It is certainly troubling, especially in a sluggish economy, when customers fail to pay their bills in a timely fashion or at all.  It is perhaps even more irksome when you experience a payment problem after you have exerted your best efforts to render valuable services or deliver high-quality goods.  Of course, there can...

   Slow business cycles provide a unique opportunity for companies to evaluate important and often overlooked aspects of their operation. In short, this “down” time offers business owners and executives a chance to get their affairs in order.

   Employment policies, such as vacation and leave policies, whether or not contained in a...

   It is extremely important, from time to time, to take a break from the rapid pace of business and devote some attention to the future and your long-term goals.  Whether you are at a stage in life where you are just beginning to grow your business, or you are at a point where...

 

While many businesses were, in the past, run on handshakes with customers and suppliers, it is essential today that that these agreements be put to writing.  Certainly, not everything needs to be set forth in a detailed writing.  Very simple, even handwritten agreements, can be used for many day-to-day items.  For instance, a purchase...

Business owners often believe that the commercial lease is standard and that the services of an attorney are not necessary.  While commercial leases are usually in a somewhat standard form, there are many important items that deserve special attention and can be negotiated. For example, it is important to obtain from a landlord the...

Many business owners and managers feel comfortable negotiating the general terms of computer agreements. Often, the purchase or rental of computer equipment or software seems like any other acquisition of office equipment.  The stakes, however, are dramatically higher when computers are involved.  

Whether you are leasing or purchasing the software or hardware, having...

 

It is often a good idea for a business to develop an employee handbook, which sets forth the company's policies regarding vacation, sick leave, holidays, benefits, and the like.  The advantage of putting this type of information into one handbook, which is given to all employees, is that you are keeping...

 

 

Terminating an employee is always a difficult job for an employer.  One of the biggest concerns an employer may have is that the employee will sue the company for wrongful termination.  There are some things an employer can do to reduce the chances of litigation.  First, the company should have a clear, written policy...

Unfortunately, not getting paid promptly, or at all, for services or products supplied is a common problem experienced by businesses.. There are a number of simple steps a business owner can take in order to decrease the occurrences of such non-payment, without resorting to...

New business owners are often concerned about liability, and rightly so.  Once a business begins operations, or even before it, one should consider what type of legal entity should be formed in order to protect the owner(s) from personal liability.  The two most common choices are corporations and limited liability companies.  There are two...