September 6, 2017
When you’re thinking about business divorce, there are a couple of hot button items that come to mind. First, you want to know which events trigger a buyout. The three D’s usually factor into the most well-drafted partnership agreements: death (pretty obvious), disability (perhaps less obvious–how would you define “disability”?), and dissolution (you and your partner agree to close up shop). Next, you need to know where the money will come from. In the case of death, it can come from life insurance proceeds. But the kicker is often how much will you pay? Chris Mercer, author of the newly released Buy-Sell Agreements for Closely Held and Family Business Owners, raised this issue in an earlier treatment of the subject of buy/sell agreements. Well, to take the poet, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, out of context, “Let me count the ways”: You could agree on a fixed price. Problem is, the price you establish at the inception may not be fair 10 years down the road. You could develop a formula, such as a multiple of earnings.…
Continue ReadingAs seen in Enterprising Women Magazine “Janine” owned a highly successful women’s athletic apparel business (Swette, Inc.). She faced an issue common to companies ramping up and expanding: the business outgrows the founders. Janine’s background…
Read MoreYes, lack of cash flow can kill any business, but it seems to hurt more in business partnerships. First, there’s the denial phase (“sure, we can continue to meet expenses and take our monthly draws”). …
Read MoreThe amount of control you have over your workers affects their legal definition. Entrepreneurs continually face an age-old conundrum: You can’t grow your company without hiring more people. But you can’t hire anyone until the…
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