As a business advisor you have likely had clients facing common challenges with succession planning or attempts to raise capital to grow their businesses. These can arise for a variety of reasons:
Planned family succession is not desired by the next generation
Failure to sell the business on the open market
Inability to sell to a small group of employees because they were unable to raise the capital through traditional lenders
Uncertainty about whether ESOP is a viable model for the size of their business
Concern about jobs being cut in a third party acquisition
Employee ownership—where company ownership is transferred to employees for a fair price—can be the right solution for businesses facing these challenges.
Employee ownership is a proven exit strategy that has been successfully implemented by thousands of businesses across the United States. These employee-owned companies range in size from very small (10-20 employees) all the way up to Publix Super Markets at over 230,000 employees. It is an attractive option for business owners who want to ensure the continued success and legacy of their business while also providing for their employees.
By offering employee ownership as a choice, small business advisors can differentiate themselves in the marketplace and position themselves as experts, which can help them attract and retain clients.
Georgia Center for Employee Ownership has partnered with Project Equity to provide an accredited employee ownership course designed specifically for exit planners, CPAs, CFPs, wealth planners, attorneys and other advisors to small- and mid-sized businesses.
The ExitPro 101 course will:
Equip you with the knowledge and tools to effectively serve in quarterback, point person or referral roles for employee ownership exit transitions for your clients
Help you and your clients understand employee ownership costs and timelines
Provide you with subject matter expertise from fellow small business advisors in the industry
Open up additional revenue opportunities by allowing you to offer EO exit planning services to the Athens business community
Count toward your CE credit (2 hours for NASBA and CFP, 1.5 hours for EPI-CEPA and BEI)