New Year Resolution for your Business - Get a Business Plan

Category:Business Law and Planning

I my representation of small businesses and their owners, a self-evident truth is that those with a business plan are more likely to succeed. While attorneys don't develop business plans, we are often involved in transactions that would benefit from a business plan having been in place (notice that I didn't say being created) such as investor financing, bank financing, mergers, employee equity plans, acquisitions.

Since the creation of business plans in out of my core area of practice, but essential for my clients, a introductory resource I recommend is bplans.com. The site is packed with Q&A about business plans, tutorials for the entrepreneurs starting a business, income and expense calculators, and business plans for purchase or free download (free of course being key to a startup). There is also bplans blog, which offers commentary on startups, small business, business planning and growth strategy.

Look for future posts on those areas of a business plan where your business attorney can offer the most resources.

Check out that Employee - Hiring Checklist

Category: Business Law and Planning

The new year tends to be a time when business owners scrutinize practices and procedures to improve productivity in the new year. I came across the posting Employment Law: Hiring Checklist on Lady Bird Deed Blog, which caught my eye in the opener:

"2006 ended with one of my small business clients running into a flury of employee problems. Employees on drugs, allegations of sexual misconduct in the workplace and theft to name a few. "

Wouldn't it be great if you never hired the people that you might end up in court about? The checklist is practical advice. I emphasize the use of background checks to avoid (or at least be knowledgeable about) potential problems, and strongly urge that if you don't have an employee handbook, you create one (as it may be your saving grace if you do end up in a lawsuit.)