Legal Information for Large and Small Business Owners
Starting a Business
Do I Need a Business Lawyer?
May 30th
When do I need to hire a corporate attorney for my business?
Some scenarios are obvious — you should call a criminal or corporate attorney when you’re being investigated by government officials for tax or securities fraud, when an employee is injured on the job or when a customer is injured by one of your products.
But you should also consider hiring a corporate attorney in other situations, like:
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When you are starting a business.
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When you are buying or selling a business.
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When you are considering dissolving your business.
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When you are hiring senior or key employees.
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When you are hiring employees with access to company secrets or confidential information.
When You Probably Need a Business Attorney
Here are a few examples of when you should consider hiring a good business attorney for your large business or small business.
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The members of your LLC, shareholders of your company, or partners of your partnership want to allocate the profits and losses is a special way in the LLC operating agreement, shareholder agreement or partnership agreement.
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The business partners will be contributing capital other than cash to the partnership, company, or LLC — like intellectual property, know-how, or appreciated property.
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In connection with the purchase of a business that has significant potential liabilities like: environmental issues (state and federal environmental laws impose liabilities on landowners in the chain of title, regardless if they caused the contamination); product liability, employee liability (sexual harassment or employee discrimination claims); excessive debt; or special capital calls.
Please note. If you are a member of a limited liability company, a shareholder in a closely held company, or a partner in a partnership, keep in mind that the company lawyer is representing the company, not you. There are times when members, shareholders or partners decide to form their business or eventually go separate ways. The corporate attorney hired for the business has the business as its client and protects the business’ interests. In the scenario of forming the business, each business partner has its own interest in mind, which may be adverse to the proposed company (for example, if one member is contributing intellectual property to the new business, it may want to have an exit strategy to keep its intellectual property if they part ways). Or in the event of a “business divorce,” where the remaining members, shareholders or partners are buying out other LLC members, company shareholders or partnership partners, the company lawyer has the company’s best interest in mind, which interest is adverse to the departing business partners. Business partners, members and shareholders should be represented by their own corporate attorney to avoid conflicts of interest, or at the very least, the business lawyer needs to advise the partners of, and they have to waive in writing, the conflicts of interest.
If you need help with deciding whether you need to hire a business attorney, you should contact a licensed business lawyer for an initial consultation. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Buying a Small Business, Company or LLC in New York
May 27th
This is intended to help outline the general process of buying a small business in New York, explaining the legal aspects of how a corporate attorney can assist in a business purchase transaction (it is not intended to be construed as legal advice for your particular situation).
Your business acquisition attorney is not only your legal expert, but also will facilitate the business purchase process. Your business lawyer will coordinate the processes, interface with all the players, and move the business transaction along, culminating in a successful closing. As your legal expert, your business lawyer will conduct the legal due diligence, negotiate, draft and review the necessary legal documents, and should be intimately familiar with the legal intricacies aspects of your business purchase — keeping abreast of the facts and circumstances of the deal and advise you on any resulting legal consequences, and preparing the strategies to avoid legal problems.
1. Of course, the first step in buying a business is to find a business to buy.
You can find businesses to buy in the classified section of most metropolitan newspapers, on those newspapers’ websites, in the Wall Street Journal, through your own networking efforts – whether in person or on the internet (like LinkedIn or Facebook), or through business brokers. Corporate lawyers generally do not sell businesses unless they act as a broker or finder or happen to know a client or acquaintance who wants to sell a business. There are tons of businesses for sale — the question is whether acquiring the business makes economic sense (and is the right business for you).
After you have identified the possible acquisition target, you (with the assistance of your corporate attorney) need to conduct due diligence on the business (investigate the business, its contracts, customers, financial reports, among other things) and determine what the business is worth and the terms of the purchase. These steps are not mutually exclusive, they are interdependent and occur simultaneously — as you find out facts about the business, these may reflect on the business terms of the deal.
2. The “Term Sheet” — Negotiating the Business Terms of the Purchase
While you are conducting due diligence on the business you intend to buy, you should begin negotiating the terms and conditions of the purchase of the business. This high level “term sheet” outline, would sufficiently detail (without necessarily including all the legalese), some of the following items, among others:
The parties to the business transaction;
Is the transaction to be structured as a stock purchase (buying all of the assets and liabilities of the business) or only purchasing certain assets of the small business (real estate, accounts, intellectual property, among other assets);
The purchase price and what assets or stock is being purchased;
The timing of the payment of the purchase price (lump sum or in installments);
If payment is installments, the amount of the down payment and the interest rate, and the collateral securing the note (also consider conditions to repayment (e.g., only from profits);
Binding and non-binding terms; and
Confidentiality obligations.
The “term sheet” (also known as a “LOI,” “letter of intent,” “MOU,” or a “memorandum of understanding”), which could be as short as a page or two, should expressly state that certain obligations are non-binding on the parties. You may want to state that either party could walk away from the deal if they change their mind (maybe after a no-shop period), but you might want to make certain terms binding like reimbursement and confidentiality obligations. As that the stock purchase agreement or asset purchase agreement will be drafted from the term sheet, you need to be as specific as possible with respect to contingencies to closing, offsets to the purchase price and other obligations (it will be hard to convince the seller to agree to terms in the resulting agreement differing from the deal points already agreed upon in a term sheet).
You should consult a business attorney at some point during the drafting of the term sheet (even if the first draft of the term sheet is prepared by the business person, you should have your business attorney review and/or negotiate it before it is signed). Please see my post “Negotiating the Terms of the Deal — Buying or Selling a Small Business In New York” for a more detailed discussion about putting together a term sheet.
3. Conducting Due Diligence
Due diligence is the process of thoroughly investigating the business being acquired. The outcome of your business due diligence may very well impact the price you are paying and other terms and conditions of the term sheet. You will want to have your financial advisor review prior years’ tax returns and financial reports. You should have your business lawyer review all major contracts (including leases) to see if there are any “atomic bombs” that may be triggered by the sale of the business or that have any surprise obligations or rights (balloon payments, rights of first refusals, right to terminate, rights of consent, etc.). If the business owns or leases real estate you want to review all documentation, leases, surveys, and environmental reports (or order one if there is a possibility that the business in question (or its predecessors) might have contaminated the land. Read “How to Conduct Due Diligence for a Merger or Purchase of a Business“, for more details and a checklist of some due diligence items that should be reviewed by you and your corporate attorney.
4. Preparing the Proper Documentation for the Business Purchase
There are many documents needed when transferring a business: the stock purchase agreement or asset purchase agreement, assignment and assumption agreements, deeds, consents, tax filings, among others. You should consult a New York business attorney to negotiate, draft and/or review these instrumental agreements and documents which are necessary to transfer the business.
The most important document in a business sale is the “purchase agreement” (also known as the “sales agreement” or “acquisition agreement”) — and will be in the form of a stock purchase or asset purchase. To protect yourself as the buyer, your attorney should prepare the first draft of this document. Otherwise, if the seller’s attorney prepares the sales agreement it can be one-sided, or worse yet, if the attorney is not too experienced, it might not cover the terms and conditions to the business sale that properly encompasses the complexity of the business or transaction.
Once the purchase agreement has been finalized, your business attorney can prepare the “closing checklist” of all of the consents, documents, filings, and agreements that need to be prepared and executed, and a list of all contingencies that need to occur on or before the “closing.”
5. The Closing of the Business Purchase
Generally, the closing consummates the transaction (unless of course, there are post closing obligations to occur). At the closing the parties and their corporate attorneys get together to exchange money and property, sign documents, and handle the remaining paperwork.
If you are considering a buying a small business in New York, make sure to check with your accountant and/or tax adviser and a New York Business Lawyer. There may be important tax and other legal consequences to consider before making the decision.
How to Conduct Due Diligence for a Merger or Purchase of a Business or LLC
Apr 21st
Regardless of whether you are buying a business as an asset purchase, a stock purchase, or a merger, you (and/or your corporate attorney) must conduct due diligence on the target company. Due diligence involves an in-depth investigation of the business. It requires review of a lot of documents by your corporate attorney and a review of the financial reports and tax returns by your financial advisor or accountant. By conducting due diligence on the target business, you and your corporate attorney will have a thorough understanding of the business — being better able to ascertain a fair purchase price of the business, and identify any surprise business liabilities for which you likely will be liable after you become the business owner. Due diligence also is important because, depending on the outcome of the due diligence, you (perhaps with the help of your corporate attorney) may want to incorporate certain seller obligations in the term sheet of the deal (e.g., clearing any liens on the assets of the business, obtaining required third party consents, etc.).
Here is my due diligence checklist of the most common items to investigate when conducting due diligence in the buying or merging of a small business (of course, these are among other things to review depending on the facts and circumstances of the specific transaction):
Legal Due Diligence
1. Corporate Documents (or LLC Documents)
If the target business is a corporation, you (or your corporate attorney) should review the certificate of incorporation, good standing certificate, by-laws, minutes of shareholder and director meetings, shareholder agreements, and any outstanding warrants and option agreements.
If the target business is a limited liability company (LLC), you (or your corporate attorney) should review the articles of organization, good standing certificate, operating agreement, minutes of membership meetings, manager agreement, and any outstanding purchase rights agreements and option agreements.
In New York, you can order a good standing certificate from the New York Department of State, Division of Corporations.
2. Agreements
Major Contracts: You (or your business lawyer) should review all major distributor, supplier and customer agreements, all confidentiality and non-compete agreements, all intellectual property agreements (licenses into and out of the company), and all equipment leases.
Real Estate: You need to review all real estate leases entered into by the target company (whether as a tenant or a landlord), purchase agreements, surveys (if a long term lease or fee owned), title insurance policies (if fee owned); you should ascertain whether any consents are needed for the contemplated business sale (or merger) transaction, how much the rent liabilities are, whether there are sufficient term(s) remaining on the lease(s), among other things.
Insurance Policies: Have your risk advisor or insurance agent review all insurance policies carried by the target business to determine if the present coverage is adequate for the business as it is conducted (or plans to be conducted).
3. Licenses and Permits. Is the target business required to maintain licenses and permits with the local and state authorities (such as a liquor license or other operating permit)? If so, you (or your corporate attorney) need to obtain all copies and determine which licenses may require the seller’s obtaining prior consent for the contemplated sale or merger of the business. To find out what licenses and permits may be required in New York, you can visit the New York State’s Online Permit Assistance and Licensing website.
4. List of all (major) Assets and Liabilities. Regardless of whether you are buying the business as an asset purchase or a stock purchase, you want to be sure of what the target company owns and owes. The target company’s assets may include cash, securities, equipment, inventory, intellectual property (copyrights, trademarks, patents, domain names, and other proprietary rights), notes and accounts receivables, real property (leased and owned). Liabilities may include bank debt, employee benefits and bonuses earned and not yet paid, threatened, pending and current lawsuits, licensing violations, etc. You should be provided with a list of all employees and their current salaries. You should identify which employees are key to a successful transition and continued operation of the business.
5. UCC Liens. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) information is important to any business or financial institution contemplating entering into a lien transaction as the secured party (the party providing funds or financing collateral). Knowing the current financial status of the target debtor business before extending credit is crucial, and it is the number of active, existing liens already in effect for that particular debtor party that most interests any future lender or secured party. You can search the New York Uniform Commercial Code Bureau files and records to see what financial obligations (including IRS liens) have been incurred by the target business and to see what, if any, liens exist on the selling business’ assets.
6. Customer Problems. You can easily search the internet to see if there is any negative publicity or customer complaints about the target business. The internet is a very powerful tool for viral marketing and unfortunately, for flaming a business. You don’t want to buy a business that is saddled with a lot of negative consumer awareness.
Financial Due Diligence
You should have your accountant or financial advisor review the following diligence materials. She or he should check whether there are any questionable accounting practices.
1. Tax Returns. Up to 5 years’ prior federal, state and local tax returns, including any sale and use tax returns. In New York and in other states, the successor to a business may be liable for tax liabilities incurred in the years prior to its purchase of the business. In order to be certain that you have the same returns that were filed with the taxing authorities, you can have the seller provide the applicable written consent so you can request copies of the actual tax returns directly from the applicable taxing authority.
2. Financial Statements. The seller of the business should provide detailed financial statements (including balance sheets and profit and loss statements) for the prior 3 to 5 years. If the target business is large enough, your financial advisor or accountant might request to review “audited” financial statements that have been prepared and certified by a certified public accountant.
3. Tax Liens. Your accountant or financial advisor should review the any tax liens filed on any assets owned by the target business.
If you need help with conducting due diligence on a business, you should contact a licensed business attorney.
(or your corporate attorney)
Does a New York LLC Need any Licenses and/or Permits?
Apr 17th
Some business activities require licenses or permits from New York state and/or local governments. To find out what licenses and permits may be required in New York, you can visit the New York State’s Online Permit Assistance and Licensing website and you should call a New York Small Business Attorney (or corporate attorney).
How Do I Form a Limited Liability Company in New York?
Apr 14th
Organizers form an LLC in New York by filing the Articles of Organization, pursuant to Section 203 of the New York Limited Liability Company Law, with the Department of State. Organizers prepare, sign and file the Articles of Organization that creates the LLC. Any person or business entity may be an organizer (it does not have to be a business lawyer or corporate attorney). Organizers may be, but need not be, a member of the LLC formed. You can obtain a basic Articles of Organization from the New York Department of State here (note, this form reflects only the basic requirements — Articles of Organization may include other provisions consistent with law).
Of course, if you have any questions on How to Form a Limited Liability Company in New York, it is best to discuss them with a New York Small Business Lawyer.
What is a New York Professional Service Limited Liability Company (PLLC)?
Apr 11th
What is the difference between a NY PLLC vs. an LLC?
One or more professionals may form, or cause to be formed, a professional service limited liability company (PLLC) in New York for profit for the purpose of rendering the professional service or services that the professionals are authorized to practice. A PLLC is formed by filing Articles of Organization pursuant to Section 1203 of the NY Limited Liability Company Law.
“Profession,” as defined in Section 1201(b) of the New York Limited Liability Company Law, includes any practice as an attorney and counselor-at-law, or as a licensed physician, and those occupations designated in Title Eight of the Education Law. Title Eight of the New York Education Law includes the following professions: acupuncture, architecture, athletic training, audiology, certified shorthand reporting, chiropractic, dentistry, dietetics and nutrition, engineering, interior design, land surveying, landscape architecture, massage therapy, medical physics, medicine, midwifery, nursing, occupational therapy, ophthalmic dispensing, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, podiatry, psychology, public accountancy, respiratory therapy, social work, speech-language pathology and veterinary medicine.
Of course, if you have any questions about a Professional Service Limited Liability Company in New York, it is best to discuss them with a New York Small Business Lawyer (or company lawyer).
Are There Any Special Responsibilities or Formalities Associated With Forming a New York Limited Liability Company?
Apr 9th
According to Section 417 of the New York Limited Liability Company Law, the members of a New York LLC are required to adopt a written operating agreement. The operating agreement may be entered into before, at the time of, or within 90 days after the filing of the Articles of Organization. The operating agreement is the primary document that establishes the rights, powers, duties, liabilities and obligations of the members between themselves and with respect to the limited liability company. It is an internal document of the LLC and is not filed with the Department of State. Note, New York law is is silent on the consequences of not adopting an operating agreement, but as a general rule, it is best to have an operating agreement when the LLC has more than 1 member.
New York limited liability companies are required to publish a notice of formation. Section 206 of the New York Limited Liability Company Law requires a notice related to the formation of a limited liability company (LLC) to be published in two newspapers. The newspapers must be designated by the county clerk of the county in which the office of the LLC is located. An affidavit of publication from each newspaper must be filed with the Department of State. A Certificate of Publication, with the affidavits of publication of the newspapers annexed thereto, must be submitted to the Department of State, with the appropriate filing fee.
Of course, it is best to discuss the Special Responsibilities and Formalities Associated With Forming a New York Limited Liability Company with a New York Small Business Lawyer (or company lawyer).
How is a New York Limited Liability Company (LLC) Taxed?
Apr 1st
The Internal Revenue Code (IRC) allows an LLC to elect its tax status for income tax purposes. You should consult your financial or tax adviser about these “check-the-box” regulations and any changes. For income tax purposes, New York State law follows federal law. Additionally, New York state law (and certain other states’ laws) imposes a tax based on the number of members of the LLC. Also, depending on the nature of the business the limited liability company undertakes, the LLC may have to pay or collect sales taxes, employee withholding taxes and other taxes.
The LLC will need a taxpayer identification number (or an EIN). Here is the link to the IRS’ How to Apply for an EIN (with separate instructions for Corporations, International Businesses, Partnerships, and Small Business/Self-Employed). Your applying by telephone is sometimes easier than via the online method.
As a New York small business owner, you need to understand your New York State tax responsibilities (Recordkeeping, Hiring employees, Selling products or services, and other New York State taxes). The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance site has a lot of information for those starting or buying a business. Also, you should read the IRS’ “Publication 583 Starting a Business and Keeping Records” is available as a pdf download or viewable on the IRS web site.
Of course, it is best to discuss the above with your financial adviser or accountant along with a New York Small Business Lawyer (or corporate attorney).
How Do I Determine Whether my New York Business has Employees or Independent Contractors?
Mar 24th
It is critical that you, the business owner, perhaps with the help of your corporate attorney, correctly determine whether the individuals providing services are employees or independent contractors. For the most part, the employer must withhold income taxes, withhold and pay Social Security and Medicare taxes, and pay unemployment tax on wages paid to an employee. A company does not have to withhold or pay any taxes on payments to independent contractors.
The person performing the services may be an independent contractor, an employee (common-law employee), a statutory employee, or a statutory non-employee. This all depends on the facts and circumstances at hand. Facts that provide evidence of the degree of control and independence fall into three categories: Behavioral Control, Financial Control, and Type of Relationship, which can be determined by answering:
1. Does the company control or have the right to control what the worker does and how the worker does his or her job?
2. Are the business aspects of the worker’s job controlled by the employer/contractor (including, among other things, how worker is paid, whether expenses are reimbursed, who provides tools/supplies, etc.)?
3. Are there written contracts or employee type benefits (i.e. pension plan, insurance, vacation pay, etc.)? Will the relationship continue and is the work performed a key aspect of the business?
A New York company needs to evaluate all of these factors in order to determine whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor. Some factors may indicate that the worker is an employee, while other factors indicate that the worker is an independent contractor. Unfortunately, there is clear line that “makes” the worker an employee or an independent contractor, and no one factor stands alone in making this determination.
If you have questions or need help in Determining Whether Your New York Business has Employees or Independent Contractors, it is best to discuss your concerns with a New York Business Attorney.
Do You Need an Operating Agreement for Your Small Business LLC? Here is my LLC Operating Agreement Checklist.
Mar 10th
As you may know, a “corporate kit” includes a pre-made form of limited liability company operating agreement. There is no telling how complete these are and whether or not they were prepared by a corporate attorney. Certainly an off-the-shelf operating agreement is not customized for your needs. I recommend having a New York Small Business Attorney (corporate attorney) review and/or draft and negotiate the operating agreement — especially when you have two or more members. Here is a checklist of some of the items to consider addressing in your operating agreement (for that matter, these are some of the items that you should consider addressing in a shareholder agreement or a partnership agreement).
- General Provisions
- Purpose of LLC — Will this be a special purpose entity?
- Scope of activity — Geographic boundaries, etc.
- Limitations on operations — Incurrence of indebtedness, other?
- How many classes of membership? What are the membership rights and obligations of each class?
- Capital Contributions to the LLC
- Have there been any to date?
- Percentages
- Additional contributions
- Ability to call
- Default provisions (straight dilution or penalties?)
- Governance of the Limited Liability Company
- Day-to-day management of the LLC
- Company opportunities
- Conflicts of interest
- Major decisions
- Indemnification
- Resolution of deadlocks
- Arbitration
- Buy/Sell
- Methodology for determining price — By Triggering member, Appraisal, or Arbitration?
- Distributions of Profits / Allocation of Losses
- Timing
- Amount
- Capital vs. profits
- In-kind distributions
- Admission of Additional Member(s) to the LLC
- Any new members contemplated?
- Terms and conditions of admission
- Withdrawal of Member from the LLC
- Ability to withdraw
- Confidentiality
- Non-compete
- Other considerations?
- Transfers of LLC Membership Interests
- Permitted?
- To estate planning vehicles
- To family members/affiliates
- Third party transfers
- Right of first offer/right of first refusal
- Other conditions to transfer
- Termination of the Company
- Fixed term?
- Trigger events?
- Standard (involuntary bankruptcy, court order, etc.)
Of course, it is best to discuss the above New York LLC Operating Agreement Checklist with a New York Small Business Lawyer.
Forming or Buying a Small Business in New York? Links To Start and Grow Your Small Business.
Mar 7th
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Is the name that you have in mind for your startup company available to use? Is the New York company with which you are doing business in good standing? Search the New York Corporation and Business Entity Database for existing business and not for profit corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies and limited liability partnerships, as well as other miscellaneous businesses.
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Need to find out whether shares of stock or personal assets of a person or company have liens filed against it? Search the New York Department of State UCC Lien Search Database for Financing Statements and Financing Statement Amendments filed under Article 9 and Revised Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) and Notices of Federal Tax Liens and notices and certificates affecting such liens filed under Article 10-A of the Lien Law.
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Need to find out if tax warrants have been filed in New York? The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance files tax warrants in county clerks’ offices throughout the state. Search the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Database for tax warrant-related notices.
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Need to know about the various taxes applicable to New York large and small businesses and individuals? The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance site includes information on sales and use taxes, withholding taxes, corporation taxes, and other taxes.
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Did you know the State of New York LOVES small businesses? Here is the New York State NY♥Small Business site with information on starting or growing your small business in New York. It has links to local county resources, information on industry specific tax and financial incentives, and ways in which small businesses can apply for grants, loans, tax incentives, rebates on energy bills and other financing options.
Of course, you should contact a licensed New York Small Business Lawyer if you have any questions about anything on the websites mentioned in this article or about forming, buying or selling a large or small business in New York.
Why Choose a Limited Liability Company (LLC) over a Corporation For Your Small Business?
Mar 5th
An LLC combines the limited liability advantages of a corporation with the control and tax advantages of a partnership. You can elect to have your LLC taxed as a corporation, or you can elect to have it be a “pass through” entity (taxed like a partnership – the LLC’s income and losses are reported on each member’s individual tax returns). Unlike S-Corps, a New York limited liability company can be owned by non U.S. citizens/resident aliens (and other business entities). A NY LLC can have unlimited number of members.
Note, however, under New York law, LLCs are required to publish the fact of the LLC’s formation in two newspapers of the county in which the office of the limited liability company is located. This advertisement could cost as little as a few hundred dollars for an LLC formed in a less populated county to around $1,300 or so for an LLC formed in one of the five New York City counties (Bronx, Kings, Queens, New York, and Richmond (less populated counties may be a little less costly)).
Of course, if you have any questions, it is best to discuss them with a New York Small Business Lawyer.
