Click here for a link to the full article published by Dylan Gans, Forbes Councils Member, in Forbes on May 5, 2025.

Many businesses are going to change hands in the coming decade, and I believe we, as a society, are ill-prepared to handle the shift. There are a lot of great folks who are working to educate buyers on the opportunity of purchasing a small business, but the principles as they relate to engaging in these transactions from a human standpoint are often completely missing. This can lead to thousands of wasted hours with people who might have the book smarts to buy or sell a business but don’t have the "street" smarts. The pillars below center us on how we all might think about engaging with these opportunities.

• Remember that you are building a partnership
• Respect what has been built and prepare for growth
• Embrace the chaos