Having your children work for the business can have advantages: often, the children share your values and your commitment to the business. However, employing your children in senior roles may also lead to a narrow-minded outlook compared to employing outsiders. Many families encourage their children to join the business, but only after working elsewhere for at least a couple of years.
Of course, if your children have other ambitions, it may not be a good idea to pressure them into working for your business. Where you have more than one child, you will also need to consider how well they get on together and what roles each could have in the business. Pre-empt trouble by making it clear that younger children may be promoted over the heads of their older siblings.
