Free Buy-Sell Agreement

A buy-sell agreement, or buyout agreement, is a legal contract outlining what happens with the shares of a co-owner or partner if they die or want/need to leave the company.

A buy-sell agreement form will include details about who can or cannot buy the leaving or deceased owner’s shares, how to determine how much the shares are worth, and what events will cause the agreement to come into effect.

Table of Contents

• What is a Buy-Sell Agreement?
• Buy-Sell Agreement Sample
• When Do I Need a Buy-Sell Agreement?
• Why You Should Have a Buy-Sell Agreement
• Most Common Uses of a Buy-Sell Agreement
• Common Mistakes Made With Buy-Sell Agreements
• What Should be Included in a Buy-Sell Agreement?
• Free Buy-Sell Agreement Template
• Buy-Sell Agreement FAQs

What is a Buy-Sell Agreement?

A buy-sell agreement is a contract drawn up to protect a business if something happens to one of the owners. Also called a buyout, the agreement stipulates what happens with the shares of a business if something unforeseen occurs. This agreement also provides limitations on how owners can sell or transfer company shares. The contract is written to provide better control and management of a company.

These agreements are often likened to prenuptial agreements for companies. They stipulate what will happen to the ownership of the business should one of the owners (or the sole proprietor) experience life changes that might influence the continuation of the business itself. Life changes might range from divorce or bankruptcy to death. The buy-sell agreement protects the business and the remaining owners from ramifications of an owner’s personal life that can impact the company.

Buy-Sell Agreement Sample

The sample buy-sell agreement below details an agreement between the shareholders of a registered corporation regarding the company’s buying and selling of shares. The shareholders agree to the terms under which shares can be transferred and any restrictions there may be when transferring shares.

When Do I Need a Buy-Sell Agreement?

Any company, even a small enterprise, could use a buy-sell agreement. They’re especially important if there’s more than one owner. The agreement would delineate how shares are sold – if a partner wants to retire, experiences a divorce, or dies. This agreement would protect the company so that heirs’ or former spouses’ rights could be accounted for without selling the company.

Sole proprietors may need one, as well. If, for example, an owner wanted a loyal employee to take over the company after his/her departure, this could be arranged through this agreement. You can also use one to leave the business to an heir – which is often an excellent way to lower estate taxes that would burden the continuation of the business.

Agreements are generally drawn up when a business is initially formed, alongside your LLC Operating Agreement, but they can be drawn up at any time.

Why You Should Have a Buy-Sell Agreement

This agreement can protect a business in several ways, regardless of the type of corporation.

Here are a few consequences a business might suffer without a contract in place:

• If a business owner dies legally, his/her shares in the company would pass to the next of kin. As the next of kin controls those shares, without an agreement, they might sell off the shares or seek to run the company in a way that wouldn’t be in the best interest of the company, other shareholders, or employees.
• In the event of a divorce, a court could order that shares in a company be turned over to the ex-spouse. Without an agreement, the company may not be able to retain ownership solely in the selected shareholders.
• If a co-owner wants to retire or sell his/her shares, this agreement specifies how the shares are valued. Without an agreement, there are often disputes over the proper value of a company, and there’s no set agreement to meet the payment arrangements. In a worst-case scenario, this situation could result in the dissolution of the company.
• If owners disagree, without a contract to ensure that the company’s shares are properly sold and valued, one shareholder might sell shares to a competing entity or a party not approved by the remaining owners of the company.

Most Common Uses of a Buy-Sell Agreement

The buyout agreement stipulates what types of events trigger the contract. Each agreement is laid out to meet each particular company’s needs best. It can include specifications about who can buy stocks and the type of life situation triggering a buyout. It might also indicate how the purchase will be financed.

Life insurance policies are a common way for many businesses to plan for the execution of the buy-sell agreement. For example, the company’s market value would be estimated in the case of multiple co-owners. Each partner would then be insured by the other owners or the company for his/her portion of the company’s total worth. In the case of an owner’s death or incapacity, the remaining business partners would use the proceeds from the life insurance policy to purchase the shareholder’s shares, with the valuation price going to the deceased owner’s family.

This mode of accounting for the total cost of the transferred shares is also useful when a sole proprietor wants to pass the business on to an employee or an heir. The life insurance policy would carry that named person as a sole beneficiary. Once death triggers the contract, the life insurance money is used to pay the estate, with the company shares transferring to the named beneficiary.

Common Mistakes Made With Buy-Sell Agreements

If done right, buy-sell agreements set out the terms and conditions for the shares of a business if something unexpected occurs, as well as provide restrictions on how owners can transfer or sell shares of the business. Any mistakes in the creation of a buy-sell agreement can lead to legal complications later on, so you’ll want to ensure you avoid these common mishaps:

• Not communicating with all parties involved
• Failing to detail trigger events
• Continuing to use an outdated agreement – keep your agreement aligned to the owner’s current or future goals!
• Forgetting to account for provisions once an event triggers
• Vague or outdated valuation methodology
• Buy-sell is unfunded, or funding is structured incorrectly
• Missing out on a real estate

What Should be Included in a Buy-Sell Agreement?

Each business is unique in structure. A business with multiple co-founders would have a more complicated buyout agreement. In contrast, a sole proprietorship is often more straightforward to draft and execute. This list will give you a general overview of clauses and scenarios that should be considered in most buy-sell agreements.

• Triggering Events. When drafting this agreement, it’s crucial to define which types of events will trigger a buyout clearly.
• Death of an Owner / Partner. Without a contract, an owner’s share in the company would pass to their heirs. This might not be ideal for the business or remaining business partners. The contract should include a provision stipulating what will be done with the owner’s share of the business at the time of his/her death. This might include transferring the shares to family members for a buyout price. Or it might just allow the company to repurchase the deceased owner’s shares.
• Divorce of an Owner. Divorce can pose a particular risk for companies because the dissolution of a marriage is often not amicable. Without a buy-sell agreement in place, it would be possible for the court to grant an ex-spouse ownership of shares, which could compromise business interests and how it is run. This segment of the contract would stipulate that company shares could be purchased back by the company rather than being transferred to the ex-spouse permanently.
• Disability or Long-Term Illness. In many companies, the business owners represent a good portion of the company’s worth. Their work has value and will need to be continued in their absence. If an owner suffers a long-term illness or has some health event that permanently impairs his/her ability to meet the requirements of his position in the company, you might include a clause to trigger the commencement of the buyout agreement. In this case, the contract will stipulate a clear timeline – how long must the party be unable to work before the buyout is enacted? There may also be clauses for the owner’s interest that allow them to buy back his/her ownership shares if he/she can return later.
• Personal Bankruptcy. The buyout agreement should also include a clause allowing the company to purchase back shares if an owner experiences severe financial issues. In bankruptcy cases, creditors might go after the owner’s shares in a company.
• Internal Conflict Between Partners. Partnerships can suffer from personal and professional conflicts no matter how successful the venture is. Sometimes these internal struggles are not fixable. With this agreement in place, there’s a set way to sever the partnership, which is fair to all parties.
• Retirement Specifications. It should be assumed that all partners will eventually want to retire. This clause would specify the age of retirement. You might also include whether shares will be retained by the owner or sold back to the company. You may also want to include options for founding owners to stay on in a part-time or advisory capacity.
• Early Buyout. There should be a clause for owners to amicably leave the company if they decide to pursue other opportunities. This clause would set parameters for the remaining owners to buy back those shares.
• Payment Structure. The payment structure for a buyout agreement would specifically designate who is entitled to purchase shares in the buyout and how those payments would be made. This clause would include specific information, such as a percentage of shares each remaining partner can purchase. This structure has different possibilities, depending on the number of partners and size of the corporation.
• Fair Price Valuation. Your business worth can’t be mapped out in advance because the value will fluctuate over time. For a buyout agreement, determining the value of the business at the time, it’s triggered has to be agreed upon. Some companies use a formula to determine the current fair market value of the company. This saves the fees associated with hiring a professional appraiser. The other option is to have a professional business valuation completed. Depending on the type of business, you might also need to stipulate what is being sold in the buy-sell agreement, separating personal from the business property where applicable.
• Financing. A section of the agreement should discuss acceptable payment methods. Possible options include life insurance policies, loans, installment payments, cash or certified check, and stock options, to name a few. Other arrangements, such as deferred payment, might be stipulated for sale to key employees.
• Right of First Refusal. This section verifies that the remaining shareholders are entitled to repurchase the shares according to the pricing structure stipulated in the buy-sell agreement. No shareholder can sell or transfer shares to an outside entity.

A buy-sell agreement offers a concrete way to protect your business’s future and ensure it continues past your involvement.

Free Buy-Sell Agreement Template

Download a PDF or Word template of a buy-sell agreement below:

Buy-Sell Agreement FAQs