Common Trust helps privately held business owners transition their companies to Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) by providing objective advisory calls, financial scenario modeling, and full transaction leadership. The firm coordinates legal, financial, and diligence processes, then offers ongoing governance and education support to ensure long‑term stability and employee ownership.
Funding
$10.6M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Business owners seeking to sell or transition their companies often lack clear, objective guidance on alternative exit strategies that preserve company culture, employee welfare, and long-term stability. Traditional sale routes can dilute ownership, reduce employee engagement, and create uncertainty about the future of the business.
Solution
Common Trust specializes in facilitating Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) transactions, offering owners a structured, impact‑focused exit path that transfers ownership to a trust for the benefit of employees. The firm provides an initial advisory call to assess goals and suitability, followed by a personalized EO Planner that models financial scenarios without requiring commitment. When owners decide to proceed, Common Trust leads the full transaction, coordinating legal, financial, and diligence processes while onboarding employees into the new ownership model. Post‑transaction, the company continues to support governance, education, and financial oversight to ensure the business remains stable and employee‑owned over time. This end‑to‑end service enables owners to protect their legacy, reward their teams, and achieve a sustainable, independent future for their companies.
Target Audience
Primary customers are privately held business owners and founders of small to mid‑size companies who are evaluating exit options and wish to transition to employee ownership while preserving company culture and independence.
Features
- No‑pressure advisory call to explore employee ownership fit and align with owner objectives
- EO Planner tool that uses the owner’s financial data to model EOT scenarios and outcomes before any commitment
- Full transaction leadership covering legal structuring, financing, due diligence, and employee onboarding
- Ongoing post‑transaction support for governance, employee education, and financial monitoring
- Proven track record with over $672 M of enterprise value transitioned and 61 K+ employees brought into ownership
- Tailored exit planning for small and mid‑size businesses across industries, including family firms and SaaS companies