Pillar
Step-Up Legacy Plan
The Step-Up Legacy Plan is John Allen's structured SBA bank-financed sale of an A/E/LS firm to key employees, where the seller receives 95 to 100 percent of proceeds at closing with no multi-year earn-out. It is a practical ESOP alternative built for firms under $15 million in revenue that want a clean exit without an employee stock ownership trust and its six-figure setup costs. SBA 7(a) loans fund the transaction, with the equity injection sometimes split between the buyer and seller, and the bank handles the rest. Owners who have spent decades building their firm deserve a transaction that pays them out on day one.
Step-Up Legacy Plan
Retiring TO Something: Life After Selling Your A/E/LS Firm
The owners who handle the sale well built a life waiting. How the step-down process gives A/E/LS firm sellers runway instead of a cliff.
Step-Up Legacy Plan
Case Study: How a 28-Person A/E Firm Owner Exited with Step-Up
How a 28-person A/E firm owner exited with Step-Up: SBA financing, independent valuation, paid at close, and a clean control transfer.
Step-Up Legacy Plan
Who Bears the Risk? Capital Structure in A/E Firm Ownership Transitions
Compare 6 A/E firm ownership models by seller risk and liquidity. SBA buyouts, ESOPs, MBOs, EOTs, co-ops, and seller financing analyzed by who bears the financial risk.
Step-Up Legacy Plan
ESOP Alternatives for A/E Firms: SBA-Friendly Employee Buyouts
Skip costly ESOPs. The Step-Up Legacy Plan uses SBA 7(a) loans with 10% down so A/E firm employees can buy the business while sellers get 95-100% cash at closing.
Step-Up Legacy Plan
SBA Employee Buyout vs. ESOP vs. MBO vs. EOT vs. Co-Op vs. Seller Financing
Compare 6 employee ownership models by seller risk, cash at closing, and complexity. SBA buyouts deliver the lowest seller risk and highest upfront liquidity.