Best software for succession planning in 2026. Learn what to look for in modern succession planning tools, compare top platforms, and see why Maus leads the way.
In today’s economy, succession planning is no longer just a formality, it’s a critical part of protecting enterprise value, retaining key talent, and ensuring business continuity.
Yet nearly 80 percent of privately held business owners still don’t have a written succession or transition plan.
As more companies face leadership turnover and generational change in 2026, choosing the right succession planning software will separate businesses that are reactive from those that are truly exit-ready.
Succession planning software helps companies identify key roles, assess bench strength, and develop a leadership pipeline long before an owner or executive exits.
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Without a clear succession plan, an unexpected event—like illness, retirement, or turnover—can stall operations and erode company value. The right software helps you:
(Learn more about the Exit Planning Process and 7 Stages Advisors Should Master).
The best software for succession planning in 2026 will depend on your organization’s structure and goals—but it should combine analytics, leadership development, and risk management into one seamless workflow. Below are the top contenders business owners and advisors alike rely on, followed by what to look for when choosing your own platform.
Best for: All-in-one exit planning, leadership transition, and risk analysis
Maus integrates succession planning, valuation, and strategic planning in one platform. Advisors and business owners can identify key-person risk, model value growth, and track readiness scores over time—all within a single dashboard.
Key features
Why it matters: Maus combines both analytics and action, aligning with the Value Acceleration Methodology™ to ensure every succession discussion ties directly to measurable value growth.
(Explore the Five Stages of Value Maturity to see how succession fits into the larger value journey.)
Best for: Structured, consultant-led exit readiness
NAVIX focuses on measuring “Transferable Value” through its Transferable Value Score. Its structured assessments help pinpoint risks such as owner dependency or lack of management depth.
Key features
Why it matters: NAVIX provides a proven, step-by-step roadmap to prepare for ownership transition—ideal for firms that want a guided process.
Best for: Financial benchmarking and valuation analytics
BizEquity delivers instant, data-driven valuations and future value projections. Advisors use it to benchmark businesses and identify which key drivers most affect transferable value.
Key features
Why it matters: BizEquity provides the hard data that informs your succession planning process and helps identify where to focus growth and risk-mitigation efforts.
Best for: Deep operational diagnostics
Built on MIT research, CoreValue assesses 18 operational and market drivers that affect business transferability.
Key features
Why it matters: CoreValue quantifies the “intangibles” behind leadership and process risk—offering a measurable way to improve systems before an exit.
Best for: Coaching-oriented value growth programs
Value Builder combines surveys, scoring models, and coaching tools to measure “sellability.” Owners get a Value Builder Score from 1–100 that tracks improvement over time.
Key features
Why it matters: Value Builder helps owners and advisors connect leadership development and operational improvements to higher exit multiples—making it an effective educational and engagement tool.
| Tool | Focus Area | Best For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maus | Integrated exit planning & risk analytics | Advisors & firms needing a single ecosystem | Risk analysis, valuation, KPI dashboards, leadership pipeline tools |
| NAVIX | Transferable value scoring | Structured succession programs | 80-question score, roadmap templates |
| BizEquity | Real-time valuation | Benchmarking & forecasting | Exit valuation, industry peer data |
| CoreValue | Operational diagnostics | Deep risk analysis | 18-driver framework, value-gap plans |
| Value Builder | Coaching & engagement | Continuous improvement | Value Builder Score, readiness tracking |
When evaluating succession planning tools, look for these essentials:
(For related insights, explore how to align leadership transitions with your 3-, 5-, and 10-Year Exit Timeline.)
Whether you’re managing a family business, a professional services firm, or a fast-growing private company, succession planning software helps ensure the organization remains strong, profitable, and attractive to potential buyers.
A dynamic, data-driven platform like Maus provides the foundation for sustainable leadership development, business continuity, and long-term value creation. The result is a smoother, more successful transition—on your timeline, and on your terms.
Maus is the leading all-in-one solution for succession planning, combining valuation, risk assessment, KPI tracking, and leadership development tools in a single platform.
It tracks leadership readiness, performance data, and key-role dependencies to ensure every critical function has a successor identified and trained.
Look for risk assessments, leadership pipeline mapping, workforce planning tools, and integration with financial and value-tracking dashboards.
A strong leadership pipeline reduces owner dependency, increases transferable value, and makes your business more attractive to potential buyers.
Start with the Exit Planning Starter Kit and see how Maus helps firms prepare for a successful transition from day one.
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