Could Your Business Pass the 60-Day Test?

By Ross Paul | Delta City News | July 17, 2026
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Many privately owned businesses are built around capable, hardworking owners.

Owners often know customers personally, set pricing, manage staff, monitor cash flow, and solve problems. This involvement helps businesses survive challenges, maintain standards, and earn trust.

But when too much depends on one person, it can create risk.

A useful test for owners is to ask themselves whether the company could continue operating properly if they stepped away for 60 days.

This means truly stepping away, not just taking a vacation while still answering calls, approving decisions, and solving problems remotely.

The 60-Day Test is relevant whether an owner is planning for growth, considering succession, or simply trying to reduce the pressure of managing the business day-to-day.

What Happens When Knowledge Stays With the Owner

A business can have staff and systems yet still rely heavily on its owner.

You can spot this by asking some simple questions:

Who approves quotes?
Who manages key customers?
Who handles supplier issues?
Who keeps operations organized?
Who understands undocumented processes?
Who tracks margins and costs?

The honest answer to some or all of these questions is often the owner.

This doesn’t mean the business is poorly managed. It often reflects how the business evolved. Owners gradually take on more roles over time, especially when they’re the most experienced or hiring is impractical.

The risk is that knowledge, authority, and relationships stay with the individual and not the company.

Buyers, Lenders, and Successors Assess Transferability

Buyers, lenders, or successors want to know what can continue without the owner.

Past financial results matter, but they’re not enough on their own. A profitable business may still be hard to transfer if the owner controls decisions and relationships.

A buyer will want to know how revenue would be affected if the owner left. A lender will assess whether the remaining team can sustain reliable earnings. In a family succession, the next generation may need time to build trust with employees, customers, and suppliers.

The same questions apply even if selling isn’t on your radar right now. Life has a way of throwing curveballs, whether it’s an illness, a family situation, or simply needing to step away for a while. In those moments, it can quickly become clear how much the business depends on you.

The 60-Day Test helps identify these risks.

Small, Practical Changes Can Reduce Owner Dependence Over Time

Improving transferability doesn’t require major changes. In many cases, it can begin with a few practical steps, such as:

Documenting recurring tasks like quoting, ordering, scheduling, or handling complaints, and using simple checklists to standardize these processes so they don’t rely on memory and are easier to train.
Introducing employees to key customers or suppliers to expand relationships beyond the owner.
Training staff to handle defined decisions within clear limits.

The goal is to move operational knowledge into the company gradually, without disrupting the way the business serves its customers.

Build a More Resilient Business Before Any Sale or Succession

A business that runs well without the owner is easier to manage and less stressful.

It’s also better positioned for growth. Employees can take on more responsibility, decisions can be made faster, and the owner will have more time to focus on planning.

For businesses that may eventually be sold or transferred, reduced owner dependence can give future buyers or successors more confidence that customers, employees, and earnings will remain in place.

Reducing owner dependence takes time, especially in long-established businesses. Starting early allows responsibilities and relationships to be shared gradually rather than rushed later.

There is real value in putting your business through the 60-Day Test. A simple, honest assessment can highlight ways to strengthen operations, reduce risk, and make the business easier to manage, while helping you stay prepared for unexpected changes or opportunities.

Ross Paul - Ross is a Delta-based M&A Advisor with Pacific Mergers & Acquisitions, sharing insights on business ownership, growth, technology, and community life. Give him a call at +1 778-329-9564 or connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosspaul/

Tags: #Local Business #Small Business #Business Owners #Succession Planning #Business Continuity #Business Growth #Owner Dependence