Prohibition ended on December 5, 1933, but states, counties, cities and towns are free to make their own decisions regarding the sale of alcohol, and all manner of restrictions persist to this day. The variety of laws across the country regarding who may be permitted...
Business & Corporate Law
Building your business credit
Starting your own business in New York is an exciting venture but comes with many risks. One of the biggest risks is running out of money. When you open your business, you likely have money set aside to run it for a couple of months, but business credit is what will...
Factors to consider before making your business an LLC
Starting a new business in New York can be an exciting process, but one that requires careful consideration to ensure a business owner selects the right type of business entity. Among the most popular types of business entities is a limited liability company, or LLC...
Is it time to ‘go public’ and incorporate your business?
Business is booming and you may be thinking about what steps to take next as a business owner to grow your enterprise. Perhaps you are starting to attract investors, or you desire to “go public” and open your business to shareholders. If so, it may be time to...
What is a non-compete agreement?
Businesses make significant investments in their employees. Their experience and specialized knowledge can be a major asset and provide an unfair advantage to competitors if they change jobs. New York law allows non-competition agreements which can help protect an...
Creating a business plan
There are many things to consider when starting a business, including what type of business formation to choose, what types of products or services to sell and how many employees to hire. It’s also very important to have a business plan in place. Business plan...
Assessing risk in an uncertain economy
New York business owners are no strangers to risk, as a recession, supply chain issues and worker shortages have shown over the past two years. But no matter what the market holds, liability and risk are always part of doing business. An important part of protecting...
Western New York bucks business formation trend in 2020
Almost every region retracted, literally, for an extended time during 2020. Yet, the number of new businesses created in Erie and Niagara Counties increased over 14% and close to 10%, respectively, from 2019. Contrasted with the stagnant numbers from contiguous...
Put your partnership in writing
Some of the best new businesses start out as just a group of friends with a good idea. As the business grows, their friendships can be tested in ways they did not expect. Even the best friendships can be strained by the pressures of running a business, and when...