Family businesses in Spain support 92% of the business network. But in 2025, survival will require much more than just endurance. Effort and tradition are not enough. Change is becoming a matter of life and death: the survival of the family business today is not a matter of faith, but of strategy. And whoever understands this in time, wins.
Family businesses need muscle to survive
Today, surviving means growing up. It is not a desire, it is an obligation. Family businesses are still smaller, less international and less technological. This triple handicap makes them vulnerable.
The fact is clear: 94.5% of microenterprises are family-owned, but only 1% of large companies are family-owned. This is no coincidence. It is a symptom that size matters. A lot.
Small family businesses feel that their essence lies in their human size. And that is true. But that essence cannot be an excuse for not expanding, for not professionalising their management or for not internationalising their activity.
Did you know that family businesses that manage to grow are also more profitable than non-family businesses? Growth not only protects: it multiplies value. However, to get there you have to make uncomfortable decisions: opening up to external partners, betting on new markets, investing in technology when you can’t yet see the return.
At Confianz we analyse, propose realistic plans and execute. We know that every family and every company is unique. And that is why each strategy is unique too.
The generational handover
Who will be running your company in ten years’ time? This question terrifies many family entrepreneurs. And no wonder. Only one in three family businesses makes it through the first generation.
Many think that it is enough to leave the company «at home». But the family name does not guarantee leadership.
The new generation not only needs to know the company: they need training, management skills, strategic thinking and digital vision. Not preparing the successor is like flipping a coin with the company at stake.
Moreover, the handover must be managed in two dimensions: business and family. Clearly separating family interests from business interests is vital. Family protocols, well-defined governing bodies and clear rules are the basis.
We support our clients in their succession processes from a 360º perspective. It is not just a matter of transferring ownership, but of ensuring that the succession strengthens the project. That there are no heavy inheritances or open conflicts. The aim is not to pass the baton: it is to pave the way.
Without innovation, the family business disappears within 10 years
Innovation is not a luxury. It is a matter of pure survival.
The report «Relevance and Survival of Family Businesses» reveals that only 4.5% of family businesses are present in technology-intensive sectors. That means being left out of the great opportunities of today and the future.
And we are not just talking about developing new products. We are talking about transforming internal processes, adopting digital tools, using artificial intelligence, managing customer data in real time, automating repetitive tasks.
Digitalisation is no longer an afterthought. It is at the heart of any growth strategy. Family businesses that have chosen to integrate technology show higher rates of profitability and resilience.
Of course, transforming a family business does not happen overnight. It involves overcoming internal resistance, training teams, redefining roles and investing for the long term.
In 2025, it is not the one who has been open the longest that survives. Those who know how to read change and act fast will survive.
Family businesses have proven to be longer-lived than non-family businesses. But this historical advantage will not work if it is not updated.
Do you have doubts about how to secure the future of your company? That’s normal. The important thing is not to stand still. If you want to start building a stronger future for your family and your business, let’s talk. We’re here to help.