April 2026 Newsletter

ESOP| Succession Planning| Employee Ownership

May 11, 2026•1 min read

How Do Employees "Buy In" To An ESOP?

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I want to share a new resource from the Missouri Center for Employee Ownership: Selling Your Business to Your Employees.

For many business owners, one of the most important — and most overlooked — decisions is what happens to the business when you're ready to step back. Employee ownership is a proven approach to business transition that can protect the legacy you've built, provide financial value for you as the seller, and create long-term stability for the people who helped build your company.

MOCEO’s Selling Your Business to Your Employees guide covers:

The different employee ownership models available to business owners
How each option is structured and financed
How this path support a smooth, thoughtful transition
Why employee ownership is increasingly recognized as a people-centered exit strategy

Whether you're just beginning to think about succession or actively exploring your options, this guide offers a clear and accessible starting point.

Sincerely,

Julie Leonhardt

Julie Leonhardt is the Executive Director of the Missouri Center for Employee Ownership (MOCEO), advancing employee ownership as a strategy for business sustainability, equitable wealth building, and community prosperity. With a background spanning law, real estate, technology, and nonprofit leadership, she brings a systems-level approach to economic development. Julie is a graduate of Westmont College and Fordham University School of Law and is based in Kansas City.

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