Indiana Business Succession Webinar to Occur November 2
Owners of Indiana firms can learn succession strategies like employee ownership to keep their companies and jobs within the state.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Business — General
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Will the upcoming state-sponsored business webinar help preserve local jobs in your area?
Governor Mike Braun is hosting a webinar on November 2, 2026, to help Indiana business owners navigate succession planning. The session supports the state's Keep IN initiative, which aims to retain companies and jobs as many founders near retirement.
Why it matters
More than half of Indiana business owners are aged 55 or older, and planning for their exit is critical to maintaining the 900,000 jobs and $200 billion in annual revenue these companies support. The webinar addresses the urgent need to keep these businesses operational within the state as owners approach retirement.
Businesses owned by Indiana residents aged 55 or older support more than 900,000 jobs and generate over $200 billion in annual revenue. These firms account for more than half of the state's total business owner population.
The players
Mike Braun
The Governor of Indiana, currently focused on state-wide small business retention efforts.
Indiana Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
A state agency tasked with supporting business development and fostering economic growth across Indiana.
Indiana Chamber of Commerce
A statewide organization representing the interests of Indiana businesses and advocating for pro-growth policies.
The details
The webinar provides owners with strategic frameworks for transferring control, specifically covering family office structures, employee ownership models, and entrepreneurship through acquisition. By facilitating these pathways, the state aims to mitigate the economic risks posed by the aging business owner demographic. This program is part of the Keep IN initiative, which launched earlier this year to ensure continuity for businesses that might otherwise liquidate.
Timeline
May 2026: Keep IN initiative launched.
Early 2026: Silver Tsunami report released.
November 2, 2026: Webinar occurs.
Market Landscape
This webinar serves as the operational implementation of the Keep IN initiative launched earlier this year. It addresses the economic risk identified in the 2026 Silver Tsunami report, which highlighted the potential for widespread business closures as the current generation of owners retires.
Owners approaching retirement should evaluate family office, employee ownership, or acquisition strategies to ensure their company's longevity. Preparing a formal succession plan now is essential to maintaining the firm's value and preserving the local jobs it supports.
The takeaway
The impending retirement of a large cohort of business owners presents a significant transition risk for the Indiana economy. Operators should review the Silver Tsunami report to understand the scale of this demographic shift and begin discussions with professional advisors regarding exit options.
Further reading
For more on state-led programs, see Business — General.
More information
To register for the session, visit the webinar registration page.
Live Poll
Will the upcoming state-sponsored business webinar help preserve local jobs in your area?
