With the country emerging from pandemic lockdowns and economic activity beginning to expand, small business owners are optimistic about the future. Supporting local businesses can help them grow and thrive in a post-pandemic economy. But what if you could help a business while also helping yourself? Investing in a small business can be a great way to diversify your assets …
Preparing Your Business for an Emergency
The year 2020 has been a continuous lesson in the need to prepare for the unpredictable. From the pandemic to natural disasters, businesses have faced numerous challenges that could force them to close. The most common emergencies that businesses typically face fall into three categories: Natural disasters such as floods, fires, and earthquakes Medical emergencies such as the current COVID-19 …
Good News for PPP Borrowers: The New Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020
The landmark COVID-19 stimulus package, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, has been a significant tool for assisting struggling small businesses during the current international pandemic. However, the centerpiece of this legislation, the Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP), has been a source of confusion and frustration for many business owners seeking this aid. In an attempt to alleviate …
Ask Cari: What are Legal Considerations for my Business during a Pandemic: Responding to COVID-19?
In a matter of weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world and forced communities to reevaluate everything. Despite the unpredictability that has accompanied this global crisis, it is not too late to implement changes to protect you, your employees, and your business. Here are some tips and strategies to help you navigate these challenges and the ones to come. …
Attracting Stellar Employees for Your Small Business
The economy is booming, which is excellent news for small businesses, right? In general, it is great news for all businesses. However, it also presents some challenges, particularly for small businesses. According to the June 2019 National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) Jobs Report, small business owners identified the difficulty of finding qualified employees as their single most important business …
Ask Cari: How Should Business Owners Avoid Deadlocks in Decision-Making?
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 …
Can Your Business Survive the Loss of a Key Person?
You’ve likely protected your business with general liability coverage, property insurance, commercial automobile coverage, and workers’ compensation insurance. But for some businesses, operations would come to a grinding halt without certain essential contributors—key persons as we call them. If your business includes any key persons, key-person insurance should be a part of your business insurance planning. What is a key …
Are you a “DBA” in Illinois?
There are several food and agriculture businesses that are a sole proprietorship or general partnership that operate as a DBA. For example, my own cattle business is really Cari Rincker d/b/a Rincker Cattle Co. My parents’ cattle operation is Curt & Pam Rincker d/b/a Rincker Simmentals. DBA’s are ubiquitous in the food and agriculture industry. However, have you cross your …
Podcast Appearance on Book Publishing with Legal Marketing Studio
Super pumped for Michael Meyer, corporate photographer extraordinaire,for his new podcast called the “Legal Marketing Studio“, available via SoundCloud and iTunes. The podcast was just released and I’m in Episode 3 on book publishing. I talk about my New York food and agriculture book (my first child) and my recently published book on New York divorce and family law (both …
Want to Hang Your Very Own Shingle? Upcoming CLE on Building Law Practice
I will presenting alongside two other attorneys on May 6, 2016 for a Lawline webinar titled “Building a Law Practice Brick by Brick” at 3:30pm ET. Myself, Harlan York, and Daniel Gershburg will be answering the questions on how, why and should you open a law practice. The three of us will present on the following issues: • Steps lawyers should …
Already Married? What You Need To Know About Post-Nuptial Agreements
In some states, such a New York, couples are allowed to enter into an agreement after a marriage or civil union called a post-nuptial agreement discussing things such as, but not restricted to, the division of property (real property, personal property such as livestock, cash assets), child support, spousal maintenance, and a restriction on relocation (e.g., spouse cannot relocate out …