Inspired Perspectives | Is ESOP a Good Fit for Your Organization?

Are you curious about what an ESOP is? Are you perhaps considering an ESOP structure for your business? An employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) is a unique strategy for business owners seeking liquidity and a transition of their ownership. Using an ESOP strategy allows the business owner to sell a fraction amount of the organization to the employees, either all at once or over time. This increasingly popular succession planning strategy also benefits a company's employee recruiting and retention strategy as well as provides selling shareholder and company tax benefits.

Learning Objectives:

• List what makes a good ESOP candidate.
• Define the ESOP structure and how it works.
• Identify key benefits and potential challenges of an ESOP.
• Assess the process of a feasibility study.
• Discuss next steps to determining if an ESOP is right for you.

Presenters:

Kirk Lindemann, CPA, Partner & ESOP Industry Leader | Eide Bailly
Kirk specializes in employee-owned companies, focusing on ESOP consulting, tax and accounting services related to ESOPs and 401(k) plans. Kirk also provides audit, tax, accounting and business consulting services to a variety of businesses, including those in the manufacturing, construction and dealership industries. A firmwide resource on employee-owned companies, Kirk has spoken at The ESOP Association Midwest annual conference, the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) annual conference and several local chapter events regarding accounting issues, ESOPs and employee-owned companies. .