The cost of becoming employee owned depends on a range of factors. A successful employee ownership transition involves more than just paperwork, so it’s important to have a clear picture of how your costs will stack up.
Go EO focuses on the sale transaction itself – the technical, legal, and financial work required for an EOT sale. We work closely with you to scope the work, agree responsibilities, and ensure costs and roles are clear.
How much for the EOT transaction?
For a business with the most straightforward setup – a solo shareholder selling 100% of their shares to the EOT – Go EO’s standard fee is £6,990+VAT.
Where things are more complex and include some of the circumstances detailed below, our fees can range up to around £20,000+VAT.
Factors affecting our fees
Some EOT transactions are straightforward. Others involve more complexities, such as:
- Multiple shareholders
- Existing share options or different share classes
- Bespoke articles of association
- Direct shareholdings retained outside the EOT
- EMI or other share options issued post sale
More complex situations require additional technical work, which impacts fees.
What’s included in the transaction?
Our fee covers the full sale transaction, including legal work, business valuation, and tax clearance. You don't need separate solicitors or tax specialists.
Whatever the size of the transaction, our price always covers:
- Project management of the transaction
- Independent business valuation
- HMRC tax clearance application
- Corporate trustee company setup
- All sales and legal documentation
- E-signing coordination
- HMRC submissions
- Companies House filings
Why we cost less
EOT sales can be very complex. In theory, every stage of the process could be customised and legal documents fully bespoke, but for most small and medium sized businesses, that level of tailoring just isn’t necessary. Our approach keeps things simple, streamlined, and cost effective.
We don’t reinvent the wheel. Instead of drafting everything from scratch, we use tried and tested template legal documents, refined through many successful EOT sales. This saves time, reduces costs, and removes unnecessary back and forth.
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More than a legal and accounting process
An EOT is not a one-size-fits-all transition. While the technical elements of an EOT sale can often be standardised and follow proven best practice, founders’ experiences are rarely the same.
This is where other advisers can play a vital role. Beyond the nuts and bolts of the transaction, they support you through the wider personal and practical aspects of the transition, including:
- Readiness to sell. Helping you assess whether an EOT is the right option, and whether the timing is right for you.
- Leadership and succession. Planning when and how leadership responsibility transfers after the sale.
- Communication. Guiding how and when to talk to employees, customers, and other stakeholders about the change.
- Employee engagement. Helping the team understand what employee ownership means in practice.
Every founder’s journey is different, and it’s vital the transition works not just on paper, but in practice. You may already have appropriate “on the ground” support, from a business adviser/coach/accountant. They’ll be well placed to discuss the all the details with you, establish what you need, and put together the costings. If you don’t have anyone suitable, we work alongside multiple advisers across the UK who can support you with this.
Other costs to be aware of
As well as professional fees, there are other transaction-related costs to factor in, such as stamp duty and Capital Gains Tax (CGT). We’ve created a helpful guide and various calculators to help you understand the wider costs associated with an EOT sale, and what the numbers might look like for you.