What if you could sell your business for full market value, keep your culture intact, and still reward the employees who helped you build it? In this episode of the Vital Wealth Strategies Podcast, host Patrick Lonergan sits down with Gary Gray, from Tenor ESOP Partners, to unpack how entrepreneurs can maximize value and create lasting wealth through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Gary shares his personal story of selling his own business through an ESOP, growing it threefold afterward, and now guiding other owners through the same life-changing process.
Patrick and Gary dive deep into what makes ESOPs such a powerful and often overlooked exit strategy. They explore how to determine if your business is a good fit, the tax advantages available to sellers, and how ESOPs can help preserve company culture while creating generational wealth for both owners and employees. Whether you’re planning your exit or just want to structure your business more strategically, this conversation reveals how the right approach can help you sell smart, protect your legacy, and stay engaged in the business you love.
Key Takeaways:
- What an ESOP is and how it works as a powerful succession tool
- The minimum size and structure a business needs to qualify for an ESOP
- How entrepreneurs can sell for full market value and defer or eliminate capital gains taxes
- The cultural and financial advantages of turning employees into owners
- Why ESOPs help founders stay engaged and preserve purpose post-exit
- How to connect with the Tenor ESOP Partners team for personalized guidance
Learn More About Gary:
LinkedIn: Gary Gray, CEPA® | LinkedIn
Official Website: https://tenoresop.com
Resources:
Visit www.vitalstrategies.com to download FREE resources
Listen to the podcast on your favorite app: https://link.chtbl.com/vitalstrategies
Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/vital.strategies
Follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/VitalStrategiesPodcast
Follow on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricklonergan/
Credits:
Sponsored by Vital Wealth
Music by Cephas
Art work by Two Tone Creative
Audio, video, research and copywriting by Victoria O'Brien
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