The One-Stop ESOP Blog

Many business owners interested in exploring their options for exit strategies are intrigued by the possibility of selling to an employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP.

When employees learn that the company where they’ve worked for years will become an ESOP, they may wonder, how do ESOP plans work — and how does this qualified retirement plan have the potential to benefit them?

The question of whether a business is a good fit for an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) gets a lot of attention, but ESOP companies share another story worth telling. It’s about how transitioning to an ESOP can support many different types of businesses’ ongoing success.

Benefit #9 of selling to an ESOP: It creates the liquidity event now. This enables shareholders to diversify and begin to access value prior to retirement. The ESOP cannot pay a synergistic premium. This enables shareholders to diversify and begin to access value prior to retirement. Selling to an ESOP is always a stock sale which is more favorable from a tax standpoint than a traditional asset sale. 

Additional key tax benefit;  The portion of a company owned by an S Corporation ESOP is not subject to. federal or state income taxation, increasing cash flow and providing the company with a competitive advantage. This means that S Corporations that are 100% ESOP-owned are not subject to any federal or state income taxes, increasing cash flow and providing the company with a competitive advantage. 

Check out this brief animated video to learn more about ESOPs. 

Benefit #8 of selling to an ESOP: It provides more ESOP after-tax payments than a sale to a third party. The ESOP cannot pay a synergistic premium. Selling to an ESOP is always a stock sale which is more favorable from a tax standpoint than a traditional asset sale. 

When analyzing the purchase price, it is essential to consider the after-tax proceeds when comparing an ESOP transaction sale to a third-party sale. In a stock sale, the seller is generally eligible for long-term capital gain treatment at the current long-term capital gains rate. The more common sale alternative, the asset sale, is generally taxed at the higher ordinary-income rate.  

Additional key tax benefit;  The portion of a company owned by an S Corporation ESOP is not subject to. federal or state income taxation, increasing cash flow and providing the company with a competitive advantage. This means that S Corporations that are 100% ESOP-owned are not subject to any federal or state income taxes, increasing cash flow and providing the company with a competitive advantage. 

Check out this brief animated video to learn more about ESOPs. 

The competition to attract and retain the best talent possible is fierce and global — in every industry, and for businesses of all sizes.

Companies need to consider every angle to recruit and retain employees. 

Compensation is always an important consideration, and attractive retirement benefit plans are an important part of any competitive compensation package.

That’s just one more way an ESOP can help lend businesses a competitive advantage: An ESOP is a qualified retirement plan.

The landscape in today’s job market for hiring companies is difficult, especially with the unemployment rate at 6%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unemployment rates reflect the continued resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Job growth was widespread in March, led by gains in leisure and hospitality, public and private education, and construction. The rate is down considerably from its
recent high in April 2020 but is 2.5 percentage points higher than its pre-pandemic level in February
2020. 

Benefit #7 of selling to an ESOP: An ESOP transaction is always a stock sale at full fair market value. The ESOP cannot pay a synergistic premium. Selling part or all of a business to an ESOP enables a business owner to sell to a built-in buyer in as little as 90 days at full fair market value. There are many significant tax and cash flow benefits of selling to an ESOP. An ESOP also allows for a better-managed ownership transition, preservation of local jobs, and the maintenance of a company’s legacy in the community. 

Did you know? Employee-owned companies are 235% better at job retention. (NCEO)  

Additional key tax benefit;  The portion of a company owned by an S Corporation ESOP is not subject to. federal or state income taxation, increasing cash flow and providing the company with a competitive advantage. This means that S Corporations that are 100% ESOP-owned are not subject to any federal or state income taxes, increasing cash flow and providing the company with a competitive advantage. 

Check out this brief animated video to learn more about ESOPs. 

Benefit #6 of selling to an ESOP: It preserves the company's legacy and values in the local community by creating wealth and sustainable employment through employee ownership. ESOPs reward employees by providing them with an ownership stake in the company they work for and help build. It allows the transfer of ownership to employees at no cost and provide employee ownership without the need for employees to have or raise capital. In some cases, an ESOP can be an attractive succession option for family-owned businesses. 

Did you know? Employee-owned companies are 235% better at job retention. (NCEO)  

Additional key tax benefit;  The portion of a company owned by an S Corporation ESOP is not subject to. federal or state income taxation, increasing cash flow and providing the company with a competitive advantage. This means that S Corporations that are 100% ESOP-owned are not subject to any federal or state income taxes, increasing cash flow and providing the company with a competitive advantage. 

Check out this brief animated video to learn more about ESOPs. 

Benefit #5 of selling to an ESOP: It improves company performance by aligning the financial objectives of the company and employees and establishing an ownership culture. ESOPs reward employees by providing them with an ownership stake in the company they work for and help build. It allows the transfer of ownership to employees at no cost and provide employee ownership without the need for employees to have or raise capital. Building an ownership culture by combining meaningful employee ownership and participative management creates a greater sense of pride for the employees, increased engagement and a competitive advantage for a company. Did you know? Employee-owned companies are 235% better at job retention. (Source: NCEO, 2018)  

Additional key tax benefit;  The portion of a company owned by an S Corporation ESOP is not subject to. federal or state income taxation, increasing cash flow and providing the company with a competitive advantage. This means that S Corporations that are 100% ESOP-owned are not subject to any federal or state income taxes, increasing cash flow and providing the company with a competitive advantage. 

Check out this brief animated video to learn more about ESOPs. 

Benefit #4 of selling to an ESOP: It provides employee ownership as an additional employee benefit to help recruit and retain employees. ESOPs reward employees by providing them with an ownership stake in the company they work for and help build. It allows the transfer of ownership to employees at no cost and provide employee ownership without the need for employees to have or raise capital. Building an ownership culture by combining meaningful employee ownership and participative management creates a greater sense of pride for the employees, increased engagement and a competitive advantage for a company. Did you know? Employee-owned companies are 235% better at job retention. (Source: NCEO, 2018)  

Additional key tax benefit;  The portion of a company owned by an S Corporation ESOP is not subject to. federal or state income taxation, increasing cash flow and providing the company with a competitive advantage. This means that S Corporations that are 100% ESOP-owned are not subject to any federal or state income taxes, increasing cash flow and providing the company with a competitive advantage. 

Check out this brief animated video to learn more about ESOPs.