What Every Business Owner Should Know about Cash Flow Statements

Cari RinckerBusiness Law, Business/Commercial Law Leave a Comment

Cash flow measures how much cash is flowing in and out of a business. A positive cash flow is one of the strongest determinants of a business’s success. It shows that a company can fund its debts and pay for immediate needs such as equipment and staffing, and also that it has enough money in reserve to invest or survive …

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Releasing Liability: What You Should Know Before Your Business Uses a Release of Liability

Cari RinckerBusiness Law, Business/Commercial Law 1 Comment

Some activities are inherently risky. Visitors of certain types of businesses such as ski resorts, gyms, and amusement parks know there is a chance they could get injured when they engage in the activities those businesses offer. To protect themselves against potentially costly lawsuits, businesses can use a liability waiver to shift the risk from themselves to their customers. Liability …

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Legal Considerations As You Ramp Up Your Cybersecurity

Cari RinckerBusiness Law, Business/Commercial Law 1 Comment

The internet has been a game changer for small businesses, allowing them to reach new markets, hire nonlocal talent, and compete with larger companies. Not having an online presence where customers can discover and interact with your business is now almost unthinkable. You may also have remote team members and vendor partners that are vital to your success. But the …

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Safeguard Your Brand: Why Small Business Owners in NYC Should Consider Trademark Protection

Cari RinckerBusiness/Commercial Law, Intellectual Property 1 Comment

In the bustling and competitive landscape of New York City, small business owners and entrepreneurs face numerous challenges. Building a unique brand that stands out in the crowd is no easy task, but it is essential for success. One powerful tool that can help safeguard your brand identity is securing a trademark. Whether it’s a word mark or a design …

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Farm Succession and Estate Planning Tips

Cari RinckerBusiness Law, Estate Planning, Food & Ag Law Leave a Comment

It was a pleasure to be interviewed for this Syngenta Thrive article speaking on an issue near and dear to my heart- farm succession and estate planning.  You can read more articles in the Thrive magazine here.

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Considerations before Becoming a Minority Owner

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Becoming a minority owner in a business can give you the opportunity to help a business grow and share in its success without the management responsibilities. Minority owners may be brought in to facilitate growth, perform acquisitions, or achieve other strategic goals and often provide valuable expertise in addition to the capital investment they make in the business. However, because …

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How to Handle an Employee’s Injury on the Job

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On-the-job injuries are an unfortunate reality for many employers. Every year, millions of employees suffer injuries and illnesses in the workplace. While some industries have a higher risk of harm than others, you can expect to deal with an injured worker at some point, even if your team works from the relative safety of an office. Employers have legal responsibilities …

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How to Keep Your LLC in Good Standing

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Starting a limited liability company (LLC) takes a lot of work. Before you serve your first customer or fulfill your first order, it is important to complete the initial business formation process. Although starting a business is a significant achievement, small business owners cannot coast on past accomplishments. You must look to the future and the next steps. This includes …

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A Partnership Without a Partnership Agreement: The Default Rules

Cari RinckerBusiness Law 1 Comment

Forming a partnership in Illinois is exceedingly simple; that is the main draw of this kind of business organization.  There are typically no formalities required; rather, a partnership is presumed whenever two or more parties come together in business with an implied or express agreement to share the profits that the business generates.  Unlike other business formations, such as LLCs …

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Name, Image, and Likeness: How to Protect Your Right to You

Cari RinckerBusiness Law 2 Comments

Creating a personal brand can be a way to establish an authentic image and stand out from the crowd. For most people, personal branding is a communications strategy rather than a career path. A carefully cultivated personal brand lets people know at a glance who we are, what we stand for, and the value we provide. But for anyone with …

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Perfecting Your Partnership Agreement

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The simplicity of partnerships is alluring.  They are easy to form, and often easy to operate.  It can be tempting to hit the ground running with a partnership without first setting a partnership agreement out in writing.  In this blog, I explore why a written partnership agreement is nevertheless important, and I review a few relevant terms to include in …

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Friend or Foe? How to Protect Your Business During Collaborative Projects

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Standing out in today’s crowded digital marketplace requires business owners to think creatively about brands. Customer attention is a limited commodity that all brands compete for. But there may be opportunities to partner with other brands to gain consumer attention and loyalty. Brand collaboration, or co-branding, is a strategic advertising and marketing partnership between two brands that each bring success …

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