Family Business


Recent Family Business Articles

Inc. 5000 Applicant of the Week: Mary's Gone Crackers

By Eliot Caroom |  Mar 24, 2009

Entrepreneur Mary Waldner’s gluten allergy led her to start a cracker company.  Read more


Relative Success

By Caitlin McDevitt |  Feb 19, 2009

Why family businesses may weather the recession better than other small businesses.  Read more


The Education of an Educated CEO

By Jeff Bailey |  Dec 1, 2008

When Jeff Koeze took over his father's company, he knew almost nothing about it or any other business. But he knew how to learn, and 12 years later, he runs ...  Read more


The Success Gene

By Adam Bluestein |  Apr 1, 2008

Why some family businesses thrive year after year after year.  Read more


Splitting Heirs [Audio]

By Stephanie Clifford and Rod Kurtz |  Aug 9, 2007

For every family business success story, there are cautionary tales. How can family businesses ensure a smooth transition from one generation to another? ...  Watch video


Splitting Heirs

By Stephanie Clifford |  Aug 1, 2007

In which two brothers take over the third-generation family wine-selling business. They quarrel, as brothers do. And now it isn't a family business anymore.  Read more


Christmas All Year Round

By Rod Kurtz |  Aug 7, 2006

CEO Fred Schwam takes us inside his workshop, which designs holiday decorations for Radio City Music Hall, Saks Fifth Avenue, and other New York City land...  Watch video


How I Did It: Gert Boyle, chairman, Columbia Sportswear

By Gert Boyle |  Apr 1, 2006

Tougher than the rest.  Read more


How I Did It: David Blumenthal

By David Blumenthal |  Feb 1, 2005

The family yarn business was just getting by until knitting became cool (perhaps you've seen Gangsta Knitter?). Now it's on its way to becoming a $200 millio...  Read more


It Runs in the Family

By Bobbie Gossage |  Jun 1, 2004

The Lacerte clan's four-generation entrepreneurial streak.  Read more


Grist: Mom Pop: Please Read

By Adam Hanft |  Sep 1, 2003

Who better to defend nepotism than the son of an internationally famous author? In praise of Adam Bellow's new book.  Read more


The Heart of a Company

By Leigh Buchanan |  Jun 1, 2003

The birth of a seriously ill child set Kenny Kramm on a course from ordinary guy to extraordinary entrepreneur.  Read more


Benchmark: Sources of Conflict in Family Businesses

By Donna Fenn |  Jul 1, 1995

Three graphs that display the hottest issues of contention between generations in long-term family businesses.  Read more


Are Your Kids Good Enough to Run Your Business?

By Donna Fenn |  Aug 1, 1994

Even if you've never considered your company a family business, that question could be very important.  Read more


Why Family Businesses Are Best

By Leslie Brokaw |  Mar 1, 1992

The competitive edge of family-run businesses.  Read more


Fathers and Sons

By Ellen Wojahn |  Apr 1, 1990

Personal accounts from fathers and their sons on what it's like to run a family business together.  Read more


Splitting Heirs (1988)

By Joshua Hyatt |  Mar 1, 1988

Nearly a hundred years ago, Lorenzo Vaughn planted a time bomb in his company. Finally, it went off  Read more


Why Daughters Are Better

By Curtis Hartman |  Aug 1, 1987

When it comes to training for the job, winning the respect of employees and customers, and easing the pains of succession, 'daddy's little girl' is probably ...  Read more


Will The Son Also Rise?

By Joshua Hyatt |  Apr 1, 1985

Will The Son Also Rise?. It was a great romance, while it lasted: Wall Street and the leveraged buyout. Now the two are giving birth to their own mini-phenom...  Read more


Nepotism On Trial

By John F. Persinos |  Jul 1, 1984

Nepotism On Trial. A case now before the Supreme Court of the United States is challenging the notion that business owners can favor members of their own fam...  Read more