Chicago Business bLAWg

Red Rocket Blog (Startup Lessons by George Deeb): Lesson #56: Frequent Legal Questions of Startups

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:27:00 +0000

A terrific read on why you should get advice from an expereinced business lawyer before starting your new business:

Red Rocket Blog (Startup Lessons by George Deeb): Lesson #56: Frequent Legal Questions of Startups: "Getting good legal advice, from the very beginning of your startup, can save a lot of unnecessary hassles down the road. For this lesson, I..."

New Resource for Businesses - Inc. Well

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Tue, 10 May 2011 13:58:00 +0000

Attention all entrepreneurs and business owners!

You may be interested in the new NBC Chicago’s blog – Inc. Well – a how-to blog for Chicago’s entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Aside from having great articles, resources and information for the small business owner, our very own business attorney, Arieh M. Flemenbaum, was interviewed (again) and quoted in the blog - “Why Biz Owners Should Rethink that IPO” (click the link or go to: http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/inc-well/Why-Biz-Owners-Should-Rethink-that-IPO-121521309.html.

Arieh was also quoted in the first edition of Inc. Well for a discussion about why entrepreneurs should consider incorporating their business (to obtain liability protections and separate their business assets from their personal ones). See the Inc. Well blog entitled, "Why You Might Want to Incorporate Your Small Biz" (click the link or go to: http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/inc-well/Should-You-Incorporate-Your-Small-Biz-119838059.html)

For more information about incorporating and protecting your business, please visit the website of Griffith & Jacobson, LLC (click the link or go to: http://www.gjlaw.com)- Chicago's Business Lawyers.

Healthcare Fad or Wave of the Future?

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 10:14:00 +0000

To address rising costs in healthcare, "Some medical practices move to monthly membership fees for patients." - A good article from the Chicago Tribune on an interesting business model being used by some doctors. http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/la-he-healthcare-membership-20110308,0,7192994.story

Top 5 Business Tips for Developing an Employee Handbook

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 10:36:00 +0000

With the economy still sputtering, your business needs to take advantage of the resources available to them. SCORE (http://www.score.org) offers useful, free resources, business counseling and business tools to small businesses.

One of SCORE’s great resources is its lists of “Top 5 Business Tips.” My pick for this week is SCORE’s 5 Tips for Developing an Employee Handbook- check it out at: http://www.score.org/5_tips_leg_6.html.

We recommend you perform a year-end strategic business review (and update your planning). For our strategic business planning checklist part 1 & part 2:

http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=55397007-ca6e-4941-a509-88db4be93030

http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=d6ecf8e0-b07c-4a66-9e2a-3db1f2236c55

SCORE is a partner with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and is a national association dedicated to helping small business owners form and grow their businesses. SCORE offers terrific free resources, business counseling and business tools for small businesses.

____________________________________________________________

For information on how the business lawyers at Griffith & Jacobson, LLC can help your business grow, contact Arieh M. Flemenbaum at 312-236-8110 or by email at Contact Us (http://www.gjlaw.com/contact). Or visit us at our website: http://www.gjlaw.com

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-up No. 18:

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 10:36:00 +0000

To help you complete a check-up and strategic year-end planning for your business, we will publish helpful tips and ideas through the end of the year. This tip is part of our ongoing series.

Business Check-up No. 18:

It is almost always less expensive & more effective to involve your business lawyer earlier than later!

Check for updates every week day through December 31st.

Happy New Year from Griffith & Jacobson, LLC!

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 10:27:00 +0000

A new year should bring new hope and new opportunities. We hope the new year brings you much happiness, health and wealth!

Happy New Year!

From all of us at Griffith & Jacobson, LLC

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC - We know Chicago's Business.

Year-End Business Check-Up No. 17:

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 10:36:00 +0000

To help you complete a check-up and strategic year-end planning for your business, we will publish helpful tips and ideas through the end of the year. This tip is part of our ongoing series.

Business Check-up No. 17:

Monitor the financial health of vendors & customers on a regular basis. Identify & plan for potential bankruptcies.

Check for updates every week day through December 31st.

Happy Holidays from Griffith & Jacobson, LLC!

______________________________________________________________

For information on how the business lawyers at Griffith & Jacobson, LLC can help your business grow, contact Arieh M. Flemenbaum at 312-236-8110 or by email at Contact Us (http://www.gjlaw.com/contact).

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-Up No. 16:

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 10:36:00 +0000

To help you complete a check-up and strategic year-end planning for your business, we will publish helpful tips and ideas through the end of the year. This tip is part of our ongoing series.

Business Check-up No. 16:

Perform aging reports on your Accounts Receivables (A/R) frequently & regularly. Identify, monitor, contact and resolve problems with slow payers!

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-Up No. 15:

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 10:36:00 +0000

To help you complete a check-up and strategic year-end planning for your business, we will publish helpful tips and ideas through the end of the year. This tip is part of our ongoing series.

Business Check-up No. 15:

Perform a cash flow analysis of your business on a frequent and routine basis.

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-up No. 14:

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 10:36:00 +0000

To help you complete a check-up and strategic year-end planning for your business, we will publish helpful tips and ideas through the end of the year. This tip is part of our ongoing series.

Business Check-up No. 14:

Review your buy-sell and/or shareholder agreements. Re-examine the purchase mechanisms & valuation methods. Discuss these ownership and management matters before a triggering event happens.

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Top 5 Business Tips for Employers to Implement

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 10:36:00 +0000

With the economy still sputtering, your business needs to take advantage of the resources available to them. SCORE (http://www.score.org) offers useful, free resources, business counseling and business tools to small businesses.

One of SCORE’s great resources is its lists of “Top 5 Business Tips.” My pick for this week is SCORE’s 5 Tips for Employers to Implement- check it out at: http://www.score.org/5_tips_leg_2.html.

We recommend you perform a year-end strategic business review (and update your planning). For our strategic business planning checklist part 1 & part 2:

http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=55397007-ca6e-4941-a509-88db4be93030

http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=d6ecf8e0-b07c-4a66-9e2a-3db1f2236c55

SCORE is a partner with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and is a national association dedicated to helping small business owners form and grow their businesses. SCORE offers terrific free resources, business counseling and business tools for small businesses.

____________________________________________________________

For information on how the business lawyers at Griffith & Jacobson, LLC can help your business grow, contact Arieh M. Flemenbaum at 312-236-8110 or by email at Contact Us (http://www.gjlaw.com/contact). Or visit us at our website: http://www.gjlaw.com

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Happy Holidays!

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 10:23:00 +0000

Wishing you and yours the very best! We hope you get to enjoy the holidays with family and friends.

Happy Holidays,

from all of us at Griffith & Jacobson, LLC

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC - Chicago's Business Lawyers.

Year-end Business Check-up No. 13:

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 10:36:00 +0000

To help you complete a check-up and strategic year-end planning for your business, we will publish helpful tips and ideas through the end of the year. This tip is part of our ongoing series.

Business Check-up No. 13:

Develop & implement a disaster plan. Address the loss of a key supplier or customer, your data, inventory, equipment or even your workplace.

Too many businesses suddenly collapse because they have no plan in place to chaos that ensues after an unexpected disaster - whether it be a fire, loss of your computers, data, an equipment breakdown or even the sudden loss of a key supplier.

Every business should have a business disaster plan. Most people plan and hold drills for natural disasters (such as tornado or fire drills) and your physical safety is a priority. But is your business prepared to weather those same disasters? What will happen if your business has to move because of a fire or flooding? What if your files/computer system and/or data were suddenly destroyed? Is your business ready for the financial strain and will your business be able to carry on if your business lost its key supplier?

Be sure to have emergency contingency plans to address key and strategic files/data, business assets and equipment. Do you have back-ups in place? Once the physical danger has passed, do your employees know your plan to get your business back up and running as soon as possible?

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-end Business Check-up No. 12:

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 10:36:00 +0000

To help you complete a check-up and strategic year-end planning for your business, we will publish helpful tips and ideas through the end of the year. This tip is part of our ongoing series.

Business Check-up No. 12:

Assess your health/life/disability programs offered & determine if employee benefits and employer contributions are reasonable (and/or at least on par with the industry standards).

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-Up No. 11:

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 10:36:00 +0000

To help you complete a check-up and strategic year-end planning for your business, we will publish helpful tips and ideas through the end of the year. This tip is part of our ongoing series.

Business Check-up No. 11:

Complete or update your business succession plan and have an exit strategy. Too many businesses suddenly collapse because they have no plan in place to deal with a sudden loss of leadership and/or the financial strain of loosing an owner (or key employee). Will your business be able to carry on if you (or another key employee) suddenly were injured, incapacitated or died?

Every business should have a succession plan/exit strategy. Be sure to groom a successor - who knows how to run your business in your absence. Buy life insurance and/or key man insurance for yourself (as the business owner) and for all of your key employees. The money can help "rent" a director or "buy" management expertise while your successor tries to get your business back on track.

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-Up No. 10:

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 10:36:00 +0000

To help you complete a check-up and strategic year-end planning for your business, we will publish helpful tips and ideas through the end of the year. This tip is part of our ongoing series.

Business Check-up No. 10:

Perform a thorough review of your business insurance. Ensure you have the right coverages & amounts for your risk. Many business owners are unaware of or neglect business continuation coverage - i.e., insurance to give you monies to rent a temporary place and/or buy supplies, replacement products, emergency phones,internet connections/servers, etc., in the event of an unexpected disaster - e.g., a fire, storm, flooding and even death of a key employee or owner.

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Top 5 Business Tips for Teaching Employees to Own their Work

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:36:00 +0000

With the economy still sputtering, your business needs to take advantage of the resources available to them. SCORE (http://www.score.org) offers useful, free resources, business counseling and business tools to small businesses.

One of SCORE’s great resources is its lists of “Top 5 Business Tips.” My pick for this week is SCORE’s 5 Tips for Teaching Employees to Own Their Work - check it out at: http://www.score.org/5_tips_l_10.html.

We recommend you perform a year-end strategic business review (and update your planning). For our strategic business planning checklist part 1 & part 2:

http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=55397007-ca6e-4941-a509-88db4be93030

http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=d6ecf8e0-b07c-4a66-9e2a-3db1f2236c55

SCORE is a partner with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and is a national association dedicated to helping small business owners form and grow their businesses. SCORE offers terrific free resources, business counseling and business tools for small businesses.

____________________________________________________________

For information on how the business lawyers at Griffith & Jacobson, LLC can help your business grow, contact Arieh M. Flemenbaum at 312-236-8110 or by email at Contact Us (http://www.gjlaw.com/contact). Or visit us at our website: http://www.gjlaw.com

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-Up No. 9:

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:36:00 +0000

To help you complete a check-up and strategic year-end planning for your business, we will publish helpful tips and ideas through the end of the year. This tip is part of our ongoing series.

Business Check-up No. 9:

Complete and update all of your confidentiality, nondisclosure or non-competition agreements for your employees, vendors and/or customers. Ensure your existing agreements are still enforceable: i.e., they are reasonable given the circumstances and their restrictions are narrowly tailored and fit the facts surrounding the situation.

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-up No. 8:

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 10:36:00 +0000

To help you complete a check-up and strategic year-end planning for your business, we will publish helpful tips and ideas through the end of the year. This tip is part of our ongoing series.

Business Check-up No. 8:

Are you maximizing your intellectual property rights? Meet with your business lawyer to discuss ways you can you monetize your IP rights and secure potential new sources of income. Be sure to have measures in place to secure and protect your valuable intellectual property rights and trade secrets. Address any infringements and/or possible disputes over your IP rights, licensing and trade secrets.

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-up No. 7:

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 10:36:00 +0000

To help you complete a check-up and strategic year-end planning for your business, we will publish helpful tips and ideas through the end of the year. This tip is part of our ongoing series.

Business Check-up No. 7:

Inventory & assess all liabilities. Be proactive! Meet with your business lawyer and discuss a strategy to address any disputes or issues and how to mitigate and/or head off potential liabilities or litigation. As the old adage says: an ounce of prevention is the best medicine.

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-Up No. 6:

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:41:00 +0000

To help you complete a check-up and strategic year-end planning for your business, we will publish helpful tips and ideas through the end of the year. This tip is part of our ongoing series.

Business Check-up No. 6:

Review your independent contractor relationships. The Internal Revenue Service and many States (i.e., their Department of Revenue and/or Department of Labor) are auditing business/corporate tax filings and reports concerning their use of independent contractors. In cases where the IRS and/or the State tax agents reclassify "independent contractors" as employees, the business is not only required to withhold/pay the required tax payments (i.e., FICA, FUTA, etc.), they are usually also assessed significant penalties for failing to file and pay the required employment taxes. So review your situation with a business lawyer and avoid a potentially costly reclassification of your independent contractors!

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-Up Tip No. 5

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 10:36:00 +0000

To help you complete a check-up and strategic year-end planning for your business, we will publish helpful tips and ideas through the end of the year. This tip is part of our ongoing series.

Business Check-up No. 5:

Review employee duties & lines of authority. Train employees on marketing & cross-selling your products and services.

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-Up Tip No. 4

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 10:36:00 +0000

To help you complete a check-up and strategic year-end planning for your business, we will publish helpful tips and ideas through the end of the year. This tip is part of our ongoing series.

Business Check-up No. 4:

Be sure your employee files are in compliance with state laws. Ensure your employee posters/notices are up to date.

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Top 5 Business Tips- Exit Strategies

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 10:36:00 +0000

With the economy still sputtering, your business needs to take advantage of the resources available to them. SCORE (http://www.score.org) offers useful, free resources, business counseling and business tools to small businesses.

One of SCORE’s great resources is its lists of “Top 5 Business Tips.” My pick for this week is SCORE’s 5 Tips on Exit Strategies - check it out at: http://www.score.org/5_tips_bp_7.html.

SCORE is a partner with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and is a national association dedicated to helping small business owners form and grow their businesses. SCORE offers terrific free resources, business counseling and business tools for small businesses.

____________________________________________________________

For information on how the business lawyers at Griffith & Jacobson, LLC can help your business grow, contact Arieh M. Flemenbaum at 312-236-8110 or by email at Contact Us (http://www.gjlaw.com/contact).

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-Up Tip No. 3

noreply@blogger.com (Arieh M. Flemenbaum) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 10:36:00 +0000

To help you complete a check-up and strategic year-end planning for your business, we will publish helpful tips and ideas through the end of the year. This tip is part of our ongoing series.

Chicago Business bLAWg

Red Rocket Blog (Startup Lessons by George Deeb): Lesson #56: Frequent Legal Questions of Startups

New Resource for Businesses - Inc. Well

Healthcare Fad or Wave of the Future?

Top 5 Business Tips for Developing an Employee Handbook

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-up No. 18:

Business Check-up No. 18:

It is almost always less expensive & more effective to involve your business lawyer earlier than later!

Happy New Year!

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC - We know Chicago's Business.

Year-End Business Check-Up No. 17:

Business Check-up No. 17:

Monitor the financial health of vendors & customers on a regular basis. Identify & plan for potential bankruptcies.

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-Up No. 16:

Business Check-up No. 16:

Perform aging reports on your Accounts Receivables (A/R) frequently & regularly. Identify, monitor, contact and resolve problems with slow payers!

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-Up No. 15:

Business Check-up No. 15:

Perform a cash flow analysis of your business on a frequent and routine basis.

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-up No. 14:

Business Check-up No. 14:

Review your buy-sell and/or shareholder agreements. Re-examine the purchase mechanisms & valuation methods. Discuss these ownership and management matters before a triggering event happens.

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Top 5 Business Tips for Employers to Implement

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Happy Holidays!

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC - Chicago's Business Lawyers.

Year-end Business Check-up No. 13:

Business Check-up No. 13:

Develop & implement a disaster plan. Address the loss of a key supplier or customer, your data, inventory, equipment or even your workplace.

Too many businesses suddenly collapse because they have no plan in place to chaos that ensues after an unexpected disaster - whether it be a fire, loss of your computers, data, an equipment breakdown or even the sudden loss of a key supplier.

Be sure to have emergency contingency plans to address key and strategic files/data, business assets and equipment. Do you have back-ups in place? Once the physical danger has passed, do your employees know your plan to get your business back up and running as soon as possible?

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-end Business Check-up No. 12:

Business Check-up No. 12:

Assess your health/life/disability programs offered & determine if employee benefits and employer contributions are reasonable (and/or at least on par with the industry standards).

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-Up No. 11:

Business Check-up No. 11:

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-Up No. 10:

Business Check-up No. 10:

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Top 5 Business Tips for Teaching Employees to Own their Work

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-Up No. 9:

Business Check-up No. 9:

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-up No. 8:

Business Check-up No. 8:

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-up No. 7:

Business Check-up No. 7:

Inventory & assess all liabilities. Be proactive! Meet with your business lawyer and discuss a strategy to address any disputes or issues and how to mitigate and/or head off potential liabilities or litigation. As the old adage says: an ounce of prevention is the best medicine.

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-Up No. 6:

Business Check-up No. 6:

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-Up Tip No. 5

Business Check-up No. 5:

Review employee duties & lines of authority. Train employees on marketing & cross-selling your products and services.

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-Up Tip No. 4

Business Check-up No. 4:

Be sure your employee files are in compliance with state laws. Ensure your employee posters/notices are up to date.

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Top 5 Business Tips- Exit Strategies

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.

Year-End Business Check-Up Tip No. 3

Business Check-up No. 3:

Review employment policies & procedures. Update them to cover mobile and social media usage & data protection.

Griffith & Jacobson, LLC – We know business – Chicago’s Business Lawyers.