Employee Ownership
Conversion
Align Your Business with Your Values: Sell to Your Employees
Turning an established business into a worker cooperative or an employee-owned company is called an employee ownership conversion. At CCW, we help people in Metro Denver understand their choices to exit to employee ownership. We provide the resources, guidance, and support you need to make employee ownership conversion a reality, aligning your values with a transition that builds wealth for all.
Why Consider Employee Ownership?
Engage and Reward Employees: Foster loyalty and commitment.
Retain Jobs: Help your employees secure a stable future.
Create a Lasting Legacy: Preserve your vision and mission.
Grow Your Business: Benefit from motivated stakeholders invested in your company’s success.
Build Wealth: Share profits with your employees and the broader community.
Reduce Inequality: Promote fair wealth distribution, ensuring wealth stays in the community.
Secure Your Exit or Succession Strategy: Plan a smooth and rewarding transition.
Receive a Fair Price for Your Business and Enjoy Tax Benefits: Take advantage of tax incentives.
Slow Down: Prepare for a meaningful and intentional exit with peace of mind.
Journey to Employee Ownership
At CCW we can help your business convert to employee ownership in 5 supportive steps.
We achieve this through comprehensive technical assistance packages customized to address your specific goals, needs, and timeline.
You can currently access our services (valued at over $20,000) at a reduced rate through scholarships provided through a one-time special state fund to cover part or all of the cost.
Applications are reviewed weekly, and applicants will be contacted within seven business days with next steps.
Our Technical Assistance Packages
Below is a list of our tiered service packages supporting our 5-step employee ownership conversion model.
Tier 1 - Executive Coaching
A comprehensive program for catering businesses ready to expand into institutional markets, such as with universities, hospitals, and local governments.
Through Feeding Anchors you’ll receive:
SMART Goal setting
Addressing concerns and navigating barriers as they arise
Customized roadmap for your conversion path
Ongoing support throughout the transition
Coaching helps clarify why EO is the right choice for you and your company while providing ongoing support to help you be successful.
Who participates: This service is designed for founders, owners, leadership, management, and the transition committees.
Timeline: Suggested cadence of one session per week over a month, but can be scheduled based on convenience. Businesses can purchase one or multiple coaching packages as needed to support and guide the transition.
Tier 2 - Transaction Feasibility Assessment
Assessing and affirming the legal, financial, and organizational feasibility of the transition through a discernment process.
This service includes:
A co-developed strategy to engage interested employees and provide training on worker ownership
An employee survey to measure attitudes that support ownership culture
A curated list of EO service providers for legal, valuation, accounting, and feasibility analysis
A project timeline and a checklist of necessary documentation
A live session to guide businesses through the Colorado Employee Ownership Tax Credit and Grant application
Who participates: Business owner, service providers, and a select set of employees.
Timeline: Approximately 3-6 months to complete
Tier 3 - Becoming Worker Owned
Comprehensive support for Transition Committees, including creating and implementing a change management plan with an appropriate timeline.
This service includes:
Introducing the worker cooperative conversion model to all employees or key staff
Establishing a representative Transition Committee and facilitating regular meetings
Conducting a skills inventory to identify skill gaps and develop a training or hiring plan
Creating a detailed change plan with project management support
Supporting financial literacy development with group and one-on-one coaching sessions
Working with the Transition Committee, owner(s), and support professionals to establish sale terms, amend governing documents, communicate the business plan, convert/form an EO structure, and secure financing
Who participates: The Transition Team consists of the business owner and a group of 3-7 employees who steer and inform the transaction, with specific and defined all-staff touchpoints along the way.
Timeline: Approximately 6-12 months to complete
Tier 4 - Worker-Owner Training and Culture Plan
A pre-transaction training and education plan to prepare businesses converting to worker cooperatives to develop and establish an ownership culture.
This service includes:
Preparing and training the first cooperative board in governance, decision-making, fiduciary duties, and custom training
Creating a tailored training plan to embed ownership culture in professional development and onboarding
Writing an annual EO education calendar
Providing access to an online learning platform for broad-based EO training, including democratic process, governance, cooperative finances, and ownership culture
Who participates: The Transition Committee, an Education Committee, or a Human Resources team
Timeline: Approximately 1-3 months to complete with access to the online platform for one year
Ongoing Training and Support for Worker Owners and Employees
This is personalized support provided on a fee-for-service basis. Please contact us directly at michaela@communitywealthbuilding.org.
Schedule a Consultation with us to discuss if employee ownership conversion is right for you!
Scholarship FAQ
What size businesses do you work with?
The programming serves businesses with 3-500 employees.
What Colorado counties do you currently serve
Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld.
What services can I receive?
Tier 1 | Executive Coaching: A package of four executive coaching sessions focused on exploring employee ownership (EO) as an exit or growth strategy.
Tier 2 | Transaction Feasibility Assessment: Assessing and affirming the legal, financial, and organizational feasibility of the transition through a discernment process.
Tier 3 | Becoming Worker Owned: Comprehensive support for Transition Committees, including creating and implementing a change management plan with an appropriate timeline.
Tier 4 | Worker-Owner Training and Culture Plan: A pre-transaction training and education plan to prepare businesses converting to worker cooperatives.
How much money will I receive?
The scholarship funding will significantly offset the cost of services to be provided to you. You will not receive funding directly. Instead, you will receive highly impactful consulting services at a fraction of the market price.
How many scholarships can I receive?
This statewide scholarship program allows for one service tier per business. Executive coaching can be understood as one coaching package per individual within the business. The service scholarships are designed to meet you where you are in your journey, but most businesses will apply for and receive service scholarships tiers one through four.
How do I apply?
We recommend scheduling a 1:1 call with Michaela Holmes, Cooperative Development Co-Director at CCW. If the programming is a match you will fill out the Employee Ownership Technical Assistance Scholarship application. You will be contacted by the Center for Community Wealth within 10 business days with next steps.
How long will the application take?
Applications take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
When will I hear back if I have been selected?
Applications are reviewed weekly, and applicants will be contacted within ten business days with the next steps.
How long will the project take to complete?
Projects vary in length and average 1-12 months. If approved, you will receive an outline detailing the timeframe for the project awarded.
Tier 1 | Executive Coaching: 1-3 months
Tier 2 | Transaction Feasibility Assessment: 3-6 months
Tier 3 | Becoming Worker Owned: 6-12 months
Tier 4 | Worker-Owner Training and Culture Plan: Approximately 1-3 months to complete with access to the online platform for one year.
Can I use the Colorado Employee Ownership Tax Credit to cover my portion of the cost?
Yes! The Colorado Employee Ownership Tax Credit covers up to 50% of a qualified business’ conversion costs for use on their state income taxes. Eligible expenses include:
Accounting services
Business valuation services
Legal services
Succession planning services
Technical assistance
How do I demonstrate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic?
You will fill out a simple attestation form testifying that your business was impacted by the pandemic.
What happens if the business is awarded a scholarship?
You will be notified with an award letter that you will sign upon receipt. An invoice for the service work will be issued to the business. Project timelines and work will be scheduled collaboratively with the business and CCW.
Resources and Case Studies
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