Financing is the lifeblood of a business. During good times, business financing can help entrepreneurs purchase assets, expand products and services, add a new location, and hire more staff. During more difficult times, business owners may require financing just to continue their current operations. A business may also be at the start-up phase and require capital to get off the …
Hiring your child to work in the family business can be a win-win situation for both you and your child. A child employee offers you tax advantages not available with other employees. There are also potential tax savings for the child employee, who can set aside that money for college or retirement. If you are thinking about hiring your child …
Small business owners are no strangers to risk management. Owning and operating a small business entails a certain level of unpredictability. Despite your best efforts to stay on top of supply chains, marketing, sales, competitors, employees, and cash flow, unexpected issues can knock you for a loop. You have survived plenty of bumps in the road and emerged stronger than …
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 …
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 …
Most small business owners will occasionally have to face the unpleasant task of firing an employee. Small businesses, in particular, rely heavily on each employee. An underperforming employee may not only lower the morale of other employees who have to pick up the slack, but may also jeopardize the success of the business. When an employee must be terminated, it …
More and more, transactions between small businesses and their customers, vendors, and service providers occur online rather than on paper. Yet some feel uneasy about the enforceability of these electronically-signed documents. Is an electronic signature as valid as a conventional handwritten signature? Under state and federal law, e-signatures are recognized as valid and enforceable: Most states have adopted the Uniform …
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 …
Securities law is a complex minefield that terrifies even the most seasoned lawyers. As a small business owner, it is your responsibility to make sure you’re complying with all the securities laws, both federal and state, that may apply to your business. Most people think that only corporate stock qualifies as securities, but did you know that LLC ownership interests …
If you’re thinking of starting a business (or already have a business in the works), make sure that the name you use is not already taken. Original names are essential for three reasons: marketing power, clarity, and trademark infringement avoidance. For example, if you’ve decided to open a coffee shop, it’s fairly easy to determine that the name “Starbucks” is …