It's wise to plan for the future of your business right from the beginning. If, as a sole proprietor, you decide to leave the business, it may simply disappear. Perhaps you're hoping that one or more of your children would want to take it over or that you could sell it. If you're involved in a partnership or corporation, on the other hand, the business may well continue on. However you choose to move on, there are key actions and decisions that you need to deal with first.