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
End-of-Year Tax Planning—Avoiding a Free-Fall Off the Fiscal Cliff; How to Rappel to a Softer Landing
As 2012 draws to a close, it's important to look at the significant changes that will be made to the Internal Revenue Code ("Tax Code") beginning in 2013, short of an agreement between the White House and Congress. These changes include the expiration of the 2001 and...
Not Letting That Sales Lead Languish
I made an overture to a relative of mine in another state inquiring whether or not they knew someone who might be able to get us some information to access a fund in that state to relocate, or start a new, manufacturing plant in that state. I emailed my relative on...
Think Before You Act: Criminal Activity Affects More Than Just Your Criminal Record
As we know, criminal activity has consequences. What may not be understood is the collateral consequences of criminal activity. Besides the possibility of imprisonment, fine and the tarnish of a conviction, conviction can also jeopardize or derail your trade or...
The Impact of the Affordable Care Act – Employer Shared Responsibility Payments and the Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credit
Today, one of the most pressing issues concerning nearly all small business owners as well as their employees is the impact of the federal health care legislation signed into law by President Obama in March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("ACA")....