The New Way to Give Equity to Your Employees

An Employee Share Scheme (also known as ESS or ESOP) is an employee incentive and remuneration structure that commonly involves providing shares, or rights to acquire shares in a company (or its parent company) to an employee of that company. These shares or rights to acquire shares are offered at a discount, and are subject to restrictions on vesting and sale. An ESS essentially provides an employee with part ownership of his/her employer, and is intended to boost performance and loyalty.

There are several benefits of having an ESS, including:

• Incentivising employees to help a company grow;
• Supporting the growth and competitiveness of small and innovative businesses;
• Retaining talent within Australia;
• Aligning the company’s interests with the employee’s interests; and
• Encouraging positive working relationships and good corporate governance.

You're eligible for Easy ESS if you're:

• An Australian company;
• Your turnover is under $50 million;
• You're not publicly listed; and
• Your business is less than 10 years old.

Although you may be eligible, an ESS is not going to be for every company. We highly recommend you read the in-depth guide provided upon signing up before starting.

Your initial ESS can be completed without a lawyer or accountant, however it's highly recommended to have your documents reviewed by an accountant and lawyer to ensure it's completely suitable for your business. We have a network of expert lawyers and accountants who can provide fixed-price quotes for all things ESS.