Becoming a franchisee is an appealing way for many aspiring business owners to dip their toes into the entrepreneurial universe. Generally, there is a proven business model and process for franchisees to follow, in addition to many other forms of support provided by franchisors. There is still a fair amount of due diligence for potential franchisees to conduct, however, before agreeing to this business relationship. Read More

As a business owner, your contracts are the lifeblood of your company's profitability and your livelihood. Written contracts are the best way to ensure that the parties your business deals with directly live up to their end of any agreements you enter. What happens, though, when a third party, who is not covered under one of your business’s contracts, meddles in your business’s affairs? In this case, you might have a Read More

Among businesspeople, it is common knowledge that the primary duty of a corporation’s executives and board of directors is to earn shareholders a return on their investment. This fiduciary duty has long been the accepted practice. The movement to be environmentally conscious, however, has ushered in new ways of thinking, including the development of a unique type of business structure referred to as a B corporation. Read More

One of the many ways that potential investors or other potential stakeholders can assess the financial health of a company is by using a figure known as EBITDA, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. If you are an entrepreneur and attempting to persuade venture capitalists and certain types of investors to supply funding to your start-up, you might choose to highlight your start-up’s Read More

Has your business grown to the point where you need extra help to keep things running smoothly? If you are ready to hire your first employee or need to convert an independent contractor to employee status, there are several steps you will need to take to comply with state and federal law and to shield your business from future disputes. Here are four things you should begin working on before you extend that first job Read More

Great news: your business has expanded so much that you need an extra pair of hands to keep everything going and your clients happy. Before you hire your first employee, though, you have to determine if you are offering an hourly or salaried position. This blog will go over some of the important distinctions between these two types of compensation.  Salaried vs. Hourly Compensation Salaried workers often sign Read More

Majority and minority shareholders are often in a perpetual state of tension. Minority shareholders in a company will often seek to find ways to secure some semblance of power and control, while majority shareholders are often eager to assert theirs. This dynamic can be a particular problem when the company is for sale, which is why there are a popular set of rights often used by companies that issue stock called Read More

You might know it as a “memorandum of agreement” or a “letter of intent.” While it goes by different names, a memorandum of understanding is an important tool for individuals, businesses, and governments to come together and make a good-faith effort to arrive at some sort of consensus or agreement. This blog will explore the uses of a memorandum of understanding in the world of business.  Is a Memorandum of Read More

One of the most important assets for any business owner is a trademark. This form of intellectual property allows an individual or company to hold ownership of a logo, design, or other distinctive identifier that designates its products or services as being from a particular source. Owning a trademark protects your intellectual property and prevents other people from using it without your permission. Sometimes, Read More

Need more money for your startup? Depending on your situation, you might want to explore venture capital funding or you might want to seek financing from an angel investor. Angel investors may not have the resources of a venture capital firm since they tend to be high net-worth individuals seeking to invest their own funds, but they are less likely to seek direct involvement with the company and are often willing to Read More