Top 10 Business and Employment Law Tips for Small Business Owners
- 1. May 2, 2017 Meredith and Andy Gaunce TOP 10 BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT LAW TIPS FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
- 2. AGENDA 2 Us You Tips 1 2 3 4 Wrap 1. Meredith and Andy 2. Employment Law Focus 3. Business Law Focus 4. Location 1. Time 2. Place 3. Size 1. Hiring 2. Employee Handbook 3. Job Descriptions 4. Timekeeping 5. Protect your Stuff 6. Advisors 7. Limited Liability 8. Partnership Agreement 9. Basic terms and conditions 10. Name and Logo 1. Key Takeaways/Next Steps 2. Questions
- 3. A litte bit about us 3 ANDY • Small business and Fortune 100 Experience • 4th Generation Entrepreneur • Musically inclined with a passion for animals MEREDITH • Over a decade of employment experience • Both in-house and as outside counsel • Artistically inclined with a passion for animals
- 4. A FEW THINGS WE OFFER EMPLOYMENT LAW Business Protection Agreements Non-competition, Non-solicitation, Confidentiality Employee Handbooks The rules of the road MORE AND MORE Chances are, if it involves your employees, we can help EEOC and DOL Claims Discrimination, Harassment, Retaliation Training Management best practices
- 5. A FEW THINGS WE OFFER BUSINESS LAW Bring on a Partner or an Investor Investing in people/capital investments Start a new business Starting with the end in mind MORE AND MORE Chances are, if it involves your business, we can help Documenting the Deal Contracts, NDAs, etc… Buy or Sell your Business Taking the leap
- 6. CUSTOMER FEEDBACK Sugar plum gummi bears candy canes danish cake bear claw cake. Dessert bear claw powder chocolate cake wafer fruitcake macaroon tart croissant. Pastry gummies marshmallow jelly beans gummi bears tart lollipop candy canes. Dessert bear Sugar plum gummi bears candy canes danish cake bear claw cake. Dessert bear claw powder chocolate cake wafer fruitcake macaroon tart croissant. Pastry gummies 727-614-0550www GaunceLaw.com 2719 1st Ave N Historic Kenwood
- 7. AGENDA 7 US You Tips 1 2 3 4 Wrap 1. Meredith and Andy 2. Employment Law Focus 3. Business Law Focus 4. Location 1. Time 2. Place 3. Size 1. Hiring 2. Employee Handbook 3. Job Descriptions 4. Timekeeping 5. Protect your Stuff 6. Advisors 7. Limited Liability 8. Partnership Agreement 9. Basic terms and conditions 10. Name and Logo 1. Key Takeaways/Next Steps 2. Questions
- 8. You rule the world 8 Employ half of the private workforce 16x more patents than large firms 63% of net new jobs over 15 years 50% survive 5 years or more 28 million small businesses in the US IMPACT
- 9. AGENDA 9 Us You Tips 1 2 3 4 Wrap 1. Meredith and Andy 2. Employment Law Focus 3. Business Law Focus 4. Location 1. Time 2. Place 3. Size 1. Hiring 2. Employee Handbook 3. Job Descriptions 4. Timekeeping 5. Protect your Stuff 6. Advisors 7. Limited Liability 8. Partnership Agreement 9. Basic terms and conditions 10. Name and Logo 1. Key Takeaways/Next Steps 2. Questions
- 10. Top Ten Tips 10 employment and business law areas where you can expect to get a solid return on investment for taking the time to understand and address legal concerns.
- 11. Hire slowly, fire quickly 01 Take the time to interview many candidates to be sure you select the best fit. If you have early concerns, address them. Allowing a bad employee to stay too long could be detrimental to morale and your budget. EMPLOYMENT
- 12. Have a handbook and follow it 02 This is your front line defense. The first question the DOL, DEO or EEOC will ask following an employee’s termination is whether there are written policies in a handbook that the employee was aware of. EMPLOYMENT
- 13. Have signed job descriptions 03Communicating expectations is critical to employee success and avoiding employment disputes. EMPLOYMENT
- 14. Understand (or ask if you don’t) time-keeping and pay laws 04 Knowing which employees are exempt v. non-exempt, salaried v. hourly, independent contractors v. employees could save you in the event of an audit or complaint. EMPLOYMENT
- 15. Protect your stuff 05 You invest a lot of time and training in your employees and they are often privy to key company data; Have them sign agreements tailored to their work that will protect you and your customers in the event of departure. EMPLOYMENT
- 16. Budget for advisors 06 Your business plan isn’t complete without line items for a lawyer and an accountant. BUSINESS
- 17. Go for limited liability 07 As a Sole Proprietorship, you put 100% of your business AND personal assets at risk should the business fail. Limited liability entities allow you to potentially limit this exposure. BUSINESS
- 18. Start with a partnership agreement 08 Begin with the end in mind. BUSINESS
- 19. Have basic terms and conditions 09 Your lenders, courts and creditors won’t care about handshake deals. Lock in your customers and suppliers to protect your income and sources of supply. BUSINESS
- 20. Safeguard your name and logo 10 You spent a lot of time and love your name of logo – odds are someone else will too. BUSINESS
- 21. AGENDA 21 Us You Tips 1 2 3 4 Wrap 1. Meredith and Andy 2. Employment Law Focus 3. Business Law Focus 4. Location 1. Time 2. Place 3. Size 1. Hiring 2. Employee Handbook 3. Job Descriptions 4. Timekeeping 5. Protect your Stuff 6. Advisors 7. Limited Liability 8. Partnership Agreement 9. Basic terms and conditions 10. Name and Logo 1. Key Takeaways/Next Steps 2. Questions
- 22. THANK YOU! QUESTIONS? 22 When we met practicing law in 2007 we decided that one day we would open a beautiful, inviting law office together and work to support and promote our clients' work. Communities succeed by lifting each other up, and that is what we are committed to doing in St. Petersburg. If you have or manage a business - or plan to - and have legal questions but have been hesitant to call an attorney, come have a cup of coffee with us. We are making our dream come true and want to help you do the same. www.GaunceLaw.com