Few things in the business world carry as much weight as family-owned companies that last for centuries. These firms survive wars, recessions, pandemics, and industrial revolutions. They don’t just operate as businesses—they serve as cultural symbols, guardians of tradition, and lessons in resilience. In 2025, many family-owned enterprises continue to thrive, some of them more than a thousand years old. Their stories reveal how family stewardship, adaptability, and heritage fuel longevity.
Japan: The Heart of Longevity
Japan dominates the list of the world’s oldest family businesses. The country values tradition, honor, and succession, and this philosophy flows directly into business practices.
Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, founded in 705 AD, operates as a hot spring inn in Yamanashi Prefecture. It welcomed emperors, samurai, and modern travelers over the course of 1,300 years. For more than 50 generations, the same family managed it. In 2017, the family appointed a non-relative as general manager, yet the inn continues to carry its family legacy as a cultural institution.
Hōshi Ryokan, established in 718 AD, embodies continuity even more strongly. This inn in Ishikawa Prefecture has passed down through 46 generations of the same family. Guests visit not only for the hot springs but also for the sense of history that permeates the place. The family treats the inn not just as property but as a living heritage.
Sennen no Yu Koman, another Japanese inn, opened in 717 AD and still operates today. Alongside it, Genda Shigyō, a paper-goods maker founded in 771, produces ceremonial decorations for weddings and festivals. Tanaka-Iga Butsugu, founded in 885, manufactures Buddhist ritual objects in Kyoto. These firms show how Japanese family businesses endure by linking craft, tradition, and community.
Europe: Old World Craft and Luxury
Europe also showcases centuries-old family enterprises, many rooted in craftsmanship and luxury.
In Switzerland, Beyer Watches & Jewellery, established in 1760, remains a family-run business. The Beyer family built its reputation on precision, service, and heritage in the watchmaking capital of the world. In 2025, the eighth generation continues to lead the company, balancing tradition with modern retail trends.
In the United Kingdom, family businesses once thrived for centuries. However, many old names now face closure. In early 2025, Astleys in Coventry, founded in 1730, shut its doors. Rising costs, changing shopping habits, and the shift to online retail created pressures the family could not overcome. The story of Astleys reflects the broader challenge European family businesses face: honoring tradition while adapting to digital transformation.
India: Tradition Meets Modern Growth
India also hosts some of the world’s oldest family businesses, many of them tied to trade, jewelry, and textiles.
P. N. Gadgil Jewellers, founded in 1832 in Maharashtra, continues to flourish. For nearly two centuries, the Gadgil family built the brand into one of India’s most trusted jewelry houses. Today, the company operates more than 50 showrooms, including one in California. In 2024, the firm launched an IPO while keeping family ownership intact. The Gadgil family retained over 80 percent control, ensuring that tradition and family stewardship remain central. Their success highlights how Indian businesses combine heritage with aggressive growth in modern markets.
The United States: Family Legacies Across Centuries
The United States, though younger than Europe and Asia, also features businesses with deep family roots.
Shirley Plantation, founded in 1613 in Virginia, stands as the oldest family-owned business in the country. The Carter family continues to live and work on the plantation, preserving its heritage through tours, farming, and cultural preservation.
Zildjian Company, founded in 1623 in Constantinople and later moved to Massachusetts, continues to dominate the cymbal and percussion market. The Zildjian family maintained control for 15 generations, turning a centuries-old craft into a modern global brand. Musicians across genres—from jazz to heavy metal—use Zildjian cymbals, proving that ancient traditions can stay relevant in contemporary industries.
Recent Closures: A Warning for the Oldest Firms
While many of these businesses endure, some iconic family-owned firms have recently shut down.
In 2025, Norton Brothers Fruit Farm in Connecticut closed after 268 years. Founded in 1757, the farm survived through wars and industrialization, but changing consumer habits and economic pressures finally ended its long run. In Canada, Hudson’s Bay, founded in 1670 and once the world’s oldest continuously operating company, now faces bankruptcy. Inflation, high interest rates, and declining retail sales placed immense pressure on the family-controlled chain.
These closures remind us that even the oldest businesses cannot rely on history alone. Adaptation remains the key to survival.
Why Some Family Businesses Survive for Centuries
Several key themes explain the extraordinary longevity of the world’s oldest family firms.
Intergenerational Vision and Values
Families that think in centuries, not years, build companies that last. Leaders of Hōshi Ryokan or Zildjian treat themselves as stewards for future generations, not just entrepreneurs chasing short-term profits. This perspective strengthens resilience and continuity.
Adaptation Without Losing Identity
Long-lived family businesses change with the times but hold onto their essence. Tanaka-Iga Butsugu now uses 3D modeling and modern manufacturing techniques to produce ritual objects while preserving traditional designs. Zildjian embraces global music trends but still uses family recipes for its cymbals. Adaptability, paired with heritage, creates staying power.
Succession Planning
Clear rules for succession keep businesses stable. Japanese families often choose the most capable heir rather than relying strictly on birth order. Some families adopt sons-in-law or capable outsiders into the lineage to ensure continuity. Nishiyama Onsen’s decision in 2017 to bring in a trusted general manager marked a break from tradition, but it also showed flexibility in leadership.
Community Ties
Deep connections to local communities sustain trust and loyalty. Many of these businesses serve not only as companies but also as cultural institutions. Customers visit them for history, authenticity, and emotional ties as much as for products or services.
Resilience Against Economic Shocks
Family firms often endure by diversifying income sources, conserving resources during booms, and reinvesting in their communities. Yet when they fail to adapt—like Astleys in Coventry or Hudson’s Bay in Canada—the weight of tradition alone cannot save them.
Lessons for Modern Entrepreneurs
The oldest family-owned businesses prove that longevity rests on three pillars: heritage, adaptability, and stewardship. Modern entrepreneurs can learn several lessons from their example:
- Think in generations, not quarters. Build for continuity and legacy, not only for immediate gain.
- Balance tradition and innovation. Honor what makes your business unique, but embrace new tools and practices.
- Plan succession early. Ensure capable leadership passes from one generation to the next.
- Embed in your community. Businesses that give back and stay connected gain resilience and loyalty.
- Prepare for disruption. Global crises, economic shocks, and technological change demand flexibility and foresight.
Conclusion
In 2025, the world still marvels at businesses like Nishiyama Onsen, Hōshi Ryokan, Zildjian, and Shirley Plantation. Their stories span centuries, but their survival depends not only on heritage but also on foresight and adaptability. At the same time, closures such as Norton Brothers Fruit Farm and looming struggles at Hudson’s Bay remind us that history does not guarantee future success.
Family businesses that endure show us that lasting companies treat business as a mission, not just a financial pursuit. They preserve culture, create continuity, and pass on values across generations. In an era of fast-moving startups and tech disruption, the lessons of these ancient family firms remind us that true resilience comes from long-term thinking, community trust, and a deep respect for legacy.
Also Read – Unicorn No More: The Biggest Startup Downfalls of 2025