Most of the time I meet a new client, they’re in some sort of crisis. Often it’s a crisis of their own making, in which they’re so deeply mired in that they can’t self-extract. I greatly prefer to work on … Continued
In a recent blog, I mentioned how important it is to keep detailed and accurate business records. We lawyers will harp on the importance of having records of certain things as evidence in case someone sues your ass. For myself, … Continued
This is the second in my series of articles on how you, a business owner, can use your lawyer most effectively. The most frequent conversation I have when meeting with new clients is to explain the role of the lawyer … Continued
Entrepreneurs dedicate their lives to growing their business, but how on earth can they retire? Toronto lawyer Mike Hook explains that a well-thought-out business succession plan is the first step…
This article is the second in my series on what’s involved in planning for the worst. In the last one I gave an overview on who and what is involved in the process. This time I’ll lay out some of … Continued
Owning your own business is kind of like giving birth to a needy child. It will fill your days with all manner of excitement, some good, some bad. There also comes a time when you need to start considering what … Continued
Many folks in business bandy about the words “partnership” and “joint venture”, or even a “JVP” (short for joint venture partnership – a made up term like “Leafs playoff tickets” or “government transparency”), without understanding that partnerships and joint ventures … Continued
It’s one thing to have professional advisors – lawyers, accountants, etc. – to point you in the right direction. It’s a whole other thing to know how to use them properly. I’ve found it’s a pretty steep learning curve for … Continued
Few artists would want to be considered to be “in business” for doing what they do, but like it or not, as soon as you get paid for it, you’re a sole proprietor. For artist-entrepreneurs, the art lies in the … Continued
One of the fundamental skills for a business owner is the ability to deal with contracts. Every day in Ontario, thousands of contracts are entered into for thousands of different reasons…. Quite often by people who don’t really understand what … Continued