Posts by steve

A Reality Check For Small Business Value

For small business owners contemplating retirement and the sale of their business, determining the value of the business in the market is a starting point.  Employees and government workers can enlist a financial advisor to analyze their pension or 401(k) plan to determine whether they have “enough” to retire.  For the small business owner, though,…

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A Good Time To Sell A Business?

A few weeks ago the Wall Street Journal published an article on its online edition (Finally, A Good Time To Sell The Business, October 23, 2013), citing several indications that the market for sale of small businesses, gone missing the past five or so years, has returned.  Noted in the article are the following statistics:…

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Clearing the Hurdles to Sell Your Business

My niece runs the hurdles in track.  I love to run, but don’t think I would enjoy running nearly as much if I had to constantly jump over hurdles in my path.  The thing about hurdles is they stand in your way, slow you down, and sometimes take you out.  It makes me grimace to…

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Trademark Scams

Why Trademarks or Service Marks? A number of my clients have filed for federal trademark registrations with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and there are great reasons to do so.  For one, a federal trademark registration may provide protection throughout the United States for your trade name, brand or logo.  If successful, the registration…

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North Carolina Annual Report Filing Changes

The North Carolina General Assembly recently passed legislation (Session Law 2010-31), which went into effect June 30, 2010, making a few changes in the annual report filing requirements for North Carolina corporations and limited liability companies. Amazingly, the new law may actually result in some limited liability companies not having to pay the $200 annual…

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Incorporating Your Start-up Business

You have a great new business concept (or even better, you’re buying someone else’s great business concept), a cool name, and plans to be in business by next month. Maybe you have even met with an accountant to review your business plan and set up your books, which is always a good idea. You’ve noticed…

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