The Family Business School is a privately funded education and research initiative for the study and delivery of effective help to family owned businesses. Here you will find all manner of information and resources for Family Business Consultants and owners of Family Business.

The Family Business School provides courses, information, networking, tuition, consulting for advisers to family firms, and also works directly with owners of family businesses.

A family business is one in which members of a family, (usually descendants of one of the company's founders), own at least 20% of the shares. This means that they can exert considerable influence on boardroom decisions.

A family business may be publicly listed as a PLC but most family firms are small or medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Many are start-ups operated initially by their founder acting as a sole-trader. Husband and wife business partnerships are not uncommon. Father and son were a traditional form of business in the past. Partnerships may be simply in the partners' names, or the business may be formed as a limited company.

Family businesses make a significant contribution to the economy of all nations. They frequently have influence, and/or impact, upon their local communities. There are significant advantages to being a family firm, but there are pitfalls to avoid too.

Few family businesses survive into a third, or fourth generations of family control. Many are bought out, some fail. Fourth and fifth generation family businesses suffer particular problems.

The Family Business School was created to help family firms start well, learn, grow, and successfully make the transitions necessary to survive in a competitive marketplace. We are however committed to a policy of 'Winning by Sharing' and encourage business owners to find ways to co-operate with rivals, and other people of similar interest.

Family Business Consulting, or Family Therapy?

The Family Business School's special expertise is in assisting families whose members are 'at war' with each other to the detriment of the business. We appreciate that even highly influential business families with a record of success may, like any other family, encounter difficulties. Our team includes qualified and experienced family therapists to advise, or assist in such circumstances.

If you are a family business adviser, a board member of a family business, the owner of a large, or small, family business, or you are an employee of a family business who is feeling 'stuck', then I invite you to contact me to discuss any matters of concern. Naturally all conversations are confidential.

Enjoy this web site, come back and visit here often, and be sure to contact me if you have any questions.

Yours truly,

Stephen Bray, Principal and Founder,

The Family Business School