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
It’s 5 a.m. and Snowing; Do You Have to Pay Your Employees Even if You Keep Your Business Closed?
*** We originally published this article in February 2013. Almost a year later, the Midwest is in the middle of another major winter storm, with more snow likely to come before spring arrives. Accordingly, this is a perfect opportunity to republish this time-sensitive...
Homeowner’s Association’s Attempt to Terminate Contract Falls Short; Compliance with Specific Notice Provisions Required
Everyone has wanted to get out of a contract at some point. Some contracts contain provisions to terminate the contract as long as certain conditions are met. It is important to comply with these provisions when terminating a contract or a court may find that the...
Shhh…Can You Keep a Secret?
Recently enacted federal “Defend Trade Secrets Act “ includes whistleblower protection not previously afforded by state law. On May 11, 2016 the Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) was signed into law and became immediately effective to protect misappropriation of trade...
June 30, ACA Deadline Looming for Small Employers to Avoid $100-per-Day-per-Employee Penalties
Does your business or employer pay for, or reimburse employees for, individual health insurance coverage? Did you know that as a result of the Affordable Care Act, such arrangements were prohibited beginning January 1, 2014? Did you know that more-than-2% shareholders...