How Do I Start a Home-Based Business?

Cari RinckerBusiness Law Leave a Comment

The number of people working from home has never been higher. During the pandemic, many workers got a taste of the remote-work future and realized that they prefer to work from home. Now, as companies move ahead with return-to-office plans, there is an emerging power struggle is emerging between employers that want workers back at their desks and employees who …

Share this Article

Considerations Before Owning a Business with Your Spouse

Cari RinckerBusiness Law, Business/Commercial Law, Divorce Leave a Comment

Both running a successful business and having a successful marriage require commitment and hard work. Operating a business as a married couple can present its share of challenges, but being devoted to one another as spouses and as business partners can bring higher levels of accountability and trust to the business. If you and your spouse can find ways to …

Share this Article

Using a Deferred Compensation Agreement in Your Business

Cari RinckerBusiness Law Leave a Comment

The war for talent is heating up. A record number of workers have quit their jobs this year, creating a massive problem for employers. While higher pay can help get new workers in the door of your business, wages alone may not be enough to keep them there. Employers are getting creative in finding ways to attract—and retain—great employees. In …

Share this Article

Common Considerations for Using a Liability Waiver in Your Business

Cari RinckerBusiness Law Leave a Comment

Exposure to lawsuits involving injury and loss claims is among the biggest risks that businesses face. Although liability waivers are most commonly used by businesses that offer inherently dangerous activities, such as ski resorts, amusement parks, and gyms, they can be used whenever a business seeks to limit the claims or damages that a visitor could pursue against it in …

Share this Article

What Is an Equity Purchase Agreement and Why Do I Need One?

Cari RinckerBusiness Law Leave a Comment

An equity purchase agreement, also known as a share purchase agreement or stock purchase agreement, is a contract that transfers shares of a company from a seller to a buyer. Equity purchases can be used to acquire a business in whole or in part. They are frequently contrasted with asset purchases, which achieve similar objectives but have a different deal …

Share this Article

What Is a Nonsolicitation Agreement, and Should I Use One?

Cari RinckerBusiness Law Leave a Comment

You have invested a lot of time and money in developing your employee, customer, and vendor relationships. You cannot stop your employees from walking out the door, but you may be able to limit their ability to take other employees and business relationships with them. Nonsolicitation agreements are contractual provisions that restrict an employee’s ability to poach your customers or …

Share this Article

Complying With Estimated Quarterly Taxes

Cari RinckerBusiness Law Leave a Comment

Tax day is one of the most important—and one of the most dreaded—days on the calendar for working Americans. Although April 15 is usually the date that federal taxes are due, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) extended the tax deadline in 2019 and 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, you may have picked up a side gig …

Share this Article

What to Include in Your Service Agreement

Cari RinckerBusiness Law Leave a Comment

Small businesses account for nearly half of the economic activity in the United States. To successfully compete with bigger competitors, small businesses are increasingly outsourcing to improve their efficiency and lower costs. Outsourcing allows companies to expand their competencies in key areas without taking on additional full-time, in-house employees. This is a growing trend among small businesses looking for professional …

Share this Article

Legislative Alert: The Consumer Coverage Disclosure Act (Illinois)

Cari RinckerBusiness/Commercial Law Leave a Comment

Employers in Illinois should be mindful of certain new obligations arising under the Illinois Consumer Coverage Disclosure Act (“the Act”) (820 ILCS 46), which came into effect on August 27, 2021. The new Act applies to all Illinois employers that provide group health insurance coverage. What the Consumer Coverage Disclosure Act Requires The Act requires that Illinois employers give their …

Share this Article

Member-Managed vs. Manager-Managed LLCs: What Is the Difference?

Cari RinckerBusiness Law Leave a Comment

When setting up your business, one of the most significant decisions you will make is which type of entity to form. If you have settled on forming a limited liability company (LLC), you must also choose the type of management structure it will have. LLCs can be member-managed or manager-managed. Being an LLC manager means having the legal authority to …

Share this Article

What Is Reverse Veil Piercing and How Should You Protect Against It?

Cari RinckerBusiness Law Leave a Comment

Normally, limited liability business entities, which include corporations and limited liability companies (LLCs), prevent the entity’s creditors from going after an owner’s personal assets to satisfy their claims. But in rare circumstances, courts allow piercing of the corporate veil. When this occurs, creditors who win a legal judgment against the corporation or LLC may target the personal assets of a …

Share this Article

Business Ownership and Divorce: What You Need to Know

Cari RinckerBusiness Law, Divorce, Family/Matrimonial Law, General Leave a Comment

Divorce is rarely simple. When two people’s lives are intertwined—physically, emotionally, and legally—separating the individual strands can be a task akin to untying the Gordian knot. The longer a couple has been together and the more they share, the more difficult this task becomes. It can be even more difficult if the divorcing couple co-owns a business or one spouse …

Share this Article