India’s family enterprises drive economic power: Double-digit growth, tech adoption and next-gen leadership

Delhi, 11 December 2025: The release of Deloitte Private’s Family business insights series: Defining the family business landscape, 2025 reveals that family-owned businesses are evolving to fuel long-term growth. Based on a survey of 1,587 family businesses across 36 countries, including India (~50) and in-depth interviews with 30 senior executives, the research explores how family enterprises are navigating complex market dynamics through innovation, strategic expansion and leadership transformation.

Family businesses continue to grow despite headwinds

Family businesses with a revenue of at least US$100 million now make up over one in five businesses (22 percent) worldwide. Their number, currently 18,087, is expected to rise to 19,744 by 2030, up from 16,194 in 2020, marking a 22 percent increase over the decade. Total family business revenue is projected to grow from US$16 trillion in 2020 to nearly US$29 trillion by 2030, surpassing growth rates of non-family businesses.

Even amid economic uncertainty, rising input costs and persistent geopolitical risks, family enterprises are showing remarkable resilience. Globally, 69 percent cite economic uncertainty as their top risk, followed by inflation, cyber threats and talent shortages. Indian businesses face similar pressures, with inflation, economic volatility and tech disruption emerging as key concerns. However, Indian family-owned enterprises are countering these disruptions through technology adoption, governance frameworks and multi-generation leadership planning.

Growth and scale: Optimism powers India’s next phase

Indian family businesses are demonstrating exceptional resilience and momentum. Over 63 percent achieved double-digit revenue growth in CY2024, and projections for CY 2025–26 remain robust, with nearly 60 percent targeting over 15 percent growth in 2025 and 75 percent in 2026. This performance is underpinned by scale. Nearly half of Indian family businesses report annual revenues from US$1–30 billion, with 36 percent in the US$1–5 billion range. Strategic growth ambitions are evident, with 15 percent planning Initial Public Offering (IPOs) and 17 percent engaging in private equity. Their outlook remains decisively expansionary; 89 percent plan to grow within Asia Pacific, followed by 39 percent in North America and 37 percent in Europe, highlighting strong regional confidence and an ambition to scale internationally. Beyond financial strength, these enterprises are embracing modernisation and sustainability, with 76 percent expressing a strong commitment to ESG priorities, reinforcing their alignment with global standards and stakeholder expectations.

Technology and strategic diversification drive growth and resilience

Indian family businesses are accelerating modernisation to secure long-term competitiveness. Technology adoption is at the forefront, with 53 percent already leveraging AI in their operations, well ahead of global averages. This proactive approach is enabling family businesses to streamline processes, enhance decision-making and achieve new efficiencies. Alongside digital transformation, diversification remains a key growth lever. Many enterprises are expanding product portfolios and exploring new markets to reduce dependency on traditional revenue streams. These strategies reflect a clear commitment to innovation and resilience, positioning Indian family businesses as leaders in adapting to rapidly evolving economic conditions.

“The launch of the Family Business Insights Series provides a comprehensive view of how family enterprises are evolving to build enduring growth in a rapidly changing world,” said K.R. Sekar, Partner and Leader – Deloitte Private, Deloitte India. “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. As these businesses continue to expand, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, Bharat is becoming more inclusive and representative of the nation’s broader economic potential. The future of India’s corporate growth will no longer be dictated solely by the major metros. The next wave of giants will come from beyond these cities, transforming India’s business landscape in ways we have never seen before. This intersection of technology, inclusivity and long-term stewardship positions Indian family enterprises to shape the next era of sustainable growth across Asia Pacific.”

Key takeaways:

• 96 percent of Indian family businesses are led by family members, and nearly half are listed on stock exchanges, reflecting increasing professionalisation.
• Women are increasingly present in leadership roles, with 73 percent of companies reporting more than 10 percent (double-digit) female representation on their boards and 66 percent noting the same in their executive teams. However, parity-level leadership remains rare—only 4 percent of businesses report women holding 41–50 percent of board seats or C-Suite positions, and none report women holding more than 50 percent of board seats. This highlights progress but also significant room for improvement in achieving true gender balance.
• 51 percent are second-generation businesses, indicating an active phase of leadership transition and succession planning.
• India’s family businesses have a diverse industrial footprint, concentrated in chemicals and energy (23 percent), consumer products (15 percent) and technology (13 percent), sectors critical to India’s economic momentum.
• 53 percent are already using AI in operations, well ahead of global averages, while 46 percent are investing in technological innovation, including generative AI, to improve efficiency and launch new products and services.
• A rising commitment to sustainability and responsible progress is evident across India’s family enterprises. 76 percent express strong commitment to ESG priorities, with leading focus areas including social responsibility (57 percent), environmental sustainability (52 percent), and diversity, equity and inclusion (48 percent).
• 89 percent of Indian family enterprises plan to expand within Asia Pacific, followed by North America (39 percent) and Europe (37 percent), underlining regional confidence and growth ambition.

The Deloitte Private 2025 insights underscore that Indian family businesses are resilient and strategically agile, using technology adoption, governance reforms and succession planning to mitigate risks and capitalise on growth opportunities. Their above-average integration of AI, focus on ESG and increasing leadership diversity suggest a structural shift towards professionalisation and innovation, positioning them for stronger performance in both domestic and global markets.

About Defining the Family Business Landscape, 2025

Deloitte Private’s global Defining the family business landscape, 2025 report is the inaugural study in The Family business insights series. To inform this research, Deloitte Private surveyed 1,587 family-owned businesses worldwide between March and June 2025, capturing perspectives of companies averaging US$2.8 billion in annual revenue. The report also includes in-depth interviews with 30 senior executives from prominent family businesses, offering qualitative insights into the strategies and practices that drive long-term success.

In addition to the survey data, a separate piece of analysis was conducted to produce the family business market sizing data. This data examines the growth of the family business arena between 2020 and 2030, comparing family businesses (both public and private) to all businesses (including public and private non-family businesses). All businesses have a revenue of at least US$100 million. In the case of family businesses, only those where a single family has the controlling vote, sits within the executive leadership/board and owns a 51+ percent stake if it is a private or a 25+ percent stake if it is a public business are included.

For more information or to access the full report, please visit here.