Seal your exit strategy with an ESOP

Description

Abstract: Many successful business owners have a substantial portion of their net worths tied up in their companies. Even if one plans to stay actively involved in a company for many years, it’s important to have an exit strategy that addresses when to convert business interests into cash for investment diversification purposes. Designing an exit strategy can be challenging — especially if a business is closely held or the company’s stock is thinly traded. How can a business owner cash out without selling the company to an outsider or giving up control? This article suggests one way: Implement an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), which creates a market for stock and offers tax savings and other benefits to the company as well as its owners and employees.