SME leaders face specific tasks generated by challenges of our time. As a result organizations are to move towards professionalized operation driven by succession. The aim of the authors is to examine the change in size of Hungarian SMEs which experienced one of the succession types. The main question of our research is what process characteristics can be identified in connection with the change in size of SMEs and the succession. With reference to our future research, factors need to be explored which can additionally influence our model besides the size or the increase in company size. On the whole we have found that there is a connection between the leadership succession, the frequency of this succession and the change in size especially in the case of growing. The research contributes to broaden our knowledge about the Hungarian SMEs in light of succession and preparation to the forthcoming generational change.
