Firm News and Law Updates
Welcome back to the "No B.S. Legal Solutions" series! Today, we are diving into a topic that affects every business with employees: employment law. Understanding the basics of employment law can help you build a positive work environment and avoid legal headaches.
Read MoreWelcome back to the "No B.S. Legal Solutions" series, where we cut through the legal jargon to give you practical insights. Today, we are diving into a crucial topic for any business: intellectual property protection.
Read MoreWelcome back to "No B.S. Legal Solutions," where we are all about giving you the scoop on business law. In this blog, we dive into a topic every businessperson will encounter: contracts and agreements. They might sound intimidating, but we are here to clarify them.
Read MoreWelcome back to the "No B.S. Legal Solutions" series! In this blog, we are tackling one of the first and most crucial decisions you will make as an entrepreneur: choosing the proper business structure. Think of it as the foundation of your business – get it right, and you are off to a great start.
Read MoreHey there, future business leaders and entrepreneurs! Welcome to our blog series, "No B.S. Legal Solutions." Sure, that might make you think, this is B.S. Well, you are right. The Skeen Firm principal, Brocton Skeen, believes in Main Street business and simplifying complex legal issues so those business owners can better serve their communities. If running your business efficiently and legally is essential to you (it should be), you are in the right place if you want to dive into the business world and make your entrepreneurial dreams a reality.
Read MoreAs an entrepreneur or small business owner, you have the drive and ambition to turn your dreams into reality. But before diving headfirst into the business world, it is crucial to understand the importance of entity formation. This article highlights the true value of forming a legal entity for your business and how it can safeguard your assets and propel you toward long-term success.
Read MoreAs a small business owner, you put your heart and soul into building your company. But what happens when it’s time to move on? Whether you are retiring, selling, or passing the business on to your children, you need a plan. That’s where succession and estate planning meet.
Read MoreWhen an entrepreneur establishes a company, they often focus on the excitement of their new venture and the growth potential. That said, it is equally important to consider the legal aspects that govern shareholder relationships and responsibilities. A shareholder agreement is a crucial document that outlines the rights, obligations, and protections of all parties involved in a corporation. This blog post will provide an introductory overview of shareholder agreements, their key elements, and why they are essential for business success.
Read MoreBefore diving into any lessons learned from running a business—a law firm—for the last five years, I would like to thank everyone who has supported me. I especially want to thank everyone who said I was crazy or weird or told me I could not do something.
Read MoreThat Warren Buffett fellow is really onto something, and that’s not even considering his inclusion on the Forbes 400. So, what exactly is he onto? Glad you asked! His company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., is the gold standard of a holding company (holdco). Hold up, what was that term? A holdco, sometimes known as a parent company, is an entity that owns investments in the form of stocks, bonds, other companies (operating companies/opco), or anything of value. With the definitions out of the way, we can move on to how a holdco can help SMB owners.
Read MoreBob is back with a new lesson to help your business. Many small business owners want to retire. Most don't have a plan on how to make that happen. Steven Covey's second habit is, "begin with the end in mind." As a small business owner, determining your exit (end) will guide your corporate structure and business operations. It will also determine the appropriate level of succession planning for your situation. So, whether your business ends when you walk away, you build an empire and sell, or you build a brand with superb systems that can last for decades after you leave, one thing is certain having a succession plan is important.
Read MoreThis is a simplification of the process of going public, it is an example of the best-known investor exit. Investor exits are a major consideration for business owners, as are returns, growth, and how each of these fits into the investor’s time horizon.
Read MoreA lot of small business information available today focuses on LLCs. And while we are big fans of LLCs, there is a more direct and simple solution to get a business going. That solution is a partnership.
Read MoreLLCs are great for their ease of management and minimal corporate formalities. But, as a business scales, it could attract investors. Those investors are otherwise known as venture capital funds (VC). VCs prefer to invest in C Corporations. There are many reasons like tax considerations and exit strategies. For some business owners accepting fund investment was not on their radar when forming their business. Remember, one of the main considerations of forming a corporate entity is personal asset protection.
Read MoreBob is back and his assets have grown. Now is the time to think about organizing his business to protect his assets. The simplest method to do that is through a Limited Liability Company (LLC). Yes, Bob will get certain tax benefits, but that is not the most valuable attribute an LLC provides. The most valuable attribute of an LLC is asset protection for its members. The fact that it is not as formal as a corporation is a major bonus too.
Read MoreWe are often asked about which business entity is best? We almost always answer with, it depends. So, meet Bob, who will help us better explain when certain business entities might be right for you. Every other week we will follow Bob from sole proprietor to public company. Each time your goal is to #belikebob.
Read MoreAt The Skeen Firm, we take the grind out of governance, allowing you to focus on making money. Don’t let governance issues hamstring your business or be your Achilles’ heel, leaving you to say gosh darn it.
Read MoreThe Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) is part of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020, which Congress added to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (“NDAA”). The CTA requires Beneficial Ownership Disclosure (“BOD”) of all reporting companies. To keep it simple a reporting company is any corporation, LLC, or other similar entity formed with any state or foreign government. A beneficial owner of this kind of company is any person or entity with over 25% ownership.
Read MoreMost small business owners wonder what they can do to decrease their taxes. The best answer for all small business owners is simple: Focus on growing revenue and you will find taxes will not matter. Following this philosophy is all the more important for start-ups. In the first five years of business, growth can fix most issues. Growth, not decreased taxes, is the lifeblood of your business.
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