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This article identifies and explores 13 analytical tools and techniques to understand the unique dilemmas and paradoxes faced by family firms. They are presented here as tools to better analyse family business cases and develop effective responses to family business situations. However, they are equally useful for families in business and advisors to family businesses as they seek to deal with the complex issues created by the conflict of family and business systems in family enterprises. Tools focused on understanding the family business system as a whole are separated from family-focused and business-focused ones. The six dual systems-focused techniques aid understanding of the key stakeholders, current status, past history, and desired future of the firm. The three family-focused techniques in the tool kit aim to better understand the relationships between and the perspectives of the key stakeholders, and the overall health of the family system. The four business system-focused conceptual techniques enable understanding of the nature and extent of the family's involvement in the business, its key directions, performance, and continuity. Careful application of appropriate tools will deepen understanding of the core issues being faced by a decision maker and assist in the development of effective and actionable recommendations.