This is the third and final article in a series designed to help you avoid making the same errors we see small business owners make time and again. No. 9: Ignoring intellectual property issues Even "low-tech" companies have intellectual property issues that may be...
Third Coast Law
Grafton, Wisconsin Legal Blog
Avoiding Common Legal Pitfalls of Small Businesses – Part II
For decades we have represented businesses of all types and sizes, including many start-ups and emerging businesses, and we have seen small business owners make the same mistakes over and over. This article is the second in a 3-part series designed to help you avoid...
Avoiding Common Legal Pitfalls of Small Businesses – Part I
Small businesses make legal mistakes all the time. Many may go unnoticed. But some of these mistakes can be very costly and difficult to recover from. For decades we have represented many start-ups and emerging businesses, and we have seen the same mistakes being made...
What To Do When Exiting Your Business
You’ve been running your business for many years and have decided to call it quits. There are many reasons you may be looking to do so. Perhaps you have an offer to purchase the business you just can’t pass up. Maybe the pandemic has crushed your business or given...
IT MAY BE LEGAL TO REOPEN; IS IT SAFE TO REOPEN — What You Can Do to Protect Against COVID-19 Claims
By now most of you know that on May 13, 2020, the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the extension of "Safer At Home" order that had effectively closed nonessential businesses. Barring further action by the legislature or local governments, that means that you can...
Business Planning and Divorce
Because Wisconsin is a community property state, it is natural for some concern to develop when a business owner confronts the issue of a divorce. Community property laws call for a 50/50 division of the property and assets acquired during a marriage. As noted by the...
3 effective strategies for preventing contract disputes
Contract disputes can prove costly, time-consuming and frustrating; especially for the small business struggling to stay on budget. Fortunately, many contract disputes are avoidable. You can reduce the risk of such disputes with a fundamental knowledge of contract law...
Employee or Independent Contractor?
Many companies contract with independent contractors instead of hiring employees to perform certain services. Using independent contractors gives a company greater flexibility in meeting its needs with temporary human resources and usually results in shorter-term...
Choosing the right small business structure
When you first start operating a small business, you may be the only employee not see any need to establish a separate entity for the business. Operating this way is referred to as a sole proprietorship regardless of the number of employees you may have. In the eyes...
Do you need to copyright your new software program?
Perhaps you are a software developer and have left corporate life to start your own business. At your old company, copyright protection was always handled by the legal department. However, the first offering from your new company is an innovative software program for...