You might be comfortable with using handshakes and promises to confirm deals and agreements, especially when it comes to friends and family. However, to successfully own and manage a business, it's important to put things down on paper. Contracts enable you to protect yourself and your business should disagreements, conflicts or contractual violations arise.
What do venture capitalists look for in startups?
One of the most difficult parts of getting a small business off the ground is finding adequate funding. Ambitious entrepreneurs look for funding from multiple sources, like business loans, family and friends and even crowdfunding. But there is one particular source of funding that every entrepreneur dreams of: A deep-pocketed venture capitalist who is willing to invest.
Important things to consider in a franchise contract
Owning a franchise can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be incredibly risky. The first risk that franchise owners will encounter comes in the form of their franchise contract. Signing a contract that is not to your benefit can be perilous to your financial success. And many franchise contracts are skewed in favor of the franchise company, not the owner.
Tips for female franchise owners to empower other women
In the past year, there has been extensive public discussion on female parity in the workplace. The business world may still be dominated by men, but women are making significant headway. Female entrepreneurs are steadily becoming more powerful, paving the way for other business-minded women.
Consider your options for filing business taxes
Being a business owner is hectic enough without the hassle of filing your annual business taxes. The filing deadline is fast approaching, and many entrepreneurs are groaning at the thought of their complicated returns. Still, it is a necessary process that every business must go through. As the old saying goes, the only sure things in this world are death and taxes. Fortunately, business owners have a few different options when it comes to filing business taxes.
What should an LLC’s operating agreement include?
Drafting an operating agreement is an important step in running an LLC. Your company’s operating agreement will lay out the ground rules for day-to-day operations and members’ responsibilities. Some business owners choose to bypass an operating agreement, to their company’s detriment.
Buy a retirement community or start one from scratch?
Perhaps you work in a retirement community or have always had special reasons to want to own one. You have decided the time is coming, and the main question weighing on your mind is whether to buy an existing community or start one from scratch.
Why you should retain a business lawyer
Businesses will go encounter many speed bumps and roadblocks along the path to success. When your business encounters one of these obstacles, it may be tempting to tackle the issue on your own or simply throw your hands up in resignation. Wise business owners know a better way to handle these challenges—by retaining a business attorney.
In a world of copycats, how can my intellectual property survive?
Protecting your intellectual property can be brutal. In our competitive global market, it seems that copycats are popping up everywhere. All too often, entrepreneurs find that another business has copied their carefully-guarded intellectual property or trade secrets. Taking out a patent or copyright can help safeguard against infringement and theft, but the legal battle involved is often long and costly.
Can a noncompete agreement protect your trade secrets?
When you have spent a great deal of time building your business’s success and reputation, the last thing you want is for someone with inside information to use it against you. This might occur when a former employee uses your company’s secrets, such as an exclusive formula, financial information or your clients’ contact info, to gain an unfair competitive advantage over you. You might find a solution by creating a noncompete agreement for your employees to sign, but you and other Georgia employers need to understand the elements of a fair noncompete contract.
