{"id":8052,"date":"2026-04-20T09:00:39","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T09:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intersearch-partners.com\/business-succession-stumbling-blocks\/"},"modified":"2026-10-21T02:52:06","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T02:52:06","slug":"business-succession-stumbling-blocks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intersearch-partners.com\/en\/business-succession-stumbling-blocks\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cThe 5 Most Common Stumbling Blocks and Obstacles to Business Succession in Mid-Sized Companies\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"8052\" class=\"elementor elementor-8052 elementor-7027\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bf611f8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bf611f8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-06af20f\" data-id=\"06af20f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3cc767f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"3cc767f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><p class=\"elementor-image-box-description\">Our Managing Partner Widukind Baier has published an in-depth article on business succession in mid-sized companies (Mittelstand). In it, he examines the key challenges that complicate succession processes in practice and shows why many difficulties do not arise during implementation, but already during preparation that begins too late or is insufficiently structured. The article draws on current market developments as well as many years of experience in filling executive positions.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-89a1c05 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"89a1c05\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Business Succession Becomes a Strategic Challenge<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b915b7e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b915b7e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: left;\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;\">Business succession is no longer a topic that mid-sized companies can postpone indefinitely. According to KfW, as early as 2025 around 57 percent of owners of mid-sized companies were 55 or older. At the same time, many businesses find it difficult to identify a suitable succession solution, whether because there is no interest within the family or because external options are becoming more complex.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: left;\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;\">In his article, Widukind Baier makes clear that many succession processes fail not because of individual decisions, but because of <b>a lack of structure and starting too late<\/b>. What later appears to be an acute problem is often the result of inadequate preparation and an unclear vision of the goal.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-525be33 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"525be33\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Most Common Stumbling Blocks and Obstacles in Business Succession Include:<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ac3db4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5ac3db4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><strong>When time becomes the limiting factor: <\/strong>Succession processes are often postponed for too long amid day-to-day operations, causing valuable room for maneuver to be lost and forcing decisions to be made under pressure.<br \/><br \/><\/li><li><strong>When companies are not ready to be handed over: <\/strong>Economic success does not automatically mean that a company is structurally prepared for succession. Knowledge, relationships, and responsibilities are often too closely tied to individuals.<br \/><br \/><\/li><li><strong>When obvious solutions go unquestioned: <\/strong>Whether within the family or the existing management team \u2013 supposedly suitable candidates are often not sufficiently assessed against the actual requirements of the role.<br \/><br \/><\/li><li><strong>When the requirements profile remains unclear: <\/strong>Succession decisions are oriented too strongly toward the personality of the previous owner rather than the future challenges facing the company.<br \/><br \/><\/li><li><strong>When succession is managed alone: <\/strong>Without an external perspective, important factors such as cultural fit, leadership impact, and long-term viability are often given insufficient consideration.<\/li><\/ul><p>Beyond that, Widukind Baier shows <strong>which measures companies can take<\/strong> to make the succession process more stable. These include, in particular, starting planning early, clearly defining future leadership requirements, and taking a structured and objective approach when selecting suitable candidates.<\/p><p>The article makes clear that successful business succession does not depend on the right person alone. What matters more is <strong>a clearly structured process<\/strong> \u2013 from developing a vision of the goal through selection to a deliberately designed handover phase.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d2ca45a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"d2ca45a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><p class=\"elementor-image-box-description\">You can find the full article here: <a style=\"color: #217cbc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.onpulson.de\/85816\/die-5-haeufigsten-stolpersteine-blockaden-der-unternehmensnachfolge-im-mittelstand\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Die 5 h\u00e4ufigsten Stolpersteine und Blockaden der Unternehmensnachfolge im Mittelstand | onpulson<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8fe7805 elementor-cta--skin-classic elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"8fe7805\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-cta__title elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Right Successors for Your Company's Future\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__description elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tInterSearch supports you with structured succession planning \u2013 from analysis to successful placement. Delivering sustainable solutions for your company.\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__button-wrapper elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-cta__button elementor-button elementor-size-\" href=\"\/en\/services\/business-succession-planning\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPlan Succession Strategically\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9fc3bfe elementor-share-buttons--skin-flat elementor-share-buttons--color-custom elementor-share-buttons--view-icon-text elementor-share-buttons--shape-square elementor-grid-0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-share-buttons\" data-id=\"9fc3bfe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"share-buttons.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid\" 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class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Linkedin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fab fa-linkedin\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a7d5b67 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a7d5b67\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"\/en\/consultants\/widukind-baier\/\">Widukind Baier<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3fa8bc elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c3fa8bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Managing Partner<\/strong><br \/>Global Head of the Automotive &amp; Mobility Practice Group at InterSearch Worldwide<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ffc5da4 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ffc5da4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cOpen communication is one of the most important factors for successful work &#8211; this is especially true in a field as sensitive as executive search.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-88de536 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-cta--skin-classic elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"88de536\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-cta__title elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWould you like personal advice?\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__description elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWe will be happy to help.\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__button-wrapper elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-cta__button elementor-button elementor-size-\" href=\"https:\/\/intersearch-partners.com\/en\/contact\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tGet in touch\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our Managing Partner Widukind Baier has published an in-depth article on business succession in mid-sized companies (Mittelstand). In it, he examines the key challenges 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