Business Succession Planning in Dublin
Plan your exit, protect the value you have built, and pass the business on: to family, management or a buyer, on your terms.
Succession planning is the process of deciding, in advance, how ownership and control of your business will pass on, and structuring it so the transition is smooth, the value is protected and the tax bill is as low as the law allows.
The businesses that transition well are the ones that started planning years before the handover. Whether you intend to pass the company to the next generation, sell to your management team, or find a trade buyer, the earlier the plan is in place, the more options you keep open, and the more tax reliefs you can qualify for.
Why Succession Planning Matters
A business is often an owner's single largest asset and the source of their retirement income. Without a plan, that value is exposed: to an unplanned tax charge, to a forced sale, to family disagreement, or to the business simply losing momentum when the owner steps back. A succession plan turns a stressful, high-stakes event into a managed transition.
- It protects the value you have built and keeps the business trading through the change.
- It secures your retirement: the plan is built around the income and lump sum you need.
- It manages the tax cost, which can be the single largest number in the whole transaction.
- It reduces family and management conflict by making intentions clear and documented.
The Routes to Succession
| Route | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Family succession | Passing the business to children or relatives, the most common route in Ireland; needs careful balancing of fairness, control and tax (see our family business page) |
| Management buy-out (MBO) | Selling to your existing management team, often part-funded from the business; keeps continuity and rewards the people who built it with you |
| Trade sale | Selling to a third-party buyer or competitor, usually the highest headline value, with the most due diligence and tax planning required |
| Phased handover | Gradually transferring shares and responsibility over several years; spreads the tax and de-risks the transition |
How McManus McCabe Approaches Succession
Succession sits at the meeting point of tax, valuation and personal planning, which is why it should be led by a chartered accountant who can see all three. Our approach is partner-led from first meeting to completion.
- Understand your goals: retirement timing, income needs, who you want to take over, and what matters to you beyond the money.
- Value the business and identify what drives that value, so it can be protected and, where possible, grown before the handover.
- Model the tax: Retirement Relief, Entrepreneur Relief and CAT Business Relief, and design the transfer structure around the reliefs you qualify for.
- Agree the route and timeline, and put the legal, tax and financial steps in motion.
- Support the handover itself and the years around it, so the business keeps performing.
Because we are also your tax advisers, the succession plan connects directly to your wider tax position; see our page on succession tax and retirement reliefs.
When to Start
The honest answer is: earlier than you think. Several of the most valuable reliefs have qualifying conditions measured in years, for example, ownership and working-director periods before a transfer. Starting three to five years out gives you time to meet those conditions and to shape the business for the smoothest possible handover. If your timeline is shorter, there is still plenty to do, but the sooner we start, the more we can protect.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When should I start succession planning?
Ideally three to five years before you intend to step back. Key tax reliefs have qualifying periods measured in years, and an early start keeps every option, family, management buy-out or trade sale, open. -
How is a family succession different from a sale?
A family succession balances fairness between children, retention of control during the handover and gift/inheritance tax (CAT), whereas a sale is driven by valuation, buyer due diligence and capital gains tax. We handle both; see our family business succession page. -
Will I have to pay a large tax bill?
Not necessarily. Reliefs such as Retirement Relief, Entrepreneur Relief and CAT Business Relief can substantially reduce or eliminate the tax on a well-planned transfer, provided the qualifying conditions are met, which is exactly why planning ahead matters. -
Do you handle the whole process?
Yes. As chartered accountants and tax advisers we lead the valuation, tax planning and structuring, and coordinate with your solicitor on the legal transfer, all partner-led and scoped with a fixed-fee proposal.
Talk to Adrian or Teresa
McManus McCabe is a partner-led chartered accountancy practice in Dublin. Every engagement is handled directly by Adrian McManus (FCCA) or Teresa McCabe (FCA, Dip. Tax), not passed down a chain, and scoped with a clear, fixed-fee proposal before any work begins, so you know what it costs, what you get and how long it takes. Book a confidential, no-obligation consultation to talk through your situation and receive a written quotation.
