Unlock Growth and Legacy Through Employee Ownership
Discover how Employee Share Ownership Plans (ESOPs), Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs), and Peak Performance Trusts (PPTs) can help your business attract, retain, and reward top talent, while building a sustainable succession pathway.
Learn from 3 Expert-led ESOP Webinars
Over the last decade, Succession Plus has helped hundreds of Australian SMEs design and implement Employee Share Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) to strengthen performance, culture, and long-term growth. Now, you can access our on-demand webinar series to learn which model best fits your business goals.
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Understanding Employee Share Plans
Perfect for: Business owners looking to engage and retain high-performing employees.
What you’ll learn:
- Key business benefits of ESOPs for SMEs - Legal and financial setup essentials
- Best practices for launching plans to staff - Tax advantages and compliance insights
- Using ESOPs for succession planning
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The Peak Performance Trust (PPT) - An ESOP Built for SMEs
Perfect for: Private companies that want a scalable and tax-effective ownership plan.
You'll discover:
- How PPT differs from standard ESOP models
- Funding structures that support growth
- Equity sharing and governance models
- Tax efficiency and compliance advantages
- Real-world examples from Australian SMEs
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Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) – A Succession Tool:
Perfect for: Founders and family businesses exploring exit or transition options.
Learn how to:
- Structure EOTs for ownership transition
- Preserve company legacy and culture
- Manage legal, tax, and governance frameworks
- Balance founder exit with employee engagement
- Build long-term business resilience
Why SMEs Across Australia Are Adopting Employee Ownership Plans
Employee ownership has become a proven strategy for Australian SMEs seeking stability, scalability, and succession readiness. Whether through an Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP), Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), or the Peak Performance Trust (PPT), these models offer measurable benefits: stronger employee engagement and productivity, improved business retention and loyalty, key staff stay longer, tax-efficient exit options for founders and directors, enhanced valuation and investment appeal, and cultural alignment and continuity across management teams.
Employee share ownership is more than a reward tool; it’s a growth engine that helps future-proof your business.
Presented by Succession Plus - Australia's Leading Employee Ownership Advisory Firm
With over 15 years of experience and 700+ successful ownership transitions, Succession Plus is the trusted partner for designing and implementing ESOPs, EOTs, and PPTs across Australia. Our experts combine legal, tax, and cultural strategies to ensure employee ownership delivers real business outcomes.
Speaker
Dr Craig West - Founder & CEO, Succession Plus
About Dr Craig West
Dr Caig West is a strategic business adviser. With over 25 years of experience advising mid-market business owners, Craig brings deep expertise in valuation, structuring, business value acceleration, and exit strategies. His proprietary 21-Step Process and Peak Performance Trust are highly regarded internationally and have been used with more than 800 businesses over 15 years. Craig's Business Succession and Exit Planning process has been launched as a digital platform for advisers through Capitaliz.
Strategic Business Adviser | Author | Thought Leader
Craig’s academic credentials include a Doctor of Business Administration awarded in July 2022 for his thesis: “Examination of the key factors driving business exit options in Australian Small and Medium Enterprises.” His research continues to inform his strategic mentoring and advisory work.
Find Answers To Common Questions Here
If you’re new to employee share ownership, you probably have a few questions about how these plans really work. This section answers the most common ones we hear from business owners.
Q1. What is an Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP)?
An ESOP is a structured program that allows employees to acquire an ownership interest in the business they help build. It can involve direct share ownership or participation through a trust, depending on the business structure and objectives.
Q2. How does an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) differ from a traditional ESOP?
Funding: Both EOTs and ESOPs can use salary sacrifice, loans, company contributions, and vendor finance. There’s no exclusive funding method for either; what differs is ownership structure and purpose.
Ownership:
- EOT: Shares are held collectively in a trust for all employees.
- ESOP: Employees own shares individually.
Purpose:
- EOT: Long-term collective ownership and succession planning.
- ESOP: Flexible individual ownership; employees can sell shares.
Q3. What are the tax benefits of employee ownership?
Depending on the structure, both employers and employees may benefit from tax concessions under Australian legislation — such as deferred tax on employee shares or deductible employer contributions.
Q4. Is a Peak Performance Trust (PPT) suitable for small businesses?
While most effective in established, profitable SMEs, a PPT can be adapted to suit a range of business sizes and structures, including small businesses. The key is aligning the plan design with your goals and financial capacity.
Q5. How can I implement an ESOP or EOT in my company?
Implementing an ESOP requires specialist advice across valuation, tax, and legal documentation, as well as ongoing administration and employee education to keep the plan compliant and effective.
Ready to Explore the Best Ownership Model for Your Business?
Watch our free on-demand webinars today and discover how ESOPs, EOTs, and PPTs can reshape your business growth and succession strategy.