Hanging house in the Southwest Palatinate - Our House Construction 2.0

However, this is more due to the worsening shortage of craftsmen. A friend is now closing his plumbing business and laying off all employees. He can't find a successor, his son doesn't want to. That's it then.

Yes, that is really a shame. And a big problem for the future, if there are no longer enough people who can do the work.
The carpenter that we have sometimes commissioned over the past few years actually does a pretty good job - trains apprentices, offers a 4-day week, further training, etc., he even does Instagram now :D But he himself says that he does not want to grow any further - it wouldn’t be fun for him anymore. He is also very involved in the village and supports the rural youth and all that. But that also has to suit you, and I can understand if not everyone can be that dynamic to secure (good) young talent.

However, this is more due to the worsening shortage of skilled tradespeople. An acquaintance is now closing his plumbing business and laying off all employees.

Problem solved: the shortage of skilled workers for his competitors is thereby eased ;-)

He can't find a successor, his son doesn't want to.

However, this is not specific to trades; treating generational change as a Sleeping Beauty topic. A successor must also grow into his perspective; you can't just knock on the door for the first time at sixty.

A successor must also grow into their perspective; you can't just knock on the door at sixty.

The first time we talked about it was in 2018. He was already looking then... How long in advance should one start? In the mid-forties?

I think was referring to the son, right?

In my environment, I know two cases where the son did not want to take over - or rather, not under the conditions the father had in mind. The father then also has to let go and allow modernization. I think that is difficult for many who have run their business alone according to their ideas for decades.

Have you actually found a solution for your terrace/slope design by now?

How long in advance should one start? In their mid-40s?

I think @11ant was referring to the son, right?

The assumption "right" is correct, and it is less about the age of the business transferor: it is the transferee - whether son or ordinary employee - who needs the successor perspective at the right time. No journeyman starts the master craftsman course at fifty just because the old man did not say earlier that his son does not want to take over.