APPENDIX: SME Succession in Zuid-Nederland: Research Findings

Background & Regional Relevance

Family-Owned SMEs and Imminent Transitions in Zuid-Nederland

Family businesses form a majority of SMEs in Zuid-Nederland. In Limburg about 65% of MKB firms are family-owned (Vitaal Bedrijfsleven PDF), and in Zeeland over 70% of companies are family businesses (Community Zeeuwse familiebedrijven – VNO-NCW Brabant Zeeland). This aligns with national figures showing roughly 61% of Dutch companies (with >1 employee) qualify as family businesses (PDF – De maatschappelijke bijdrage van familiebedrijven in beeld – FBNed). Such firms are often led by aging owners – more than half of family business owners in the Netherlands are already 55+ (Ron van der Jagt on LinkedIn). In Zuid-Nederland the entrepreneur population skews older (average owner age ~48 in Limburg/Zeeland vs 45 in the Randstad) (Vergrijzing niet als probleem maar als oplossing voor de zorg | 24 uurszorg). Indeed, provinces like Zeeland and Drenthe have about 12% of all entrepreneurs aged 65 or above (among the highest shares nationally) (KvK: aantal oudere ondernemers groeit flink – Credit Expo Nederland). This means a wave of business succession is imminent: for example, in Kerkrade (Limburg) an estimated 30% of local family firms will need to decide on transferring or selling in the coming years (Eerste succesvolle pilot over bedrijfsopvolging gestart in Kerkrade | Gemeente Kerkrade) due to the owner’s retirement timeline.

Economic Impact of SME Closures or Failed Successions

If succession planning lags, the economic stakes are high for Zuid-Nederland’s economy. Family-owned SMEs are critical employers – nationally, some 280,000 family firms provide ~2.2 million jobs (31% of all jobs) (Ron van der Jagt on LinkedIn). Should these firms close for lack of a successor, tens of thousands of regional jobs could be lost. Recent reports highlighted that “thousands of small companies” have been ceasing operations because no successor is in place, far outnumbering those closing from bankruptcy (Ron van der Jagt on LinkedIn). Failed successions thus directly translate to lost employment and output. One study estimated that about 7.1% of all Dutch FTE jobs are at risk in ongoing business transfers, with annual closures already eliminating ~2% of all jobs (De groeiende impact van bedrijfsopvolging op de Nederlandse economie). In Zuid-Nederland – with its heavy reliance on SME employment – this implies a substantial GDP and jobs impact if business continuity isn’t secured. Policymakers recognize this risk: “Familiebedrijven vormen de ruggengraat van our local economy…we support smooth handovers so the company – and its employment – remain”, noted a Kerkrade alderman when launching a succession pilot (Eerste succesvolle pilot over bedrijfsopvolging gestart in Kerkrade | Gemeente Kerkrade).

Regional Initiatives for SME Succession and Continuity

Across Zuid-Nederland, various programs, networks and chambers of commerce initiatives are devoted to supporting SME succession and continuity:

• Limburg – “Trots op Familiebedrijven” (TOF): A provincial MKB-deal project (in partnership with MKB-Limburg, Maastricht University, Zuyd Hogeschool) that guides family businesses with 2–50 employees on growth, innovation and succession planning (Tweedekamer Document on Familiebedrijven Samenwerking). MKB-Limburg also runs peer group workshops and pilots on bedrijfsopvolging. A 2020 pilot in Zuid-Limburg revealed huge demand for information, prompting expansion to groups in North/Mid/South Limburg meeting quarterly with experts and peers (MKB-Limburg start projecten voor familiebedrijven – Ondernemend Venlo). The goal is to “retain as many family businesses as possible for Limburg” via timely succession support (MKB-Limburg start projecten voor familiebedrijven – Ondernemend Venlo).

• Kerkrade Succession Workshop Series: In 2025 Kerkrade (Parkstad Limburg) became the first municipality in the province to run a dedicated succession pilot, “Mijn bedrijf in de etalage!”. In collaboration with MKB-Limburg, it delivered a 3-part workshop for retiring owners on the entire transfer process (family or external sale) (Eerste succesvolle pilot over bedrijfsopvolging gestart in Kerkrade | Gemeente Kerkrade).

• Brabant & Zeeland Family Business Networks: Employers’ organization VNO-NCW Brabant Zeeland facilitates regional communities for family firms. The Community Zeeuwse Familiebedrijven meets biannually and is chaired by a local family CEO, given that >70% of Zeeland’s businesses are family-run (Community Zeeuwse familiebedrijven – VNO-NCW Brabant Zeeland). It provides a forum to share experiences on topics like succession. Likewise, the Brabantse Familiebedrijven network holds exclusive events (~3 per year) on issues such as bedrijfsopvolging, governance, and innovation for family firm owners (Brabantse Familiebedrijven – VNO-NCW Brabant Zeeland). In addition, an elite Brabant Family Businesses Guild (BFBG) connects the largest Brabant family firms (100+ employees) (Brabant Family Businesses Guild (BFBG) – Tweedekamer Document) and a Genootschap van Limburgse Familiebedrijven fulfills a similar role in Limburg (Genootschap van Limburgse Familiebedrijven – Tweedekamer Document) – both fostering mentorship around succession and next-generation leadership.

• Chambers and Economic Boards: The Kamer van Koophandel (KvK) and regional development agencies also promote business continuity. KvK offers information portals and events on company transfers, while regional economic boards (like Limburg’s and Brabant’s) incorporate SME succession in their economic strategies. For example, the Limburg province’s “Vitaal Bedrijfsleven” agenda explicitly coordinates with MKB-Limburg and others to address family business needs (Vitaal Bedrijfsleven Document).

Market & Competitor Validation

Tools & Services SME Owners Pay for During Succession

During a company succession or sale, Dutch SME owners typically spend money on several digital and professional services to execute the transition:

• M&A Advisory Fees: Engaging a bedrijfsovername-adviseur or broker is often the largest cost. Advisors usually charge a combination of hourly fees and a success commission. A common structure is a success fee of ~1–5% of the deal price (scaled by deal size) plus retainers (Wat kost een overnameadviseur? – MFS – Max Miltenburg). For instance, a 2% success fee on a €1.5 million sale is €30k (Wat kost een bedrijf overnemen? Lees het op Brookz). Hourly rates for specialists (accountants, valuators, jurists) range €100–€250+ (Wat kost een bedrijf overnemen? Lees het op Brookz). It’s not unusual that total advisory costs reach tens of thousands of euros for an SME sale (Wat kost een bedrijf overnemen? Lees het op Brookz).

• Business Valuation Services: Owners often seek an independent valuation to set a realistic asking price. A professional Register Valuator’s bedrijfswaardering report typically costs €7,500 to €15,000 (Wat kost een bedrijf overnemen? Lees het op Brookz). This is a one-time expense to document the company’s worth for sale negotiations. As a lower-cost alternative, online valuation tools are emerging – for example, Brookz offers an automated valuation tool that provides an indicative value “within 15 minutes” as a PDF report (Wat kost een bedrijf overnemen? Lees het op Brookz).

• Legal Documentation & Templates: Transferring a business requires robust legal documents – Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), Letters of Intent (LOIs), share purchase agreements, etc. SME owners incur legal fees either by purchasing templates or hiring lawyers. Some choose to buy standardized contract templates to reduce cost. However, most will still have a lawyer or notary customize the final agreements. Since Dutch law mandates a civil-law notary for share transfers in a BV, a notaris fee (often a few thousand euros) is typically paid at closing. Legal counsel hourly rates (for contract drafting or due diligence support) fall in the aforementioned €100–€250 range (Wat kost een bedrijf overnemen? Lees het op Brookz).

• Marketplace Listings & Buyer Reach: To find buyers, many owners pay to list their business on online marketplaces. In the Netherlands, popular platforms include Brookz and Bedrijventekoop.nl, which charge advertising fees. For example, on an international platform like BizBuySell, it costs about $59.95 per month to post a business-for-sale listing (Should you advertise your Business for Sale on BizBuySell yourself?). Dutch platforms have comparable fees (often a few hundred euros for a multi-month listing package).

• Due Diligence and Transition Tools: As a deal progresses, owners might pay for specific tools to facilitate due diligence or the handover. Virtual data room (VDR) services are one example – an SME might use a secure online data room (with free or fee-based models) to share documents with the buyer. Additionally, accounting firms often offer due diligence reviews (which can cost a few thousand euros) to ensure clean financial reports, and owners may invest in tax advisory and estate planning services to optimize the transfer.

• Educational Programs & Other Tools: Some business owners choose to educate themselves through paid courses or coaching. For instance, OvernameAdvies.nl offers a video-based “Bedrijfsverkoop cursus” for owners (Jouw overname-app op ons platform?). There are also books and workshops—often low cost (<€1000)—that owners invest in to understand succession. In family successions, owners might also pay for governance consulting or family business mediation.

In summary, Dutch SME owners will spend on a mix of professional advice, platform services, and documentation tools to execute a business succession. Major cost drivers are advisory fees and professional services (legal, valuation, tax), whereas digital tools (listings, software, templates) tend to be more affordable. The willingness to invest in these services reflects what’s at stake—a successful transfer can preserve significant economic value, jobs, and legacy.

Pricing Examples of SME Succession Platforms and Tools

Below are real-world pricing examples for platforms focused on SME succession or business sale documentation. These illustrate the range of monetization models in the market (from subscription SaaS to success-fee-based marketplaces). Dutch offerings are listed first, followed by international platforms for comparison:

Note: Dutch SME owners typically combine these tools—such as using a Brookz listing alongside an M&A advisor and online template services—to optimize the succession process. The above pricing examples show that local platforms (like OvernameAdvies) are aligning with international trends (freemium models, success-based fees, SaaS subscriptions) to make succession planning more accessible. Structured support, even if it comes at a cost, increases the likelihood of a successful business transfer that safeguards jobs, legacy, and economic value.