Nationally known estate planning authority Louis A. Mezzullo provides comprehensive yet practical advice for designing an effective buy-sell agreement to be used as an exit strategy or as part of the succession or estate planning process. He explains what to consider when drafting an agreement for a C or S corporation, a partnership, or a limited liability company. Tools include the suggested terms of a well-drafted agreement, discussions about funding options, tax consequences, and valuation. Includes CD-ROM with sample agreements.

“Paul's book is written in plain language that even a client can understand, yet it still manages to cover virtually all of the key issues that a business owner needs to address…. Buy this book.” —Howard M. Zaritsky, Esq., co-author, Structuring Buy-Sell Agreements: Analysis with Forms, Second Edition. “Paul is extremely knowledgeable about buy-sell agreements, valuation and estate planning for the business owner. He clearly has a passion for the topic and depth of experience that shows throughout the breadth of the work.” —Edwin P. Morrow III, J.D., LL.M., CFP®, Huntington National Bank, co-author, The Tools & Techniques of Estate Planning (19th Ed.) A buy-sell agreement (BSA) must set the rules of transition for a closely-held business. Author L. Paul Hood, Jr. shares 30+ years of experience writing BSAs to help business owners avoid the ugly consequences of a poorly drafted BSA. You’ll learn about: Types of BSA agreements BSA trigger events Tax consequences of BSAs Best practices for best outcomes Filled with expert information, handy checklists, and useful templates, Buy-Sell Agreements: The Last Will & Testament for Your Business will help you prepare a quality BSA as well as be the lifeline for your business in times of transition.

When an owner of a small corporation dies, is divorced, or sells the business, the remaining shareholders can ensure a smooth transition and stable succession through a buy-sell agreement. A buy-sell agreement long favored by savvy estate planners, ensures that surviving shareholders will have the cash necessary to purchase the heirs' interests; that surviving shareholders will pay a fair price for the stock; and that outsiders will be prevented from interfering in the management of the business. This essential book for every small and private corporation presents all the information needed to implement a buy-sell agreement: how to set it up and fund it; how to deal with estate and income taxation; whether to use life insurance, pension, ESOP, or some other funding scheme, and much more.

Buy-sell agreements are among the most common yet least understood business agreements and many are destined to fail to operate like the owners expect. Many, in fact, are ticking time bombs, just waiting for a trigger event to explode. If you are a business owner or are an adviser to business owners, this book is designed for you, providing a road map for business owners to develop or improve their buy-sell agreement.