In 2018, the North Coast Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in rural northern California knew they needed to try something different. That year, they had no prospective business starts, new jobs, or new capital infusion. North Coast SBDC Director Leila Roberts knew many business owners in her community were nearing retirement and, without a succession plan, these clients were at risk. She also knew about the Main Street Employee Ownership Act, legislation passed in 2018 directing the Small Business Administration to work with the nation’s network for SBDCs to provide training and advising on employee ownership transitions.

In an attempt to serve and retain her clients, Leila asked her clients a simple question and received an unanticipated response. In a survey of business owners that were contemplating an exit, more than 20% said that selling their business to their workers was their preferred exit strategy. Another 40% said they would consider selling to their workers but needed more information.

In response to this interest, North Coast SBDC partnered with Project Equity to provide training events and advising to business owners on employee ownership transitions. As a result, in 2022, North Coast SBDC had 36 businesses interested in an employee ownership transition or startup, 160 prospective new employee-owners from a transition or worker coop startup, as well as potential new capital infusion. The demand for employee ownership training even expanded beyond the region with clients coming from outside of northern California to attend the training events.

How employee ownership helps SBDCs meet their goals and support their clients

Project Equity is proud to partner with North Coast SBDC and others across the U.S. to help their clients recruit, retain and reward employees while building a succession plan. Employee ownership helps SBDCs meet the mandate of the Main Street Employee Ownership Act and center goals in several ways:

• • Every business transitioned to employee ownership = a new business start
  • Every employee ownership transition = new capital infusion
  • Every employee-owner = a job supported
  • Every new employee-owner = a new client
  • Each employee ownership transition = new opportunities for consulting and training

We know that nearly half of locally-owned businesses with employees in the U.S. have owners at or nearing retirement age—many without a succession plan, and through employee ownership, SBDCs can help support and retain these businesses and their jobs in the community as their owners retire.

SBDCs have an opportunity to serve businesses through employee ownership

Here are some themes SBDC advisors can watch for to help spot a client who could benefit from employee ownership.

How SBDCs and Project Equity can partner to serve clients

Project Equity has partnered directly with SBDCs and regional networks to provide consultation and employee ownership feasibility assessment advising services to their SBDC clients who are interested in exploring employee ownership as a business succession or resiliency and employee engagement strategy. We also partner with SBDCs to provide training, webinars, and information sessions with advisors and directly with clients.

How Project Equity partners with SBDCs