Philadelphia Business Lawyer Sarah E. Holmes
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3 Ways to Have a Harmonious Business Partnership

1/31/2019

1 Comment

 
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Good documents make great business partnerships! So often new business owners develop a great idea with a business partner and in the excitement of getting the business of the ground, they don't put into place the basic documents needed to govern a successful partnership.  Here are three ways to ensure your business partnership is on the right track:

1) You have an honest discussion about expectations. Too often, partnerships fall apart because one partner has vastly different ideas and expectations about how much each partner should be working, when vacations are allowed, what hours each should be working, etc.  When one partner views the other as not pulling their weight, resentment builds and the relationship goes downhill.

2) Talk about things no one wants to consider. What if a partner died, became disabled or even got divorced? Those are all difficult topics to talk about, but they have a huge impact on a business partner. You need to have written instructions in place in case any of these things happen, or your business will be left in limbo, potentially fighting it out with your business parter's family.

3) How will you decide how much the business is worth? If anyone wants to leave the business as a point in time, you need to have a formula to calculate what that person will be paid when they leave.  This means you need to have a method in place BEFORE there's an issue. 

These are a few basic ways to make sure a partnership stays friendly.  The best practice is to get a proper Operating Agreement or Shareholder Agreement and a Buy Sell Agreement in place. We'd be happy to help on a flat fee basis, contact our office today.
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Do You Run Your Staff, or Does Your Staff Run You? Three Ways to Take Back Control of Your Business

1/16/2019

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Hiring and managing staff is one of the biggest struggles of a growing business.  Even if you've hired what look like the "right" people on paper, once they're in the door and comfortable, if you're not training and monitoring in the right way, it won't take long for you to lose control.  

Here are three ways to take back control from unruly staff:

1) develop an employee handbook:  as soon as you have five employees, it's time to have written policies and procedures.  A handbook is the place to outline your needs and expectations.  Setting clear expectation is the first step to happy employees.  If you send mixed messages at the leader, set clarity with written policies.

2) have formal, regular reviews.  Many times we help employers who have half a dozen employees and they are never reviewing anyone's performance. For those that are holding review, the record keeping is usually very sloppy.  Empower your employees to have input in their reviews and set goals.  Make sure goals are followed up on at subsequent reviews.  It becomes difficult to fire employees who have no history of unflattering reviews or no documentation in their employment file of problems.

3) nip problems in the bud.  If your employees are constantly late, on their personal phones all the time, and not being as productive as you'd like, you need to tell them ASAP.  Don't wait until a review or a "better time." There isn't a better time, and looking the other way from bad behavior only serves to reinforce it.  

If you're struggling to control your staff, sometimes you're the problem, not them.  If you don't have clear documents, clear policies and regular reviews in place, it's time to get everything buttoned up and establish some real HR procedures.  If you need help getting your employment ducks in a row, reach out to our office for a flat fee employment package.  

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Frazzled By Expanding Your Business?

1/5/2019

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​Have you thought about expanding your business but want to rip your hair out?
After all, doesn't expansion mean finding investors and giving away equity?
Doesn't it mean hiring a ton of additional staff and dealing with more staff drama?
Doesn't it also mean taking on more overhead with additional leases and overhead?
Not necessarily.
You might be thinking about business expansion ALL WRONG.
What if there was a way to expand your business by:
letting someone else open new locations;
letting someone else hire more staff and deal with the drama;
retaining all of your equity;
maintaining your good brand name and standards;
and collecting fees to grow your empire.
There is a way, and on this free training, you'll discover the method to expanding your business without having to give up equity, hire more staff or deal with more drama.
Register for this free training today!
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    Author

    Sarah E. Holmes is a Philadelphia business attorney and strategist that helps start ups and established businesses looking to expand, protect their assets and increase their profits in an approachable, down-to-earth way.  When you're looking for a business lawyer in Philadelphia, the Main Line or New Jersey, we can help.

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Holmes Business Law, P.C.
​Two Convenient Locations- Main Line and Center City
40 E. Montgomery Avenue (all mail)
4th Floor
Ardmore, PA 19003
and
1515 Market Street
Suite 1200
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-482-0285
 

info@phillysmallbusinesslawyer.com

All site content is subject to copyright 2021 by Holmes Business Law P.C.
This website and its content herein constitutes attorney advertising.  Any content on this website should be construed as informational, not legal advice.  No information on this website is intended to create an attorney-client relationship.  Only a signed fee agreement between Sarah E. Holmes and the client will establish an attorney-client relationship.  Use of any information on this site is provided "AS IS" with no warranty of any kind, either express or implied.  Always consult with a licensed attorney in your own state for legal advice.
Photo used under Creative Commons from AK Rockefeller
  • Home
  • Attorneys & Areas of Law
    • Business Entities >
      • Corporations
      • Limited Liability Company (LLC)
    • Business Immigration
    • Business Purchase or Sale
    • Raising Capital & Investor Agreements >
      • Promissory Notes and Debt Financing
      • Private Placement and Equity Financing
    • Business Contracts >
      • Consulting Agreement
      • Employment Contracts
      • Independent Contractor (1099) Agreements
      • Website Terms and Privacy Policies
    • Copyright & Trademark
    • Hiring Employees/NDA/Non Compete
    • Estate Planning & Wills
    • Commercial Real Estate >
      • Commercial Lease
    • The Right Start Program
  • About
    • Speaking and Events
    • Client Testimonials
    • Privacy Policy/Terms of Use
    • Contact
  • Business Success Tips
  • Flat Fee Packages
    • New Businesses
    • Existing Businesses
    • Dispute Resolution
    • Trademarks & Copyright
    • Estate Planning
  • COVID-19 HELP