Is Employee Ownership (ESOP) the Best Exit Strategy for You?

An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a great way to provide for the long-term sustainability of your business and your legacy — but it’s often an overlooked option for exit. With approximately 6,467 ESOPs in the United States holding total assets exceeding $1.6 trillion, it’s time for business owners to consider ESOPs as a viable transition strategy.

How Does an ESOP Work?

An ESOP is a unique retirement and ownership program for employees. As a business owner, you are essentially “selling” the company to your employees. While the specifics of each ESOP can vary depending on the company's design and goals, it usually begins with establishing an ESOP trust. This trust is an independent third-party acting as a passive investor that is responsible for holding and managing company stock allocated to employees. Eligible employees become beneficial participants, acquiring shares over time based on factors like compensation and service duration, with vesting occurring gradually over three to six years.

The stock’s value is determined annually by an independent appraiser. Employees can access their ESOP benefits upon significant events — like retirement — at which point the ESOP trust buys back shares, providing departing employees with cash equivalents. Voting rights and dividends for ESOP shares are typically held by a trustee or the trust itself.

Over time, ESOP participation allows employees to accumulate company shares, build wealth, and secure their retirement while simultaneously providing owners with a strategic transition plan that safeguards their legacy and optimizes their individual tax position and provides ongoing and significant tax advantages for the Company.

Benefits of Utilizing ESOPs for Business Transition Planning

ESOPs serve as a compelling exit strategy for several reasons:

Transition Flexibility

ESOPs do not require you to sell the entire company at once. Partial sales or incremental transitions are viable options and allow the seller to maintain management control over the company. This flexibility eases the transition of control and provides time for employees to adjust.

Selling shareholders can also choose how the ESOP will be financed. This could involve the company borrowing money to buy shares or the Company may issue seller notes to fund the purchase. Flexible financing allows owners to select an approach that aligns with their financial objectives.

Additionally, you can decide the level of employee visibility into and participation in decision-making processes. Some ESOPs may give employees a more active role in strategic decisions of the company, while others may maintain a more traditional management structure.

Tax Advantages

For 100% ESOP-owned S-corporations, the tax-exempt status of the ESOP trust is a significant and notable advantage. For those ESOPs that own less than 100% of the outstanding S-corporation stock, the portion of the company held by the ESOP enjoys corresponding tax exemptions within the S-Corporation structure.

As an illustration, when an ESOP owns a 50% interest in an S-Corporation, no flow-through income tax liability is due on that portion of the company's income. In the case of 100% ownership by the ESOP, no flow-through income tax liability is owed, both federally and typically at the state level.

Conversely, C-corporation ESOP sponsors are entitled to deduct the following amounts each tax year:

The money used to repay the ESOP loan principal up to 25% of the employees' total wages.
The entire amount spent on paying the interest on the ESOP loan.
The nonelective contribution up to an additional 25% of covered payroll.

When selling to an ESOP, C-Corporations can also leverage Section 1042 to defer capital gains that would otherwise be recognized in a traditional sale.

Additionally, contributions to the ESOP often qualify for tax deductions, thereby decreasing the company’s taxable income. This tax reduction improves financial performance and profitability during the transition period. Leveraging these deductions leaves you with more resources for whatever comes after the exit.

Preservation of Company Culture

Many business owners want to ensure the preservation of company culture after they exit. This becomes an achievable goal with an ESOP, as employees are often the biggest driver of workplace culture.

ESOPs provide employees with a genuine sense of ownership, instilling a deep commitment to the organization while aligning their interests with the company's long-term success. As co-owners, employees become more productive, experience improved job satisfaction, and take pride in their work. Further, ESOPs offer a unique retirement savings opportunity like a 401(k) but without requiring employees to invest their own capital.

An NCEO study found that being in an ESOP was associated with 92% higher median household net wealth, 33% higher median income from wages, and 53% longer median job tenure .

Beyond financial benefits, ESOPs foster a culture of inclusivity and transparency in the workplace, with employees being stakeholders in decisions about the company's performance and strategy. Moreover, ESOPs contribute to job stability, with ESOP companies being 6.2 times less likely to engage in layoffs during economic downturns.

Is an ESOP Right for Your Business?

Determining whether an ESOP aligns with your business involves carefully evaluating several key factors. First, consider your long-term vision for the company. ESOPs are ideal when your goal is to preserve the company's culture and legacy while providing job security to your employees.

Additionally, your company’s financial health and profitability play a pivotal role. ESOPs are most effective for profitable businesses with a strong management team and at least 25 employees. If your company is financially stable and capable of meeting the financial obligations of an ESOP, it may be a viable option. Furthermore, mature ESOP companies have a unique advantage in being able to maintain financial stability during times of economic or business downturns, owing to the additional retained income that results from its tax-exempt nature.

The existing company culture and employee buy-in also play a significant role. ESOPs thrive when employees are engaged and motivated.

Key Questions to Ask Yourself Regarding ESOPs

While ESOPs offer numerous advantages, they also present challenges. Careful planning, ongoing management, and professional guidance are essential to a successful ESOP exit strategy. To better understand if an ESOP is a good choice for you and your company, ask yourself the following:

Is my exit timeline aligned with an ESOP transition? Plan your retirement goals and determine whether the timeframe for transitioning to an ESOP aligns with your desired exit strategy.

Do I understand the tax benefits and regulatory obligations? Understanding the potential tax benefits and regulatory compliance involved in an ESOP is crucial for effective planning. We encourage you to work with a knowledgeable and trusted advisor to help navigate the complexities of ESOPs.

Am I prepared for the upfront costs and complexity? Consider whether you are prepared to manage the upfront costs and the complexity of establishing an ESOP, including legal, valuation, and administrative expenses.

Am I committed to ongoing employee education and communication? Recognize the importance of continuous employee education and communication to ensure employees understand their roles, benefits, and responsibilities within the ESOP.

ESOPs for a Strategic Exit

ESOPs are an effective way to ensure a smooth transition into the next phase of your business journey. With ESOPs, you can confidently leave a lasting legacy, optimize taxes, and maintain your company's core operations. Unlike some exit strategies, ESOPs offer the potential for a gradual transition that gives you control over the timeline and successors.

Employee ownership is also a powerful tool for attracting and retaining employees, providing long-term wealth-building opportunities, and cultivating a high-involvement work culture where employees act as stakeholders.

At Eide Bailly, we help businesses make sense of the ins and outs of ESOPs through various tailored solutions. If an ESOP seems like the right exit strategy for you, we're here to help.