Whatever your initial motivation, to take over a business, it is essential to clarify your approach strategy. Pascal Ferron, president of Walter France, and author of the book Resume a business, why not me ? explains the steps to take.
Business takeover is a marathon because you will have to reconcile a high level of performance across several distinct disciplines. Before finding yourself in the chair of the new leader, the road is strewn with pitfalls. So it’s better to know what to expect and define a solid roadmap. First of all, we must accept the upheaval. Restructuring, disagreement with his N+1, conventional termination, dismissal, resignation, lack of meaning... : whatever the reason or method, breaking away from your former professional life is already a challenge in itself, even if the desire to take back a box » has been bothering you more or less for a while. Three shocks must be overcome. The first, it’s the loss of status. Finished, the beautiful business card with the logo, the name of the company and especially your position “ who threw ». You are no longer “ business manager Europe », “business unit director”, or “project manager”, or even “ production director », but Mr. Dupont, point.
Facing doubt
The second shock, it will arrive after a few months, because at the beginning everyone finds your project very interesting and even exciting : “You want to take over a business ? But it's great ! " On the other hand, facing the doubt that arises in the eyes and words of others can be complicated. Indeed, a few months later, when the wall of the end of unemployment benefits approaches, when you thought you had plenty of time, and what's more, for the second time, the transferor, with whom you thought everything had gone well, ends negotiations, and your close friends begin to doubt, it gets complicated : " Ah good ? This one too, he said no ? But are you sure it's a good idea?, for you, business takeover ? » At that moment, better to have a strong psyche and to have worked well on optimism !
Dealing with discouragement
The third shock, it's loneliness. No one left to put pressure on you to move your project forward. No more chef, no more steering committee, no more projects to complete, more customers. Nothing. You are alone, at your place. Alone to motivate you, to organize yourself in order to continue moving forward despite the phases, inevitable, of discouragement. Certainly, you will choose advice to accompany you, but the impulse must come from you.
Define your personal strategy
Before embarking on the adventure of taking over a business, better to be clear with your objectives. What are your motivations ? Independence ? Money ? The need to prove to yourself that you can succeed on your own ? The desire to undertake ? Find a profitable way to pursue your passion ? All motivations are good, except that which consists of embarking on a business takeover by default. Maybe you have an idea for starting a business?, but you are afraid of starting from scratch ? Taking over an existing business that can “carry” your more personal project can be an excellent strategy..
Build your professional strategy
Contrary to popular belief, returning to a sector of activity that you know is not at all obligatory. Developer qualities, of entrepreneur, de leader, the manager, of manager can prove to be largely preponderant. Above all, when intermediaries present you with “files”, the only question to ask yourself will be : “What added value can I, personally, bring to this company ? » What quality, what know-how, what development can you initiate ? And alone, not driven by large budgets or a team of brilliant winners, alone ! Because when you take over a business, you get into debt. Consequently, you have no choice but to do better than the transferor. For Pascal Ferron, “when your personal strategy coincides with your professional strategy, then you will have found the company that suits you, and you will have every chance of convincing the transferor to pass the torch to you ! »
Take over a business, why not me ? Pascal Ferron, Dunod editions.
