3 mistakes to avoid during divorce as a business owner

During a divorce, your priorities can greatly vary depending on your circumstances. As an empty-nester who is also a business owner, your concerns might extend beyond issues such as child support. The stakes become higher as the potential impact of divorce on your enterprise could be a significant worry, particularly when your business represents a large portion of your marital assets.

So, it’s crucial to avoid certain mistakes that could put your business at risk during the divorce process.

Not accurately valuing your business

Your business is likely one of your most valuable assets, so its accurate valuation is critical. When preparing for property division negotiations, the value of your business will play a pivotal role. Underestimating or overestimating its worth can lead to an unfair property division.

To prevent this, familiarizing yourself with the various business valuation methods is essential. These methods can help you understand your business’s worth based on its assets, revenue and market conditions.

Overlooking tax implications

The division of business assets in a divorce can have significant tax implications. For instance, buying out your spouse’s share of the business could result in a sizable tax liability. Likewise, transferring business assets as part of the divorce settlement could trigger capital gains taxes. Ignoring these implications could leave you facing unexpected financial burdens down the line.

So, it’s crucial to proactively plan for potential tax consequences by understanding which assets are being transferred and how they are taxed.

Mixing business and personal assets

Mixing business and personal assets is a common mistake. This practice blurs the line between your personal wealth and your business’s assets. If this occurs, the law may consider your entire business as marital property. This can subject it to division during the divorce. To protect your business, it’s crucial to keep your business and personal finances separate.

Maintaining separate accounts and records for your business helps to delineate between personal and business assets.

Your business is at stake

Experiencing a divorce as a business owner can be complicated and stressful. But remember, you don’t have to face it alone. Consider seeking a legal professional experienced in both divorce and business matters. With careful planning and guidance, you can not only navigate this challenging time but also protect your business assets.