Employee Ownership LA County

The Department of Economic Opportunity launched Employee Ownership LA County in 2023 with DEO’s Office of Small Business and partner Project Equity, a pilot program that helps business owners explore options to sell their company to their employees while preserving jobs and sustaining wealth opportunities. Employee Ownership LA County provides no cost and free consultation services that secure the sale of a business to their employees by:

Helping you identify the fair market value and worth of the business seeking to be sold.
Supporting the preservation of business legacy by keeping companies locally rooted and sustaining quality jobs.
Assisting in engaging and retaining employees who are interested in buying and preserving a business.

There are dual benefits for both business and employee with a conversion to a shared ownership business model. Employee Ownership LA County focuses on existing businesses and transition to models, such as Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP) and Employee Ownership Trusts (EOT).

Employee Benefits
33% Higher Median Income
92% Higher Household Network
53% Longer Job Tenure

Business Benefits
67% Report Higher Productivity
46% Longer Employee Retention
8.5% Higher Profit Margins

Employee Ownership LA County is a training and technical assistance service as part of LA County’s Economic Mobility Initiative (EMI), catalyzing the startup and growth of local entrepreneurs, businesses, and nonprofits start stay in the County.

Employee Ownership LA County Journey Map

Timeline titled 'Employee Ownership Journey Map' showing 4 steps. Full text version is provided below.

Get Started

Businesses looking for tools to retain employees, build a success plan, or learn more about employee ownership can start with a free consultation. After the consultation, businesses may engage in no-cost financial feasibility assessments, additional 1:1 technical assistance, and connection to legal aid and capital necessary for a full transition. Transition times will vary depending on the business status and needs. They can take a minimum of 18 months.

Consultations are conversations to understand an owner and businesses unique circumstances and goals, determine projected timing, and explore how employee ownership could fit into future, transition plans.

Schedule a no-cost consultation: https://project-equity.org/free-consultation/.

There are no events scheduled at this time.

Past events include:

How to Retain Your Employees Through Employee Ownership webinars
How to Sell Your [Sector-Based] Business to Your Employees webinars
Project Equity Employee Ownership Equity Summit
DEO’s LA Region Small Business Forums

“For the last ten years, both collaboration and cooperation have been a driving force behind daily operations at Proof. When employees help to build a business and keep it going, I think it’s important that they have a chance to reap the benefits.”

Na Young Ma
Founder and Selling Owner
Proof Bakery, Los Angeles

Promotional graphic with the text “Sell Your Business and Attract & Retain Employees,” featuring photos of three professionals, including a man in a red Delta Pipeline hard hat, a woman with glasses, and a woman with a red bandana, alongside the logos for Employee Ownership LA County and the Department of Economic Opportunity.

Informational flyer from the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) encouraging L.A. County business owners to explore free Employee Ownership (EO) consultations and services. The flyer explains that employee ownership is a proven strategy to help business owners secure the sale of their business or transfer ownership to employees. Benefits include identifying market value to sell your business, preserving your business legacy, and assisting in retaining and engaging employees interested in buying your business. A highlighted section on the right asks: "Are you ready to explore employee ownership?" It states EO is best suited for businesses with 10 or more employees, good financial health and profitability, a 5+ year track record, and minimal debt. Below, a gold banner invites readers to “Book a free consultation or join an upcoming event” with a URL: opportunity.lacounty.gov/employee-ownership The flyer notes that DEO holds office hours every first Wednesday of the month at: East LA Entrepreneur Center, 4716 East Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, Building B At the bottom, logos for the County of Los Angeles, Made Possible by American Rescue Plan, and Project Equity are shown. Small text notes: Pictured on cover: Employee-owners of L.A. County businesses Proof Bakery and Delta Pipeline.

Access PDF of Postcard Here

EO Launch Event – Giroux Glass

The EO launch event on was held on November 29 at Giroux Glass, a glass, glazing, and architectural metals contracting company located in the Second Supervisorial District that provides services in the commercial, retail, and luxury sectors. Giroux Glass is a 100% employee-owned, also known as Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

Read Press Release Here

Employee Ownership LA County

Employee Ownership LA County Journey Map

Get Started

EO Launch Event – Giroux Glass

Employee Ownership LA County Powered by an Economic Mobility Initiative Partner

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