The One-Stop ESOP Blog

Most business owners recognize the value of planning for building and growing a successful company.

It takes entrepreneurial thinking and strong problem-solving skills to start and grow a business, and your exit — whether for retirement or another reason — is just as important a phase in the lifecycle of your company.

As a business owner, your exit strategy plan matters not only to you and your family, but also to your employees, customers, vendors, strategic partners, and the community at large.

Some entrepreneurs include an exit strategy in their initial business plan. That’s a great idea, but it’s also vital to recognize when conditions change and other options may become more beneficial.

Creating an exit strategy business plan well in advance can give you the advantage of clarity in the planning process as you make strategic choices that can strengthen your position for a sale, merger, or other deal.

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.

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. 

Benefit #3 of selling to an ESOP: The 25% of eligible compensation tax deduction provides the funding for the ESOP transaction expenses.  An ESOP is one of the most cash and tax-efficient succession plans available to business owners. The ESOP trust is an S Corporation shareholder that is a tax-exempt entity not subject to income taxes. S corporations are pass-through entities that pass through their corporate income to their shareholders for federal and state income tax reporting purposes. Each year the shareholders receive an IRS Form K-1 and report the flow-through of the income on their personal tax returns based on their individual federal and state income tax rates.

Note; 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 #2 of selling to an ESOP: The annual company tax and cash flow savings are greater than the annual ESOP expenses.  An ESOP is one of the most cash and tax-efficient succession plans available to business owners. The ESOP trust is an S Corporation shareholder that is a tax-exempt entity not subject to income taxes. S corporations are pass-through entities that pass through their corporate income to their shareholders for federal and state income tax reporting purposes. Each year the shareholders receive an IRS Form K-1 and report the flow-through of the income on their personal tax returns based on their individual federal and state income tax rates.

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 #1 of selling to an ESOP: The sale of the company to the ESOP is being paid for by the company tax and cash flow savings over time.  An ESOP is one of the most cash and tax-efficient succession plans available to business owners. 

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. 

An ESOP is a Business Transition Tool

ESOP stands for Employee Stock Ownership Plan.  An ESOP is qualified retirement plan that can be used as a business transition tool and as an employee ownership instrument. 

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: