May 2026 Newsletter | 1st Edition

MICEO UPDATES

BUSINESS TRANSITION & PROFIT SHARING WEBINAR RECORDINGS

Missed one of our recent webinars? Recordings are now available for two timely conversations designed to help business owners think strategically about the future of their companies and employees.

MICEO’s April 15th webinar – What Every Business Owner Should Know About Exit Planning – is now available on demand. Learn key considerations for succession planning, ownership transition options, and steps business owners can take now to prepare for the future.

Also available on demand is MICEO’s May 13th webinar – Smart Profit Share: The Simplest Form of Employee Ownership – which is about a simple, practical approach to building an ownership culture that any small business can begin today. 

Whether you’re just beginning to explore employee ownership or actively planning for the next chapter of your business, these recordings offer practical insights and actionable ideas you can revisit anytime.

EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP FAQS

ARE THERE ESOP TAX INCENTIVES FOR EMPLOYEES?

An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) offers employees tax incentives primarily through tax-deferred growth and special tax treatment on distributions. Employees do not pay taxes on company contributions or asset growth until they receive a payout, typically upon leaving the company. To maintain the tax-deferred status of their payout, employees can roll over the funds into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or a retirement plan with a new employer. This is a common way to avoid immediate taxes on a distribution. Employees can also roll over a distribution into a Roth IRA. In this case, taxes on the distribution are paid upfront, and future withdrawals in retirement will be tax-free as long as Roth IRA rules are followed.

Learn more: https://www.nceo.org/articles/esop-tax-incentives-contribution-limits

UPCOMING EVENTS

FREE ESOP CONFERENCE IN OH JUNE 15-16

Calling all business owners! The National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) is offering Michigan business owners the opportunity to attend their “Is an ESOP Right for You” conference for FREE (a savings of more than $500). 

Details:

What:  NCEO’s “Is an ESOP Right for You?” conference

When:  June 15-16, 2026

Where:  Westin Great Southern Columbus, 310 S High Street, Columbus, OH, 43215-4508

This conference is a 1.5-day educational program where attendees learn about the ESOP model through presentations, Q&A sessions, and peer discussions with other business owners exploring similar transition options. Take home the tools you need to make your decision. This conference is for business owners only; no service providers will attend. This seminar is eligible for 7.5 CPE hours and 7.5 SHRM hours. To receive your FREE registration code, contact Eva Lianos at elianos@nceo.org  

This is a great educational opportunity for business owners in Michigan who are currently exploring (or soon may) an ESOP as they consider their ownership exit strategy!

EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP RESOURCES

LEARN MORE ABOUT EO

Employee Ownership Tax Considerations: What Your CPA Should Be Asking – Common Trust explains the key tax considerations your CPA should evaluate — from EOTs and ESOPs to S-Corp conversions, installment sales, and trust structure decisions.

Why People Can’t Build Wealth on Wages Alone, and What to Do About It – Fast Company writes compellingly about the need for more companies to “convert to worker ownership… (the) idea is not new, but it is newly urgent, and the evidence for its benefits has never been stronger.”

A pro-worker experiment in private equity (NPR podcast) – If your company got bought by a private equity firm, how would you feel? One private equity executive is trying to do things differently – giving workers equity, small stakes in their own companies. To see whether doing so can improve overall outcomes.