As a lawyer representing both franchisors and franchisees I have somewhat of an unique perspective on franchisor / franchisee relationships. Most franchise lawyers tend to represent one side or the other. But it is somewhat rare for a franchise lawyer to represent both sides. I have spent over two decades now reviewing franchise agreements. I
Business Law
Don’t Use a Service to obtain a Certificate of Existence for Your LLC or Corporation
I recently formed a corporation and within a short time I received a flyer in the mail from a company operating as IA Certificate Service. The flyer (see a similar one from a Mississippi article) explained that the next step for me after filing my Articles of Incorporation was to obtain my…
The Eighth Ingredient in Franchise Investing: Is there a Runway for Future Growth?
This is the final post in a series of posts on the Secret Sauce of Franchise Investing based upon an excellent article I read some time ago on what private equity likes to see before investing in a franchise. In this post I am highlighting the eighth ingredient which is whether the franchise has…
The Seventh Ingredient for Franchise Investing: Successful Franchisees
I am blogging a series of posts on the Secret Sauce of Franchise Investing based upon an excellent article I read some time ago on what private equity likes to see before investing in a franchise. In this post I am highlighting the seventh ingredient which is whether the franchise has successful franchisees.
Good…
The Fifth Ingredient for Franchise Investing: Does the Franchise have a Critical Mass of Units?
Back in January of this year, I started a series of blog posts regarding the Secret Sauce of Franchising Investing. I wrote the detailed posts on my first four “ingredients” and then Covid hit. I turned my attention to writing on issues impacting Iowa business relating to the government shut down, relief funding and…
CARES ACT and Its Relief for Your Business
On Friday, March 27, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The components of the Act that help businesses are a part of a multi-faceted stimulus bill to assist businesses and individuals with the economic challenged caused by the Coronavirus. An excellent overview of the Act has been…
Iowa Sets Up Covid-19 Targeted Small Business Sole Operator Fund
The State of Iowa has now created a fund to help Targeted Small Businesses with no employees that have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The program offers eligible small businesses grants ranging from $5,000-$10,000 to businesses that are single owners with no employees that are also TSB certified, or have an application submitted to…
Iowa to Offer Small Businesses Up to $25,000 in Grants for Assistance
Small businesses in Iowa can apply for grants up to $25,000 to assist during the coronavirus pandemic. The money comes from approximately $4 million in disaster money before the legislature postponed its session earlier this month and monies already available through the Iowa Department of Economic Development.
Eligible businesses include those with between 2 and…
Iowa Governor Announces Unemployment Insurance Tax Extension to Assist Small Businesses
Iowa Governor Reynolds announced that first quarter unemployment tax payments that are due April 30th will be delayed till the end of the 2nd quarter, July 31, 2020. Eligible employers include those employers with 50 or fewer employees. Eligible employers also must be in good standing with no delinquencies in quarterly payments.
To qualify for…
SBA Issues Economic Injury Disaster Loan Declaration for Iowa
Governor Reynolds announced on Saturday, March 21st that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has issued a disaster declaration for the state of Iowa as of January 31, 2020 and continuing. The declaration allows pandemic-impacted small businesses to apply for low-interest support loans. The declaration comes after Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds submitted a federal funding…