Employee ownership is the future of small business
We’re on a mission to put $10 billion of stock wealth in the hands of hard-working small business employees and help generations of business owners retire confidently.
Win-win business model
Teamshares is an employee ownership platform for small business, driven by proprietary software, education, and financial products.
The problem
70%
of small businesses fail to sell
Small businesses are the backbone of America, employing half of all workers and powering 44% of our economy.
However, when small business owners retire, 70% fail to find a buyer, often forcing them to shut their doors forever.
The owner loses their retirement money and legacy, the company’s employees lose their jobs, and the community loses a valuable business.
Our solution
80%
employee ownership within 20 years
Teamshares buys small businesses from retiring owners, grants 10% ownership of the business’s stock to employees after closing, and progressively increases employee ownership to 80% within 20 years. Employees earn stock through ongoing service. They do not have to buy stock.
We do this because we believe employee ownership is a win-win, with better financial outcomes for the employee owners and the business.
The result is a network of financially durable companies that never have to be sold again. Retiring owners, employee owners, companies, and local economies are all better off.
Being an employee owner means I have a stake in building the business and benefit from its growth. I feel empowered and excited about what’s next.
Stephanie L.
Employee owner since 2021
How it works
01
Retiring owners
Small business owners retire confidently by selling their business to a company with a great close rate and track record of doing right by people. Their business remains local and their legacy becomes employee ownership.
02
Incoming president
Teamshares recruits a talented, mission-driven president to lead the company forward. They begin with an intensive training program and continue to learn through on-the-ground experience and support from the Teamshares network.
03
Employee owners
Employee owners earn stock ownership through continued service in the business and now benefit from the upside of the company’s growth. Through aligned incentives, education, and open-book financials, employee owners have a direct impact on their future wealth.
I felt a strong call to join this mission to transform small-business norms and champion employee ownership.
Susan T.
Network company president since 2022
Our growing network
Small businesses power our economy and anchor our local communities. They deserve to continue on. Our goal is to build a network of 10,000 financially durable, employee-owned small businesses across America.
90
employee-owned companies
31
states
42
industries
It's good for sellers because your legacy lives on. And for employees because they receive equity and an opportunity to get financial rewards for contributing to the business
Mitch H.
Retired owner since 2021
Our impact
We’re on a multi-decade journey to put $10 billion of stock wealth directly in the hands of American workers through equity ownership in their companies.
$30M+
new wealth created for employee owners
2,500+
new employee owners
