Contracts are not set in stone. Although you may have initially negotiated and agreed on terms of a business relationship, those terms can be inadvertently, and unintentionally, modified based on the parties' course of dealings and/or subsequent oral representations. #DoneDeal

When firing an employee, there are certain steps that should be taken to protect the business from an post-termination claims, the most important of which is wrongful termination. #DoneDeal

The recent lawsuit against Salesforce highlights the importance of performing due diligence on clients and the possibility of being held culpable for the acts of your clients... Vendors beware. #DoneDeal

In most cases, awarding equity for services leads to a taxable event where the person receiving the equity must claim the fair market value of that equity as income. If you don't understand the triggers for this taxable event, or ways to avoid/minimizes upfront taxes, Uncle Sam may unpleasantly surprised you with a significant tax bill. #DoneDeal…

Awarding equity in exchange for performance is a great way to both motivate employees/service providers and allow key personnel to share in the upside to scaling a business. Properly structuring these awards takes planning and intentionality. #DoneDeal

Allowing your website visitors to comment and converse on your site can get you sued unless you follow strict guidelines. #DoneDeal

Project Labor Agreements represent added requirements for any non-union business looking to do work on government contracts... here's what you need to know. #DoneDeal

Implementing a 90-day probationary period for new hires can potentially save you money and headaches. #DoneDeal

When selecting your legal representation, always remember that attorneys, like physicians, have particular areas of practice that they focus on... pay attention. #DoneDeal

Opportunity Zones present the most significant opportunity for using private capital to facilitate economic development in underserved communities.

Whether personal or professional, protecting your brand is a critical element of continued business growth. One of the most important forums where protection is necessary, is the internet.

When entering into any business relationship, fully disclosing all material facts is NOT an option.

Franchising your business is more than just accepting money and allowing someone to use your brand. Understanding the process is critical

To truly bring finality to a business relationship, it is sometimes necessary for the parties to execute a liability waiver and release so that past claims don't (and can't) come back to haunt either party.

An often overlooked resources in protecting the intellectual property of a business is U.S. Customs & Border Patrol. This option is particularly useful for small businesses in disputes with large corporations.

Entering into any deal requires long-term vision and a constant focus on the deal's end goal. The value/consideration given in the contract should be directly tied to those end-goals.

Every deal requires that the party on the other side has the authority not only to sign the applicable contract but to also perform the duties under that contract. If you aren't verifying a person's ability to perform, you may be wasting time and money... not to mention potentially opening yourself up to unknown liabilities.…

When becoming an entrepreneur, it's not always necessary to start a business from scratch. Sometimes, the best way to enter entrepreneurship is to purchase an existing business.

Structuring deals as a business owner requires a continuous focus on your long-term business goals. Every deal, and its specific terms, should move you closer to those goals.

On June 21, 2018, the Supreme Court issued a ruling that changes the landscape of how states can tax internet sales made to residents of their state by businesses w/o a physical presence in that state.

Marketing is one of the most pivotal aspects of operating a business. In this episode, Rod Coleman of Jackson Beverly Coleman Consulting discusses how to be efficient and effective in your marketing efforts.

Separating entities providing different products/services is a smart way to insulate those individual revenue streams from the liabilities of other distinct and distinguishable revenue streams/activities. However, if these separate entities are providing services/products to similar clients, you must be diligent in keeping the entities truly separa…

One-way Buy-Sell agreements can be a very useful tool in the context of succession planning (on the one hand) and business expansion through "alternative" financing (on the other hand). This episode discusses how you can use a life insurance policy to grow through acquisition.

A letter of intent is a useful tool for making sure that two parties are on the same page when it comes to the material terms of a major transaction. This podcast discusses the 'how' and 'why' of letters of intent.

Utilizing 1099 contractors as an extension of your business/workforce is natural. In utilizing these contractors, however, it's necessary to protect your business from the actions of your contractors.

Everyone understands that data has value, but it is equally important to understand the duties that come with the collection of consumer data.

All business filings require routine update/maintenance filings. Whether it's your trademark, state filing, licenses, etc. you must be cognizant of keeping those filings in and up-to-date status.

Business selling products/services online need to establish an understanding of the options available to (and why you should) fight chargeback fraud of consumers.

Understanding the ability to contractually agree to have two, would-be conflicting trademarks, registered with the United States Patent & Trademark Office.

The latest Facebook "scandal" is a huge lesson in how companies can be liable for third-party uses of their consumers data, even if that data us and collection was a breach of that company's privacy policy... Having a privacy policy is a first step, but true enforcement of that policy is what shields you from liability.…

Not every idea is patentable; not all IP can receive "registered" protection. Understanding the strategy behind your IP is critical to maintaining business value.

Understanding how and when you enter into binding agreements for your business is critical to effectively running your business.

Failing to properly dissolve and wind down your business could leave you on the hook (personally) for unpaid debts and outstanding liabilities. Do it right.

New tax laws have made it necessary to re-evaluate how your business is taxed. It's important to know that you can change your default tax classification to be taxed in a more favorable manner.

When purchasing a business, it's important to understand where the business derives its value from so that you can put provisions in place to keep those elements around post-acquisition.

Acquiring a business doesn't mean that you have to put forth all the capital. Strategic acquisitions include using either bank money and, most importantly, seller financing.

Working jointly with other businesses is necessary for growth... but so is protecting your interests in that relationship.

Understanding tax reform as a small business owner could save you money in 2018 and beyond... This episode highlights some high level changes to the code and how you can prepare yourself.

New Year brings an influx of business for personal trainers. Personal trainers need to ensure that there contracts and operations are in order to protect them.

Net Neutrality Repeal could have negative impacts on small business, here are some of the ways.

When utilizing outside vendors to create intellectual property for your business, it’s necessary to draft contract terms that vest full ownership back into your company.

Franchising a business is not as simple as you may think. If you’re looking to franchise your business concept, understanding the process is critical.

Knowing the difference between debt and equity investments is necessary for businesses raising capital.

Understand the ways in which you can legally modify the terms of your business relationships.

Structuring your business to maximize tax efficiencies and separate certain business liabilities could save you headaches in future operations.

Convertible instruments are often necessary for early stage companies... here are a few of the basics regarding them.

Periodically reevaluating relationships is necessary to ensuring that it continues to work to your benefit.

Not all noncompete agreements are enforceable, makes sure that yours is.

Planning for the end of a business relationship is just as important as planning for the beginning.

Employee Handbooks can be critical to not only establishing company culture but to also providing additional support protection to your company.