Savannah's Candy Kitchen has been part of Rhett Strickland's life for as long as he can remember. "Every day when I came home from school, we'd come down to the candy store" where his parents, Stan and Tonya Strickland were working, says Rhett, now 22 and the production manager for...

In late 2015, I sat in a conference room with my relatively new clients, the second- and third-generation executives of a 61-year-old manufacturing company, when they decided to sell. Fortunately, despite years of losses, the business was a strong strategic fit for the buyer, and the family was able to...

Earlier this year, Tyson Foods, a family-controlled, publicly traded company known for its chicken, pork and beef products, announced it would explore the sale of its Sara Lee frozen bakery business and other "non-protein" brands. Tyson also said it would acquire AdvancePierre Foods, a supplier of packaged meat sandwiches.

At...

A poorly planned succession has the potential to derail a closely held family business. The lack of a well-drafted plan can cause financial hardship on both the business and the family. Letting the estate plan dictate how a business is passed on may cause issues, and there are numerous stories...

You could say the Lange twins of Lodi, Calif., are intoxicated by the grape growing business. Randall and Brad Lange represent the fourth generation to farm their family's land. About a decade ago they took the next step and built a winery. Now all five of the twins' children work...