Does an Employee Handbook Create a Contractual Obligation?

Rincker Law Business/Commercial Law, Employment Law Leave a Comment

Every business with at least one employee should have an employee handbook, sometimes also called an employee manual or code of conduct, setting out the company’s policies and rules and the laws applicable to the employment relationship. It establishes the expectations in the relationship and enables employers to deal with similar situations consistently. Typically, employers do not intend for the …

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Employment Eligibility Verification: What You Need to Know about the I-9

Rincker Law Business/Commercial Law, Employment and Labor Law Leave a Comment

Immigration isn’t just a hot topic in the news—it has real impact on employers. All employers, including small businesses, are required to complete and retain a Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification for every person they hire to work inside the U.S. for pay or any other type of compensation. Failure to comply could result in severe penalties. What Is the …

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Episode 12 of Ag Law Today: Farm Dissolution

Rincker Law Food & Ag Law Leave a Comment

Not only do we handle actual divorces here at Rincker Law but we also handle business divorces.  Hear me talk farm business dissolutions with Robert Moore on Ag Law Today here. I’m passionate about prenups with marriages and businesses alike.  Hear about the dissolution process and some tips on how to make it go easier.

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Record Keeping for Your Business: What’s Required?

Rincker Law Business/Commercial Law, Employment and Labor Law Leave a Comment

Whether you are just starting up a new company or have a business that has been in operation for a while, good record keeping is an essential part of running your business. You are responsible for establishing an effective system to store and maintain your business records whether your small business is a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or corporation. Some …

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LLC Operating Agreement: Is a Non-Compete Clause Necessary?

Rincker Law Business/Commercial Law Leave a Comment

You and several friends start a new business and decide to operate it as a limited liability company (LLC). Now that you’ve completed the  first step—choosing a business entity—it is now important to prepare an operating agreement. The operating agreement is a contract which governs the operations of the LLC and sets forth the arrangements made among the members, including …

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What Every You Need to Know about IRS Form 1099: Reporting and Requirements

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If your business made or received payments to independent contractors and entities (other than compensation to your employees) during the calendar year, it’s likely you must file an information return called a Form 1099 with the IRS. You may also need to send a copy of the form directly to the recipient of the payments. Being aware of and meeting …

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Stay in Control: Good LLC Governance

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The LLC is a popular way to structure a business because it provides personal liability protection to the members– like a corporation does to its shareholders–but without as many administrative formalities. But if you’re an LLC member, don’t let this lull you into complacency. As a business owner, you’re responsible for the proper governance of the LLC.  If a conflict …

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Business License and Permit Requirements

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If you are starting a new business, it is important not to overlook federal, state, and local business license and permit requirements. Almost every business, even one that is home-based, is required to obtain some form of license or permit in order to operate legally. Failure to do so can lead to fines, and in some cases, the closure of …

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Transferring LLC Membership Interests Part 2—Voluntary Transfers

Rincker Law Business/Commercial Law, Food & Ag Organizations Leave a Comment

An LLC affords its members a certain amount of personal asset protection. Part of this protection hinges on the restricted transferability of LLC membership interests.  Restricted transferability protects the non-transferring members from creditors and unwelcome new members, which upholds the integrity and value of the non-transferring members’ membership interests. Most (but not all) LLCs impose requirements or restrictions on the …

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Transferring LLC Membership Interests Part 1—An Overview

Rincker Law Business/Commercial Law Leave a Comment

Say you are a member of an LLC. You own membership interests in the LLC. But what if you want to leave the LLC? What if you get a divorce? What if you have creditors seeking immediate repayment? What can you do with your membership interests? The answer depends on how transferable those membership interests are. A transfer of LLC …

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Ask Cari: How Should Business Owners Avoid Deadlocks in Decision-Making?

Rincker Law Business/Commercial Law Leave a Comment

Are you considering starting a business with a friend or family member? If operating as a partnership or LLC, a well-drafted partnership or LLC operating agreement will be crucial to memorialize your economic agreement, organizational structure and key terms, and should include provisions designed to prevent deadlock if a disagreement later arises about important business decisions. A disagreement concerning a …

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Community Engagement and the “Good Guy” Escape Hatch

Rincker Law Business/Commercial Law Leave a Comment

Almost everyone wants to be the good guy. Engaging your business in the local community through volunteerism and charitable giving can have a positive impact both on your business and in your community.  The more public-facing your business is and the larger your staff grows, the more opportunities your business will have to be the good guy as employees and …

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