America’s Great Wealth Transfer Meets Small-Business Potential

The great wealth transfer is upon us. As baby boomers begin to exit the workforce and pass on assets, an estimated $84.4 trillion will change hands by 2045—$72.6 trillion to heirs alone, making it the most significant intergenerational wealth transfer in history. This massive shift isn’t just about individual fortunes—it holds profound implications for small businesses across the U.S.

According to McKinsey’s “America’s small businesses: Time to think big”, small and medium enterprises—MSMEs—employ nearly 60% of Americans and generate about 39% of business value. Yet, when measured against large corporations, U.S. MSMEs operate at only 47% of their productivity, a significant gap compared to peers in other advanced economies. Closing that gap would unlock a 5.4% of GDP boost.

Why the great wealth transfer matters for small businesses

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  Generation-to-generation deals: As boomers downsize or retire, many will sell businesses. Baby Boomers currently own 51% of private U.S. firms—approximately 3 million enterprises valued at $10 trillion.

• Millennial acquirers: Millennials—often fleeing instability in inflation-ridden corporate environments—are stepping up to buy these enterprises, with small-business sale prices rising 20% year-over-year.

• Wealth unlocks opportunity: The sheer scale of intergenerational wealth moving between households suggests a surge in capital availability—if small-business owners and acquirers can tap into it.

The case for small businesses “thinking big”

McKinsey identifies four core areas where MSMEs lag behind larger firms: technology, talent, market access, and finance. Productivity and competitiveness lag most in sectors like wholesale, manufacturing, and professional services. The path forward, they argue, lies in deepening networks through clusters, partnerships, and supplier ecosystems with bigger firms.

Enter DCS: powering growth and streamlining exits

This is where DCS steps in. Whether facilitating acquisition for growth or accelerating sales for retiring founders, DCS is built to solve those four competency challenges:

1. Tech integration: DCS tools bring CRM, analytics, and AI-driven operations within reach of Main Street businesses, boosting productivity from the ground up.

2. Talent & expertise: Through access to fractional leadership, advisory networks, and industry mentors, DCS helps MSMEs bridge the human capital gap.

3. Market expansion: DCS connects sellers to vetted buyers and large-company buyers, opening doors to expanded marketplaces and clusters.

4. Accessible finance: With seller-financed deal structures and networked capital, DCS aligns emerging acquirers with legacy wealth streams.

In today’s great wealth transfer environment, DCS makes small-business owners visible to capital and buyers, while providing buyers—millennials and others—a trusted framework to invest. That’s not just financial gain. It’s productivity growth, community preservation, and value creation.

As trillions shift from one generation to the next, the opportunity for America’s small businesses is enormous. However, unlocking that potential requires more than good intentions—it demands systems that bring together technology, talent, markets, and finance. And that’s precisely what DCS is designed to deliver.

The great wealth transfer isn’t simply changing who owns businesses—it’s reshaping how American small businesses evolve. With DCS, it’s not just a handoff—it’s a launchpad.

Written by John Thompson, a guest writer.