#233 - Tax Talks - Team Incentive Masterclass

Ever wondered what actually happens to the shares you hand out when your best employee threatens to walk? I sit down with Tax Expert Tej Gill to answer that exact question, and the answer involves a lot more than a generic "give them equity" chat.

On this episode of The UltimateFD Podcast, we get into the mechanics of keeping your best people in the business for the long haul. Anyone who has scaled past 7 figures knows the moment when a bonus stops being enough for the person who is genuinely moving the needle.

This episode covers the practical side of team incentives, from HMRC approved schemes through to the messier unapproved options that most entrepreneurs stumble into by accident. Tej breaks down the difference between EMI and CSOP schemes, including the tax treatment, the value limits, and why one suits a smaller growing business while the other works better for a wider pool of staff.

We also get into growth shares as an unapproved alternative, and why getting the valuation and structure right from day one stops your star employee getting hit with an unexpected income tax bill on shares that were meant to be a reward, not a burden. Tej also flags the protections every business owner needs before handing out any equity, including bad leaver provisions and drag along rights, so a falling out down the line does not turn into a legal mess.

If you have ever considered giving away a slice of your business to keep an A player on board, this episode gives you the actual mechanics before you get anywhere near a solicitor. It is essential listening for any 7 figure entrepreneur thinking about their next senior hire, and for anyone who has already promised someone shares without quite knowing what that means.

👉🏻 JOIN THE UFD REVIEW WAITLIST HERE: https://mailchi.mp/ultimatefd/ufd-review-priority-list-2026

👉🏻 DOWNLOAD A COPY OF OUR BOOK SMALL BUSINESS BIG PROFIT FOR FREE: https://ultimate-fd.webflow.io/small-business-big-profit

👉🏻 HOW FINANCIALLY FIT IS YOUR BUSINESS? Take the Ultimate FD Acid test to find out and have a bespoke report in less than 5 minutes! Take the test here: https://josh-dtlqxm7w.scoreapp.com/

👉🏻 DOWNLOAD THE AUDIOBOOK OF SMALL BUSINESS, BIG PROFIT HERE: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Small-Business-Big-Profit-Audiobook/