Your trusted source for Iowa business and franchise law insights.
Your trusted source for Iowa business and franchise law insights.
Next Tuesday we will elect a new Governor in Iowa. Will it be Chet Culver or Jim Nussle?
Be sure to check out both sites and examine their positions on Iowa business. Culver’s site includes a 10 point plan to promote Iowa small business, entrepreneurs and access to capital. Nussle’s site includes a plan…
In the last post I discussed incorporation and asset protection. An often overlooked area of asset protection is estate planning. My partner, Matt Gardner of Sullivan & Ward, P.C., has started a new Wealth and Estate Planning blog. In his blog Matt will discuss estate planning, probate, small business planning and asset protection. …
Many advertisements on the Internet tout the benefits of forming a corporation. The first benefit typically mentioned is that a corporation provides "limited libility". Many of these companies would have you believe that if you form your own company for $99.00 you can magically protect your assets from creditors. But asset protection is more than…
I recently had some criticisms of a recent article published on Entrepreneur.com regarding advice for business contracts but I still believe the site is an excellent resource for the business start-up and beyond.
A recent article included the 11 pitfalls of start-up. The site regularly has information on the following topics:
1. Starting a…
An often neglected agreement in the formation of a small business is the buy-sell agreement. Every business that has multiple owners should consider having a buy-sell agreement. Such an agreement covers how an owner can sell shares and how to value those shares. Further, a good buy-sell agreement sets forth what happens in the…
In my last post I talked about my reluctance to recommend do-it-yourself solutions when it comes to business contracts, Wills and other documents. I know it is self-serving but I have just seen do-it-yourself solutions come back to haunt business people too many times to count. If you are a business person you can pay…
As a business lawyer, I am reluctant to recommend do-it-yourself solutions. I have seen many business people run into problems with do-it-yourself contracts, Wills and other documents. With that caveat, the NOLO Web site is a great online resource.
The NOLO site covers several categories including:
I recently read an excellent reminder on corporate governance issues written by business and real estate lawyer Traci D. Ellis.
Ellis wrote that good corporate governance is essential to running and growing a business. Here are some of her examples of good corporate governance:
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Where should I incorporate my small business? I hear this question a lot from would be entrepreneurs in Iowa. The question used to surprise me but after seeing the numerous advertisements for Delaware and Nevada corporations on the Internet I suppose it is a legitimate question.
Delaware has reputation and history on its side. Delaware’s…
We have started a new tradition. Every Saturday I will point out a great Web resource for business start-ups. Today is one of my favorites.
The Entrepreneurs’ Viewpoint Blog along with the Kauffman eVenturing Web site is one of the best comprehensive resources for businesses on the Web. The site contains orginal articles written by…