An apple orchard at harvest under open blue sky: wooden crates of apples on the grass, a picker on a ladder in the rows, and a laden branch in front.Successor
Grow · Orchard

Successor writes down what only you know about your business, so the next person can run it.

For owners of family businesses who are getting ready to step back, and for the daughters, sons, managers and buyers who run them next.

Coming soon Bookings are not open yet. There is no booking form or address to write to; this page will give one when there is.

How it works

  1. Step 1

    It reads your records

    Successor connects to the systems you already use, such as your accounts, your order book and your email, and writes down what they show, with where each fact came from. It also shows what is missing.

  2. Step 2

    It has one conversation with you

    As long as you like, about the things only you know: the late payer, the Friday cutoff, who to call when the pump fails. You decide what goes in, and you can leave anything out.

  3. Step 3

    The next person gets a record they can question

    Every entry says where it came from, so your successor knows whether it came from the books or from you. Nothing goes to them until you have read it.

What your successor opens on Monday

The record is grouped the way you talk about the business. Each entry is one fact and its source. What only you can answer is asked as a question, and you can leave it out.

This is a sample. East Gate Nursery, Margaret and Daniel are fictional.

Sample · East Gate Nursery

What Daniel opens on Monday

Fourteen things written down. Two that only Margaret can answer.

  • Customers

    Hollins Growers pay on the 28th, not on the invoice date. Do not chase them before then.

    From your accounts · Payments 2019–2026

  • Suppliers and terms

    Larch Farm compost is on 60 days, agreed by handshake in 2015. There is no contract.

    From Margaret · First conversation, 0:31 · invoices 2015–2026

  • Routines

    Friday orders close at 11:00. Later ones need a phone call before anyone promises Monday.

    From Margaret · First conversation, 0:42

  • Where the keys are

    Still open

    Only you know who to call when the irrigation pump fails.

    Margaret can answer in her own words, or leave this out.

Margaret reads every entry before Daniel sees it.

For businesses someone spent a working life making good

Nurseries and joiners, cafes and grocers, and the people who run them. Each one runs on things one person knows.

Who it is for