CAL Bank has been engaging small and medium scale businesses in Kumasi on the need for a succession plan to sustain their operations. For many small business owners, maintaining positive cash flow and a stable balance sheet can be an ongoing battle that consumes virtually all of their time. Retirement therefore seems not be part of their business plan, let alone plans to hand over the business. Analysts however say establishing a sound business succession plan is beneficial for business owners. CAL Bank’s interactive forum this year focused on exposing clients to new business trends for growth. KNUST branch manager, John Akoto Inkoom observed lack of trust as a major factor influencing SMEs not to institute succession plans. “Statistics shows that about 70 percent of SME businesses collapse because of lack of succession and that is why we’re organizing this program for them to gain insight into how his succession plan will assist them and also assist their generation. “They have people who can take over but the issue is trust because he will direct the person as to what to do, at the end of the day the person will just form his own company and be competing with him, to the extent of even taking over his customers and that has been a challenge to them”, Mr. Inkoom noted. He says the discussions have helped reorient the business owners on the need for a sound succession plan. The forum also offered CAL the opportunity to assess prospects and challenges for growth as well as schooled participants on good management practices.