All posts by Gary Canon

EBOOK – ESOPs: Myths, Methods, and Mistakes

  • How it works
  • The ins and outs of ESOPs
  • Common misconceptions explained
  • Tips and tricks
  • Risks vs. rewards
  • How to avoid common mistakes

As baby boomers toe the retirement line, company ownership and succession planning becomes a necessary topic on the discussion table. There isn’t always an easy answer here – all business owners have different priorities when it comes to handing over the reins – but some options are more elegant and effective than others. ESOPs, or employee stock ownership plans, provide a compelling alternative, selling company ownership to employees while also offering an avenue for corporate financing and business perpetuation.

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ESOP – Five Disastrous Mistakes

No matter how much you love your work, there comes a time when you need to slow down a little and start considering retirement. Your business has functioned for many years with you at the helm, and it’s hard to imagine a time when you are not in full control.  And yet, you know you have to plan for the future of your business, and that future involves a successor.

It’s scary thinking about moving on and leaving your “baby” in the hands of another.  There are a lot of options to consider, and you’re scared to make a mistake.

There are definitely pitfalls to avoid in setting up your business succession plan.  You’ve eliminated most of them but putting in the hours and the research to ensure you’ve chosen a strategy that is the best fit for your thriving business.  That’s a great first step.  And that first step is making use of ESOPs to help take your company into the future. You can definitely see how this particular plan will benefit all parties if it is implemented correctly.

But you do worry about how smoothly transitioning ownership will go.  You want to put the same effort into your business succession plan as you did into the building of your company.  It took great care to get you where you are today, and you are committed to putting that same care into its tomorrow.

In this article, you will learn about five mistakes to avoid as you incorporate ESOPs into your business.

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Get Your ESOP to the Finish Line in 5 Steps

So, you’ve been giving a lot of thought to your business succession plan, and you’ve put many hours and sometimes sleepless nights into the research process. There are a lot of options to consider, and you’re starting to formulate a strategy that feels right to you.

It takes a long time to wade through the various scenarios that might be best suited to your personal business situation.  Unfortunately, retirement planning takes just that—a ton of planning!  But you’re off to a great start—you know that an ESOP is a right fit for you.

ESOPs provide a wonderful way for a CEO to transition from a very active role to a more passive one.  Employees opting into an ESOP gain a real feeling of ownership, pride, and teamwork.  It’s a win-win situation for all involved.

Seeing the benefits to all parties involved was easy for you.  But trying to actually implement ESOPs into your business?  Not so much.

It’s easy to become overwhelmed by what appears to be an insurmountable task.  The sheer amount of logistical paperwork seems like a nightmare!  But like anything worth tackling, it becomes less intimidating when broken down into simple, manageable steps.

In this article, you will discover five straightforward steps to take your ESOP from just a concept to a reality.

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Facing retirement, but not sure of the next steps for business transition?

You’ve spent your life building your business. You wear your successes and life lessons on your sleeve with pride. Yet with each ticking of the clock, you realize that time is passing by and that you must prepare for a future where you take on a different role in regard to your company as you pass the reins to your successor.

Where to start?  That’s the big question!  The idea of trying to prepare to leave something that you’ve invested so much into is tough to wrap your mind around.  Breaking it down into manageable steps can seem overwhelming.

The truth is there is that there is no cookie cutter answer.  Every business must prepare for its founder(s) to move away from an active role and for new leadership to step in.  But what this looks like for each company will be as unique as the products and services each offers.

In seeking the right exit strategy for you, there are many options to consider.  Some are better suited to your company’s specific needs than others.  Here you will find a list of four directions forward for your business on the road to a successful transition as you prepare for your retirement years.  Read more at: http://www.gbhcpas.com/blog/4-valuable-strategies-for-business-succession-planning

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