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Beyond the Balance Sheet™ · The 4-Month Path
Traditional sale: 12–18 months. Forhemit ESOP: 4 months. Below is the same timeline we walk owners through—plain English, no jargon. While others disappear at closing, we steward your legacy through the critical first 24 months.
Haven't taken the 2-Minute Check yet? Start here — or keep reading to see how the process works.
We don't just plan your exit. We ensure your business survives it. While others disappear at closing, we steward your legacy through the critical first 24 months.
The only exit advisor that stays after the wire hits. We steward your legacy through the critical first 24 months—not just planning your exit, but ensuring your business survives it.
Every decision is filtered through one question: does this protect the seller? From fair price guarantees to escrow-free closings paired with §1042/§1045 tax advantages, the structure exists to get you paid — fully and on time.
No hidden fees, no surprise retainers, no jargon. You see every cost, every timeline, and every risk before you sign anything. This page is proof of that philosophy.
Instead of hiring five separate firms and hoping they talk to each other, Forhemit quarterbacks the entire deal — bank, attorney, trustee, appraiser, and operations plan — so you have one point of contact.
Not every business is a good ESOP candidate. Check the items that apply to your situation.
Four phases from first numbers to check in hand. Your team clears a checkpoint at each stage so there are no surprises at closing. The only exit advisor that stays after the wire hits.
Tap a card to see what happens in that month. Tap again to return.
Days 1–30
MONTH 1: VALUATION (Competitors take 3–6 months)
Checkpoint: Fair price confirmed by independent appraiser
Days 1–30
What happens
Days 31–60
MONTH 2: LOCK IN THE DEAL
Checkpoint: Bank commitment secured
Days 31–60
What happens
Days 61–90
MONTH 3: FINAL APPROVALS & PAPERWORK
Checkpoint: Trustee sign-off—business ready to run without you
Days 61–90
What happens
Days 91–120
MONTH 4: CLOSE & STEWARD YOUR LEGACY
Result: You sold your business. Check in hand. Legacy protected.
Days 91–120
What happens
Four months is our target, not a guarantee. Here are the questions owners ask most.
Instead of hard gates, think of these as the four checkpoints everyone needs to see before closing. If any checkpoint fails, we pause and fix it—no surprises at closing.
Independent expert confirms the price is fair to the employees (protects you from future lawsuits)
Lender officially commits the money to buy you out
Final financial review confirms business health hasn't changed
Expert confirms the business can run without you (Forhemit delivers this)
Every seller wants to know: how much cash do I actually receive, and when? Here's the typical ESOP deal structure.
No personal guarantees required from you. The loan is between the bank and the ESOP trust. Your personal assets are not collateral.
A simple split so you know what you're signing up for—and what you're not.
Everything else.
After everything is set up:
One of the biggest concerns sellers have: “What if my employees find out before I'm ready?”
Non-disclosure agreements are signed before any business information is shared with any party.
Your team learns about the ESOP only after financing is secured and the deal is effectively locked in.
Competitors, customers, and vendors are never contacted during the process. The deal is between you, the bank, and the trust.
All sensitive financials are shared through encrypted document rooms — never via unprotected email attachments.
Adjust the sliders to see your estimated net proceeds — including the §1042 tax election only ESOP sellers can use. Fair price guarantees and escrow-free closings paired with §1042/§1045 tax advantages. Approximations only. Not a quote or financial advice.
The §1042 election lets you defer 100% of capital gains tax on the sale. It has specific requirements — check the ones that apply.
Before diving into the detailed breakdown, here's the big picture.
3–5%
of total deal value
Typical total professional fees across all parties
Full transparency
Every sale has fees. Here's exactly what to expect.
Whether you sell to a private buyer or through an ESOP, transaction costs are real. We break them down phase by phase—what's ESOP-specific, what applies to any sale, and when each fee typically hits. No surprises.
The deal is done—but our work continues. While others disappear at closing, we steward your legacy through the critical first 24 months.
The 20-minute call isn't a sales pitch. Here's exactly what happens.
Revenue range, employee count, ownership structure, and your timeline for selling. About 5 minutes.
Based on comparable ESOP transactions, we give you a realistic range — not a promise, but a grounded starting point.
No commitment, no retainer, no follow-up pressure. If the numbers make sense, we discuss next steps. If not, we'll tell you why and what alternatives exist.
What to have ready
Last year's revenue, approximate EBITDA or net income, employee count, and your ownership percentage. That's all we need for the first conversation.