Resources
Equal vs. Fair: Dividing Your Propane, Heating Oil, or Fuel Business Among Children
Dividing a propane business among children can feel like a family decision first. In reality, it is a leadership, ownership, cash flow, and continuity decision. When one child works in the company and others do not, equal shares can create conflict. The pressure falls on the child keeping routes, [...]
How Tariffs Are Impacting the Propane Industry in 2025
Did you know that steel tariffs have driven propane tank prices up by as much as 25%? According to Alliance Truck & Tank, the 25% tariff on imported steel led to propane tank price increases between 20% and 25%. For propane dealers across the U.S., the impact of global trade policies is no longer [...]
If Your Customers Are Leaving, This Might Be Why
What Makes a Propane Customer Stay Loyal? It’s a question every propane dealer asks: How do we keep customers loyal and prevent them from switching to the competition? Sure, price and reliability matter, but they’re not the biggest factors in customer retention. The real reason customers stay—or leave—often comes down to how they feel [...]
Should You Hire a Family Member for Your Propane Business? Read This First
Thinking about bringing a relative into your propane business? Hold that thought. A well-planned family hire can strengthen your company, but a poor decision can put everything you've built at risk. It may surprise you that internal conflicts from poorly managed family hires contribute to nearly 60% of family business failures. But this isn’t [...]
4 Strategies Every Energy Leader Needs to Stay Competitive in the Long Run
When it comes to your energy business, your entrepreneurial drive is the foundation of your success. But here’s the thing—are you truly doing everything you can to ensure your business thrives for generations? Are you making sure you are staying truly competitive as an energy industry leader by implementing the right strategies in place? [...]
5 Actionable Steps Fuel Dealers Can Use to Boost Growth and Succession
In the fuel industry, succession planning is often misunderstood as an expensive, time-consuming task that can be put off for the future. But for proactive leaders, it’s a powerful growth strategy—one that allows you to stay in control of your business’s future, while positioning yourself to achieve your goals for business growth, family harmony, [...]
Craft Your Future: Execute on Your Vision
Looking to expand but unsure of the next steps? Struggling to retain key talent or integrate family members into leadership? Concerned about business continuity amid market changes? You’re not alone—and you’re not without resources.
Guided Expertise in Business Succession Planning
The Succession Matrix® provides a strategic foundation tailored to your unique situation. Rather than offering generic advice, we analyze your business through 10 critical succession lenses. This process helps you identify strengths, uncover risks, and stay ahead of industry disruptions. Moreover, our approach doesn’t stop with strategy. We outline specific steps to move your plan forward and support implementation alongside your CPA and attorney. As a result, you get a coordinated, future-focused plan that’s both practical and actionable.
Core Dimensions of the Succession Matrix®:
- Owner Motivation & Perspective – The driving force shaping strategic direction and business culture.
- Personal Financial Planning – Securing financial independence to support personal and business goals.
- Business Structuring – Tailoring organizational architecture for efficiency and growth readiness.
- Rawls Business Performance – Driving superior operational outcomes and competitive positioning.
- Strategic Planning – Crafting precise strategies to navigate market complexities confidently.
- Leadership & Management Continuity – Ensuring a continuous pipeline of capable leadership.
- Management Synergy and Teamwork – Fostering a collaborative environment for peak performance.
- Successor Preparation – Identifying and preparing future leaders for success.
- Expert Family Dynamics – Balancing business and familial relationships for seamless operations.
- Family Governance – Establishing policies to guide family involvement and align with business objectives.
Empowering Your Journey Towards Long-Term Success
Let us help you build a robust strategy that addresses immediate concerns and sets the foundation for sustained growth and successful transitions. Contact us today to discover how our expert succession planners can tailor a plan that aligns with your aspirations and secures your business’s future.
