a dynamic and adaptable organization.
• Develop strong leaders and managers.
• Foster a positive and productive work environment.
• Ensure long-term success and sustainability.
• Enhance the business's reputation and brand.

If you want the best outcomes for your family and  your business, talk to us.  Visit our website and learn more.  We expect you to have more questions. We can help you get the answers.  

We're available 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Philippine Time) from Monday to Friday.  Set an appointment so there's at least one consultant available to you when you call or visit.