PricewaterhouseCoopers has launched a new service for Canadian family businesses, which is designed to help family businesses deal with disp...

PricewaterhouseCoopers has launched a new service for Canadian family businesses, which is designed to help family businesses deal with disputes and plan for succession.

The new Centre for Entrepreneurs and Family Business in Ottawa will provide services such as succession planning, facilitation services, governance planning, family office planning and transition planning.

Martin Cukierman, a PWC partner, will head the new centre. “We're targeting businesses in transition,” said Mr. Cukierman. “We offer facilitation services as a neutral third party. We bring all sides together to preserve business continuity.”

Studies show that between 80 and 90 per cent of Canadian businesses are family-owned and account for half of the country's gross national product. Of these businesses, only 30 per cent will continue as a family operation into the second generation and only 10 per cent will make it into the third generation. A mere one per cent will last through to the fourth generation.