Entrepreneurs and Business Owners

Whether you’re committed to growing your business or thinking ahead to an exit strategy, we’ll provide you with expert wealth planning advice, banking and investment expertise to manage your personal finances.

A strong financial partner like SG Kleinwort Hambros can help across all the stages of your journey.

When you own a business, your relationship with your advisers is likely to last for many years. It’s important to surround yourself with experienced people you can trust to always act in your best interests – and provide clear guidance through an objective view of your situation and goals.

A strong financial partner like SG Kleinwort Hambros can help across all the stages of your journey – from providing banking services and personal financing as you grow, to planning a succession strategy and managing the capital if one day you decide to sell. We offer a detailed and personal service that’s attractive to entrepreneurs and business owners of all kinds.

Simplifying life’s financial challenges for entrepreneurs

When you bank with SG Kleinwort Hambros you’ll have access to a wide range of products, services and advice from a dedicated team of specialists. A carefully considered plan is essential if you want to take care of your wealth for many years to come. Whether you would like us to review your overall financial situation or resolve a specific issue, we’ll provide the expert guidance you require.

Saving, investing and wealth accumulation – regular and lump-sum investment solutions tailored to your objectives.

Lending – individually tailored financing solutions to unlock value from your assets and provide the finance for property transactions and other high-value purchases.

Liquidity planning and financial protection – using insurance products to secure your family’s financial future against the unexpected.

Retirement planning – investment strategies to maximise your savings and provide a regular income in later life.

Estate planning – finding appropriate ways to pass on your wealth efficiently, as well as considering the implications of any decisions within your overall plan.

Wealth structuring – creating the right structures and governance framework for your wealth when you have assets or connections to more than one country.

Whether you would like us to review your overall financial situation or resolve a specific issue, we’ll provide the expert guidance you require.

Succession planning

Thinking about the future of your business involves not just the ongoing operation, but also management and ownership issues. There are many layers of complexity and sensitivity that can make succession planning a challenge. We can help you maintain the long-term perspective that gives your business a competitive advantage by focusing on purpose as well as profit.

We understand that private businesses are different from other types of companies. Roles and relationships can be complex, yet it’s crucial to remain focused on the long term and see yourself as the steward for future generations. We will partner with you, legal, tax and accounting experts, and can also introduce you to our carefully selected network of professionals to explore:

Ownership – creating different share classes and applying different voting rights can help family members exit the business when they think the time is right.

Corporate governance – making sure you have a clear system of rules, practices and processes by which your company is directed and controlled.

Values – setting out ways to align your family values with your company’s purpose, including your approach to sustainability.

We will leverage our experience of working with multi-generational families and entrepreneurs to review your arrangements and help design a succession plan.

We will leverage our experience of working with multi-generational families and entrepreneurs to review your arrangements and help design a succession plan.

Selling your business

Every entrepreneur’s journey is different and setting out a plan for the next phase of your life can be intimidating. Our clients find comfort in the knowledge that we have accompanied many others along this journey.

Following a liquidity event, it is important to reflect on your personal goals and circumstances, as well as the structure of your wealth. When creating your wealth strategy, the following principles are essential:

Securing your family’s future – build a plan to provide for your family for many years to come

Enjoying your success – having worked hard for your success over many years, it is important to reward yourself for your commitment.

Establishing a lasting legacy – consider establishing your legacy by finding ways to pass on your wealth to your family or wider society through philanthropy.

There are many issues to consider including income and capital gains taxes, as well as your pension arrangements. You could think about setting up a new vehicle to manage your wealth, such as a family investment company, family limited partnership or private open-ended investment company (OEIC).

Our clients find comfort in the knowledge that we have accompanied many others along this journey.

Supporting female entrepreneurs

Female entrepreneurs are making a huge contribution to the UK economy. The number of new businesses created by female founders has reached a record high in 2023, with 160,730 new companies established ⁽¹⁾. However, only 18.2% of UK active companies are female led⁽²⁾. Female entrepreneurs are still facing barriers such as access to funding and support networks.

We are committed to empowering female entrepreneurs with the knowledge and confidence to grow and protect their wealth across all the stages of their journey. 
Alongside our expertise, we offer them our network of professional contacts (Mergers and Acquisitions companies, lawyers, accountants…) and partners who share the same values towards gender diversity.

SG Kleinwort Hambros is proud to be a Category Sponsor of everywoman Entrepreneur Awards. For 22 years, the everywoman Awards have recognised over 400 of the most innovative, passionate and powerful female founders who continue to inspire future generations of entrepreneurial women, creating an incredibly unique group of like-minded women who advocate and champion each other, provide business referral and support network to eliminate feelings of being marginalised and isolated.

¹ The Gender Index – December 2023
² The Gender Index – February 2024