Your family and your business are two of your top priorities. You would not do anything to compromise either of them. But working with family members in a family-owned business presents unique challenges that can cause lasting damage to both if not properly managed. Family-owned businesses are capable of the same success as any other business. Walmart, Chick-fil-A, Comcast, Carnival, …
Trusts are usually associated with estate planning, but trusts can also apply to business operations. As a small business owner, you can hold the business in a trust instead of using a business entity such as a limited liability company (LLC) or corporation. Business trusts offer several potential benefits—and drawbacks—compared to a traditional business structure. Understanding their pros and cons, …
You spend a significant part of your life building your business, and it becomes a major part of your legacy. But when you die, everything you have built could fall apart if you have not taken the time to create a business succession plan. Without a plan in place, your business’s fate may be decided by a court instead of …
Multilevel marketing (MLM) businesses sell products or services directly to retail customers using commission-based, nonsalaried representatives who are encouraged to recruit new representatives and form their own sales networks. They can have thousands of representatives and generate billions of dollars in annual revenue, although many of the people who join them make little to no money. Some may even lose …
Many business partnerships eventually come to an end. Like other types of relationships, when business partners decide to split up, the process can be amicable or contentious. For personal and professional reasons, dissolving the partnership on good terms is in the best interest of all partners. A smooth split will prevent unnecessary conflict and legal expenses and allow the partners …
Summer is a popular time for businesses to hire temporary workers. Restaurants, golf clubs, resorts, amusement parks, and other warm-weather entertainment destinations depend on the summer months to boost their bottom line for the entire year. Despite the current labor shortage in some areas, this summer is expected to see a hot labor market as people emerge from pandemic lockdowns …
Corporations are required to have a board of directors, which is selected by the shareholders. The board of directors helps govern the corporation, provides advice and counsel, conducts high-level management, elects officers, votes on key decisions, and protects shareholders’ interests. Corporate directors’ service on the board may be subject to term limits, however, a director may decide to resign from …
There are many misconceptions and assumptions regarding the use and effectiveness of noncompete agreements. This is not too surprising considering that judicial enforcement of these agreements is very fact-intensive and situation-specific. There are no bright-line rules to help business owners determine whether a noncompete agreement will be enforceable, so it can be challenging to craft one that will provide maximum …
It has been a tough year for small businesses. Across the country, millions of small businesses have temporarily closed their doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even now, as the pandemic eases and operations begin to pick back up, many small businesses report that they are struggling to fill open positions. But business owners are resilient and creative. Despite the …
The owners of a limited liability company (LLC) are called members. At some point, an LLC member may find that they want or need to withdraw from the LLC. That member, as well as the other owners of the LLC, may wonder how to accomplish this. To properly withdraw from an LLC, there are a few key questions that the …
The limited liability company (LLC) is one of the most commonly used business entity types. For many businesses, forming an LLC provides significant benefits, including flexible ownership arrangements and governance, as well as strategic tax planning. However, as a business develops, it sometimes becomes necessary to consider whether the way the entity is organized best facilitates the company’s future growth. …
When starting a business, many entrepreneurs jump immediately into day-to-day operations. They often struggle to make time to develop systems for documenting how decisions are made. However, failing to keep a written record of the factors that lead to business decisions can increase the risk of liability if things ever go awry. As a result, it is best practice for …