What Happens to my Business When I Die?

Planning for the Business I Won’t Outlive: A reflection for doulas and other one-person business owners

As an end-of-life doula, I help people prepare for the unknowns of death and dying. I’ve supported families, held space for difficult conversations, and encouraged others to make thoughtful plans - advance directives, living wills, powers of attorney, and all the other documents we so often postpone. I’ve done this work for others, and I’ve also done it for myself.

My personal affairs are in order. I’ve made decisions about my care, my body, and my estate. But recently, I had a realization: I haven’t made any plans for what happens to my business after I die.

I run a single-person LLC, like many doulas do. My work is deeply personal and closely held - it’s just me, serving clients, writing, teaching, supporting. So of course, when I die, the business itself will come to a natural end.

I won’t be doula-ing from the other side.

But there’s still a practical side to closing a business, even a one-person one. And just like with personal end-of-life planning, leaving behind some sort of roadmap can save our loved ones confusion, stress, and overwhelm.

This has me thinking…If I’ve created an advance directive for my body - why not one for my business?

Why This Matters - Even for a One-Person Business

No matter how small your business is, there are still threads to tie up when you're gone: bank accounts, websites, email lists. Clients or students who might wonder why you’ve gone quiet. A newsletter waiting to be scheduled. A domain name on auto-renew. A course half-finished.

And more importantly, people - family members, friends, or colleagues - who may be left trying to make sense of all of it without a clear path. We may not need to appoint a successor or sell the company. But we can still offer clarity. We can still offer kindness.

Even a simple plan - “Here’s how to log into my site, here’s where my business bank account is, here's the link to file LLC dissolution with the state, here’s who should be notified” - can go a long way toward easing someone else’s burden.

What I’m Asking Myself: Gentle Questions for Closing the Loop

I’m not an attorney or a financial advisor, and this isn’t legal advice. But as a doula who spends a lot of time thinking about death, planning, and the legacy of our work, here are some of the questions I’m now asking myself:

Access

Who has the passwords? Would someone be able to get into my email, website, or calendar if needed?

Communication

Is there someone who could notify my clients, partners, or any professional networks I’m part of?

Finances and Subscriptions

What accounts are tied to the business (like Zoom, email marketing platforms, liability insurance, or directory listings)? Are they on auto-renew? Do I have a record of what needs to be canceled?

Digital Assets and Documents

Where do I store contracts, client files, notes, or templates? Are they backed up? Are they secure?

A Closing Message

Do I want a final post to go out to my newsletter list? A farewell on social media? A thank-you to those who’ve followed my work?

A Simple Plan

Have I written a short “business wind-down” note or checklist? Is it stored with my other important documents?

None of this needs to be complicated. It doesn’t require a lawyer (though you might choose to consult one). For many of us, it could just be a one- or two-page document, stored alongside our advance directive and will.

🧾 Want a simple checklist to help you think through these questions?

👉Download my free Business Wrap-Up Planning Checklist

For Fellow Doulas, Creatives, and Solo Entrepreneurs

If you’ve never thought about this, you’re not alone. I hadn’t either - until I did. And once I started, it actually felt comforting to make a few notes. It felt like the same kind of care I offer to my clients: anticipating needs, easing burdens, holding love in the details.

So if you’re a solo business owner - doula, coach, artist, therapist, teacher - I invite you to ask yourself: What happens to my work when I’m no longer here?

Not because we expect that to happen soon. But because planning ahead is one of the greatest kindnesses we can offer the people who love us.

This Too Is Advance Care Planning

We often think of advance care planning as something strictly medical. But I think it’s bigger than that. It’s about preparing, in all the ways we can, for the inevitable transitions in life - and death.

For those of us whose work is deeply personal, the way our business ends matters. And even the simplest plan can help bring that ending the dignity it deserves.

So here’s to thoughtful planning - for our bodies, our care, our families, and yes, even for our businesses.

My free Business Wrap-Up Planning Checklist can help you put together a wrap-up plan for your own business.