Succession Readiness Timer

Phase Breakdown

Each phase builds on the last. Complete all 5 to ensure your business survives your absence.

Risk Audit

20 minutes

List every task only you can do. Identify single points of failure. Score each by business impact (1-10).

Emergency Docs

20 minutes

Document login credentials, vendor contacts, bank access, and payroll procedures. Create the "hit by a bus" folder.

Delegation Map

20 minutes

Assign backup owners to your top 10 critical tasks. Write one-paragraph instructions for each.

Communication Plan

15 minutes

Draft customer, vendor, and employee communication templates for your absence. Set notification chains.

Test & Review

15 minutes

Simulate a 48-hour absence. Walk through your plan. Identify gaps. Schedule your first real test run.

20:00 remaining

Write down every task that requires your personal approval or action
Rate each task 1-10 by business impact if it stopped getting done
Flag any task that only you know how to do — these are your critical vulnerabilities

82% of small businesses have no documented credential access. Use a password manager and share emergency access with a trusted partner.

Only 22% of small businesses carry key-person insurance. A policy worth 5-10x your salary buys your team time to stabilize.

Businesses with cross-trained teams recover 3x faster from owner absence. Start with your top 3 revenue-critical processes.

Your succession plan degrades 40% within 6 months if not updated. Schedule a 30-min review every quarter to keep it current.