Employee ownership & business advisors

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.

Tools like Zolidar’s Aha Planner make this expertise accessible by helping advisors surface valuation gaps, clarify exit options and guide smoother ownership transitions. Combined with curated content and resources, these capabilities enable advisors to deliver deeper insights and strengthen their role as trusted advisors who can navigate complex business transitions.