An ESOP is a Business Transition Tool
An employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) is a business transition tool that establishes an ESOP trust to be an ongoing perpetual owner of the company.
What is an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)?
ESOP stands for Employee Stock Ownership Plan. An ESOP is a qualified retirement plan that can be used as a business transition tool and as an employee ownership vehicle:
An ESOP is a Business Transition Tool
ESOP stands for Employee Stock Ownership Plan. An ESOP is a qualified retirement plan that can be used as a business transition tool and as an employee ownership vehicle.
An employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) is a business transition tool that establishes an ESOP trust to be an ongoing perpetual owner of the company.
As a financial advisor, your sole responsibility is the financial health of your clients. For clients who own a business, that includes the eventual transition of their company to new ownership. Are you prepared to guide them through this transition and to handle the significant shifts in their portfolio that will inevitably come about?
An employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) is an optimal employee ownership vehicle for a company to provide employees with an ownership stake in the company.
What is an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)?
ESOP stands for Employee Stock Ownership Plan. An ESOP is a qualified retirement plan that can be used as a business transition tool and as an employee ownership vehicle:
“Live your values. If you don’t know what they are, go find out.” -Art Barter
When an organization develops a culture based on a strongly held and widely shared set of beliefs that are supported by the business strategy, amazing things happen. Based on an extensive study, employee ownership increases sales 2.3 to 2.4% per year over what would have been expected without an ESOP (Employee Stock Option Plan), reports the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO).
Many business owners that have implemented or are exploring an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) may not have an active Board of Directors in place. Often times the Shareholder(s) are operating as the Director(s) of the company as they manage the day-to-day operations, and are not separately meeting as a Board to formally achieve the Corporate Governance responsibilities of the Board. Of those that do have a functioning Board, many operate the Board as an extension of the senior management team to make short-term operational decisions, rather than long-term, strategically focused decisions in line with corporate governance best practices.
At the time a business owner or company begins the process of exploring an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) as a component of their Business Succession Plan, many have never established a functioning Board of Directors. More often than not, the shareholder serves as the only member of the Board, while also serving as the President of the company. Of those that do have a Board, many operate the Board as nothing more than an extension of the senior management team to make short-term operational decisions rather than long-term, strategically focused Corporate Governance.
We have been discussing how the recent ESOP Economic Performance Survey (EPS) revealed that 93% of ESOP companies found that establishing an ESOP was “a good business decision that has helped the company.” While there are many reasons for this, one of the significant reasons is because S Corporation ESOP companies are not subject to income taxation (federal and most states), increasing cash flow and providing the company with a competitive advantage. Yes, you read that right, S CORPORATION ESOP COMPANIES ARE NOT SUBJECT TO INCOME TAXATION!
