Abstract

Business succession processes often reveal a family business founder’s and owner’s resistance to retirement. This undesirable situation is defined as eluded succession, and it could undermine intra-family business continuity. By applying the 5-factor Readiness to Change approach to a group of Italian family SMEs (N = 8), this article investigates and aims to identify the root of this eluded succession. Business succession is perceived by incumbents as a transition that negatively changes the current situation, both in terms of personal and business benefits. Theoretical contributions and practical implications are hence discussed.