While unattractive to many, for an increasing number, joining the family business is a sure way to climb the managerial rungs within a successful long-running enterprise, even if it means working for their parents.

For Sonny Saini, taking up a position at Excel Group, the emergency property restoration company his father, Pammy, established, came as a surprise.

“Through school and university my parents really encouraged me to get a good job and never mentioned joining Excel so it wasn't on the cards at all,” says 25-year-old Saini.

A graduate position at Ernst & Young switched him on to the potential of his family's business.

“At first I only saw stress and long hours, but once I saw the processes at E&Y I realised what an opportunity it was. If we could work on updating the systems and get the right people on board there was so much market scope,” Saini says from his Sydney office.

Accepting the offer, Saini snr sent his son to the US to gain experience in a similar organisation. The prodigal son returned bursting with ideas and enthusiasm, which he soon learnt were not immediately welcome.

“I couldn't stand seeing dad doing tasks like the BAS or bank reconciliations that others could do. I wanted to put systems in place to automate such processes and delegate more to staff.”

The early months saw the two lock horns regularly over the reform initiatives.

“My dad is a perfectionist and a baby boomer which meant there was a lot of resistance to change. To get the job done properly he would do them himself. I'm a Gen Y which is all about staff responsibility, systems and organisational structure,” he says.

Saini learnt to bite his tongue, and wait for the right time to make suggestions. His hardest campaign was for a paperless office.

“Our company deals with disasters, and while everything was done on paper this would delay the turnaround of some of our drying projects such as a flooded office,” he says.

“Conceptually, dad agreed but when implementation blew out from six months to 18 there were lots of tense moments, especially in the cross-over.”

Four years down the track, the working relationship is much smoother, and the office happily paperless.

“There's a great collective energy you get with a father-son relationship and it really flows through the whole company,” says Saini.

“We made a rule that outside the office we don't talk shop, only strategy, because flashes of inspiration have come on the way to a family barbecue and you don't want to miss them.”

After 16 years of working for his parents, Lucas Chisari now manages Rentalswest, the Brisbane based real estate business founded by his parents.

Like Saini, Chisari also found the transition from son to employee difficult.

“My father has always been a role model in my life; he's a doer with amazing drive and determination. I felt a lot of pressure to follow in his footsteps,” says Chisari, who joined the business after struggling to find a job on his return from overseas travel at age 22.

“His management style is a lot about doing what you're told rather than collaborative. I'd always known this was his way as a father but as my boss it was different. The first few months were tough, especially as my role was ill-defined.”

The arguments receded as both father and son learnt to work more collaboratively. A two year break helped Chisari commit to the business. “At one point I didn't feel like I was progressing or learning any new skills except through trial and error. I went searching for different management styles and expanded my horizons about how a family business could run.”

His parents' current transition into semi-retirement has allowed Chisari to reflect on the advantages of keeping it in the family.

“I'm in the process of gaining their faith that I can deliver results. But they are still here to guide me and that is unique to a family-run business,” he says.

“The main benefit of working for your parents is that no matter what the frustrations are, your folks want to see you succeed. They have your best interests at heart and that's no small thing,” says Chisari.

“My main tip is to be patient, and always keep a distinction between work and family."