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 ReadingI had a stress meltdown recently. Not that this should have come as any surprise–after all, I run myself ragged; I spend way too many hours in front of the computer, the phone and other…
Read MoreWhen you’re starting your business, partnership agreements can seem a tedious exercise. Not only do they take time and careful planning, but also partnership agreements can feel like a bucket of cold water–a real reality…
Read MoreQ.: I am the sole shareholder and director of a closely held corporation. I have failed to keep my board minutes book updated for several years. How do I go back now and update the…
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