Deloitte Private’s Family Business Insights Series: Defining the family business landscape, 2025, released earlier this week, says Indian family-owned enterprises are adapting their structures to support long-term growth. The report is based on a survey of 1,587 family businesses across 36 countries, including 50 from India, along with in-depth interviews with 30 senior executives.
The report notes that 96 per cent of Indian family businesses continue to be led by family members, while nearly half are listed entities, pointing to rising professionalisation. Around 51 per cent of these firms are now second-generation businesses, placing succession planning and leadership transition at the centre of their strategic priorities.
Commenting on the findings, K R Sekar, Partner and Leader – Deloitte Private, Deloitte India, said, “The growth of India’s family businesses is no accident. It is driven by multiple interlinked factors, including greater access to capital, generational shifts, the formation of family offices and the robustness of India’s public markets, along with leading transformation through technology and inclusion.”
At a global level, the report says family-owned businesses remain on a strong growth trajectory. The number of such firms generating at least USD 100 million in annual revenue is expected to increase by 22 per cent by 2030.
Indian family businesses stand out on performance and outlook. More than 63 per cent reported double-digit revenue growth in 2024. Looking ahead, 75 per cent of Indian family enterprises are targeting growth of over 15 per cent during 2025–26.
The study highlights a diverse sectoral presence, with Indian family businesses concentrated in chemicals and energy at 23 per cent, followed by consumer products at 15 per cent and technology at 13 per cent. These sectors are seen as key contributors to India’s broader economic momentum.Technology adoption is emerging as a major growth lever. About 53 per cent of Indian family businesses are already using artificial intelligence in their operations, significantly ahead of global averages. In addition, 46 per cent are investing in wider technological innovation, including generative AI, to improve efficiency and develop new products and services. The report says these moves are helping firms stay competitive amid economic uncertainty and rising input costs.
Sustainability and governance are also gaining prominence. Around 76 per cent of Indian family businesses reported a strong commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance priorities, with social responsibility, environmental sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion among the key focus areas.
On leadership diversity, the report finds progress but flags gaps. About 73 per cent of Indian family businesses reported more than 10 per cent female representation on their boards, while 66 per cent said women account for over 10 per cent of their executive teams. However, parity-level representation remains limited. Only 4 per cent of businesses reported women holding 41–50 per cent of board seats or C-suite roles, and none reported women occupying a majority of board positions.
On expansion plans, Indian family enterprises remain confident about regional and global opportunities. Nearly 89 per cent plan to expand within the Asia Pacific region, while 39 per cent are targeting North America and 37 per cent are looking at Europe, the report added.