A business grant is a form of financial assistance given to a company by a government agency or private organization for a specific purpose. Grants, unlike loans, do not need to be paid back. Despite this benefit, finding a grant that your business qualifies for and submitting a complete application can be challenging. However, if your business could benefit from …
Ask Cari: What You Need to Know about Buy-Sell Agreements
If you are a business owner, you probably worry about your bottom line, employee retention, and health insurance premiums, but have you also considered what will happen to your business if you are in an accident? What if your business partner gets divorced and your partner’s ex-spouse is awarded part ownership of the business and wants to make decisions affecting …
Illinois Business Law: Registering LLC’s Formed Out-of-State
What happens when you form an LLC in another state but want to regularly conduct business within the State of Illinois? These are called “foreign LLC’s.” A foreign LLC must be admitted by the Illinois Secretary of State to transact business in Illinois. To do this, the foreign LLC must submit an application for admission to transact business as a foreign …
I Need To Hire Someone for My Business; What Do I Need To Know?
The goal of most businesses is to grow – at least somewhat. However, in order to grow or to be able to step away from the business for a personal life, vacation, or other ventures, you’ll need help with day-to-day operations. If you’ve never hired someone before – or it’s been a long time – don’t worry – here’s the …
Ask Cari: I Have a Problem with Employees Missing Shifts. Should I address this in my Employment Handbook?
I always tell my business clients that having an employee handbook is imperative. It is, essentially, the laws of the employment relationship. It can be as detailed as the employer would like and can cover anything that might arise affecting the employer/employee relationship. While many state and federal laws govern certain aspects of the employer/employee relationship, a lot is left …
5 Steps to Take When Winding Down Your Business
There are many reasons business owners close up shop, including retirement, starting a new venture or, hopefully, because they’ve won the lottery. No matter what the reason, it’s important to diligently wind down a business before moving on. Here are five steps to take: Reach consensus. If you’re a sole proprietor, then the only consensus you need is your own. …
Laws, Rules, & Regulations That May Not Apply To Small Businesses
An extraordinary number of laws, rules, and regulations govern businesses and their employees. A small business, however, may be exempt from one or more of them depending on its number of employees. For example: Discrimination Laws. Small businesses may be exempt from Title VII, the ADA and the ADEA: Title VII. Title VII prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on …