Small Business Consulting
We take great pleasure in working with both individuals considering pursuing their dream – starting their very own business, as well as young businesses facing challenges on the road to growth, stability and profitability.
Start Ups
A first issue for all individuals starting a new business is choice of entity – the opportunity to consider governance issues and preferences, sources of financing and investors, management and tax matters. Considering these issues in a thoughtful, deliberate fashion can help to maximize your objectives while minimizing taxes and unnecessary costs at both the entity level and for the owners personally. While we use paralegals to assist us, we believe the initial meeting to discuss your objectives and review your options cannot be delegated; you will always meet with an experienced business attorney to discuss, review and plan for establishing your business entity. Anything short of good planning could jeopardize your business objectives.
Beyond Choice of Entity
Choice of entity is only the starting point for your new business. There may be leases to negotiate, both for premises and equipment, bank or other financing matters to resolve, a franchise agreement to pore through and dissect, employment and confidentiality agreements to consider, and more. The list of the myriad of issues which a new or existing business may, and likely will face, is long and varied. We bring a wide variety of background to counseling small business clients, allowing us to guide you through the maze of laws, regulations and issues in an economical manner. Our goals have never been, and will never be, a “one shot” representation. Our goal is to represent our business clients for the long term.
Established Companies
Once a new business is established, we continue to provide ongoing advice for the wide variety of legal issues which may be confronted by a growing business. Employment contracts and restrictive covenants, financing, corporate governance and shareholder agreements, including Buy-Sell Agreements which allow a company to remain “close” while providing liquidity to the owners, general contracts, acquisitions, mergers and divestitures, are just some of the issues a small business may need to address. Read more about our business services under Corporate Law.
This is a sampling of the small business law services provided to small- and medium-sized businesses:
- Asset Purchase Agreements
- Buy-Sell Agreements
- Capitalization Options
- “Choice of Entity” Considerations
- Contracts
- Covenants Not-to-Compete (Non-Competition Agreements)
- Employment Agreements
- Financing Options
- Initial Organizational Issues
- Leases
- Registered Agent Services
- Member/Shareholder Agreements
- Shareholder Disputes
- Tax Issues
Small Business Consulting Articles
OMG! Social Media Policies Under More Legal Scrutiny – Time to TCOB …
With the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) becoming more active in striking down social media policies, employers may not be Laughing Out Loud if faced with an unfair labor practice charge. Taking Care Of Business now involves some straightforward steps to achieve...
The IRS Recently Advised an Individual May Be an Employee, Independent Contractor or Both!
The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) recently ruled that a person, providing services to the same company, may be classified as an employee, independent contractor or in some situations, both. The unusual pronouncement by the IRS came in the context of a professional...
October 1, 2013 Deadline for Employer Notices under Affordable Care Act
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) added a section to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that said an applicable employer must provide a written notice to each existing employee. The original deadline of March 1, 2013 has now been extended by the Department of Labor....
Business Drudgery
Let’s face it. There is a world of things we would rather do with our businesses than general housekeeping. But, just like a good spring cleaning at home, periodically, and certainly every couple of years, there are just some things that you should do with your...