What happens to your business if you can't run it tomorrow?

For most solo owners, it stops. And a business that stops for three months often doesn't restart.

People plan for death and skip incapacity, which is more likely and in some ways more disruptive — because nothing has legally happened, so nothing has legally transferred.

What actually stops working

• Nobody can sign for the company.

• Nobody can access the bank account.

• Payroll doesn't run.

• Invoices don't go out.

• Vendors don't get paid.

• Clients don't get told anything.

Your family may have no authority to act and no idea what's in progress.

The minimum that prevents this

• Someone with signing authority. Named in your operating agreement or by resolution, so a bank will accept them.

• Bank access already arranged. Not a promise the bank will figure it out. Signature authority on file, now.

• A written list of what runs the business. Where the accounts are, who the key clients and vendors are, what's in progress, which passwords matter and how to get them.

• Instructions for the first week. Who to call, what to tell clients, what has to happen immediately.

That's a document, not a legal structure, and it does more than any of your entity paperwork in this situation.

If you have partners

Your operating agreement should say what happens on a member's incapacity — who takes over, whether the incapacitated member keeps voting rights, whether there's a buyout after a defined period.

Most templates address death and go silent on incapacity.

The estate planning overlap

Whoever handles your estate plan should know your business exists and see your operating agreement. Powers of attorney and business authority need to work together rather than contradict each other.

What to do

Write the one-page list this week: accounts, contacts, passwords, work in progress. Then arrange signing authority so someone can actually act.

It's an afternoon, and it's the difference between a pause and a loss.

This is general information, not legal advice for your situation. If you want an answer for your business, book a consultation.