If you own a business or are self-employed, then you may have already begun preparing for tax season… or maybe not. The new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) will certainly be impacting taxes this year, which is why we recommend that you begin planning sooner rather than later. While April 15th seems quite far away preparing will help …
5 Steps You Need to Take to Plan a Smooth Business Succession
5 Steps to Business Succession Planning We frequently ask “what’s next?” Other times we phrase it as – “and then what?” These are helpful questions to ask yourself about the future, for yourself, your family and your business. You’ve read countless times about the potential horrors that occur when a person dies or becomes incapacitated and they do not have …
The Importance of Building Company Culture in Your Business
How to Leverage Company Culture to Build a Successful Brand As companies in Silicon Valley promote their high-tech offices with flex space, bean bags, and unlimited coffee around the clock, many people see these benefits as culture. But culture goes way deeper than free snacks and a standing desk. “In a nutshell, culture is the “heartbeat” of a company. It’s …
Entrepreneur’s Guide to Starting a business in South Florida
Entrepreneur’s Guide to Starting a Small Business in South Florida One of the most frequently asked questions we get, indeed almost daily, is about starting a business in South Florida. How is it different? What are the steps I need to take? How do I even begin? So, we decided to write an Entrepreneur’s Guide to Starting a Business in …
What is Succession Planning for Entrepreneurs?
The Second Habit of Highly Successful People is to begin with the end in mind.[1] Almost weekly, entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals talk with us about the goals for their business or practice. Few discuss their expected exit from the business. Practically none of them have thought about what would happen if they couldn’t go into work tomorrow. Indeed, 3 of …
How to Create a Solid Operating Agreement for Your Business
Your startup is up and running, but you have a million things to do before you can truly get off the ground. Considering the time and effort needed when working for yourself, it’s easy to overlook the creation of an official operating agreement—especially when the State of Florida doesn’t require it for all business entities. Unfortunately, overlooking this simple step can cause …
Myths and Misconceptions About Creating a Business Entity in Florida
A business is much more than a great idea: it has numerous moving parts that all have to work together seamlessly. Unfortunately, any one of those parts can mean the partial or total loss of everything you have worked for. By establishing a limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or corporation, you can protect your enterprise no matter how many …
What to Look for in a Florida Corporate Law Attorney
Smart business owners know that it’s not a matter of if they’ll need an attorney, but when. All partnerships and corporations will require a lawyer at some point—and if you don’t have a trusted attorney by your side at the formation of your business, a sudden crisis might send you scrambling for legal help. 5 Hallmarks of a Good Corporate Law Attorney The right …
Inherited a Family Business? What To Do Right Now
The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Inheriting the Family Business Inheriting a family business can be overwhelming. Even if you knew this day would come, you still don’t feel fully prepared—and business succession is even more complicated if your family members dispute who should be at the helm. While no single resource can prepare you to bear the risks and rewards of …
4 Ways to Draft All Your Contracts
“We just signed a major deal!” “I just put in a contract on a house!” “Click here to accept our terms and continue . . .” These phrases all have in common that a contract has just been made. Contracts are the cornerstone of business dealings. In some places, contracts are still made on handshakes or someone’s word. For many …