Your trusted source for Iowa business and franchise law insights.
Your trusted source for Iowa business and franchise law insights.
If you are interested in buying an existing Iowa business you should take a look at this due diligence checklist provided by Kauffman eVenturing and developed by finance expert Corey Schwartz. Using a due diligence checklist can help you compile the necessary information to investigate a business and negotiate effectively.
For more information regarding the…
For over fifty years, the Sullivan & Ward law firm has represented rural electric cooperatives and generating electric cooperatives in the state of Iowa, as well as several electric cooperatives from across the country. Our attorneys, including John Ward and Michael Joynt, have gained national recognition for their expertise in the area of rural…
Iowa Secretary of State Biennial Report Revocation Deadline
If you have not filed your biennial report with the Iowa Secretary of State the revocation deadline is fast approaching. If you fail to comply with filing the report your Certificate of Authority to operate your business in Iowa will be revoked on August 7, 2006. This…
Six Questions to Consider Before Firing an Employee
You should consider the following in deciding whether to fire an employee:
1) Do you have documentation of the employee’s poor performance and/or poor behavior? What is in the employee’s personnel file? You should also conduct a thorough investigation of the events in question including the employee’s…
Iowa Corporate and Business Attorney to Write "The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Starting a Business in Iowa"
Des Moines,Iowa corporate and business attorney Rush Nigut is currently working on an online handbook entitled, "The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Starting a Business in Iowa". The handbook will appear on the Web site of Sullivan & Ward, P.C.(a…
SPAMMER TO REINVENT HIMSELF: MOVIE TO FOLLOW?
I recently read an article about the The State of Texas and Microsoft filing a lawsuit against one of the world’s worst purveyors of spam, Ryan Pitylak. Pitylak apparently admitted to sending out 25 million spam emails a day at the height of his business operation. Pitylak was…
DES MOINES UTILITY FRANCHISE TAX CASE HEADED TO TRIAL
Last week, the Iowa Supreme Court reversed a lower court ruling on a franchise tax issued by the City of Des Moines on utilities. Des Moines had been sued in District Court by Lisa Kragnes seeking to declare the utility franchise tax illegal. She won in…
FACTORS IN FORMING YOUR IOWA BUSINESS
You are considering forming an Iowa small business. What type of business structure should you choose? In Iowa, your choices generally are a sole proprietorship, S corporation, C corporation, or a limited liability company.
Some of the factors to consider in choosing a business structure are:
1) Personal liability…
Importance of Trademarks
Des Moines Iowa patent and trademark attorney Brett Trout recently wrote three good articles on the importance of trademarks. With the Internet, even the smallest of companies should become familar with trademark issues in order to protect their business names and logos.
Go to http://blog.bretttrout.com for more information.
How to Hire the Right Attorney for Your Business
There are four professionals that your business will likely need for start-up and beyond.
1) Attorney,
2) Accountant,
3) Insurance Agent, and
4) Banker.
Recently I read article which quoted fitness video guru Billy Blanks as saying he learned how it important it was to hire…