Small Business Today^TM

• "10 New Year's Resolutions for Small Business" - Things every small business should think about to ensure a prosperous New Year.

• "Walking Away: Limit Your Liability When Your Business Closes for Good" - Final steps you must take when wrapping up a going concern to keep your personal assets safe.

• "Regulatory Compliance: Keeping Up With What Can Shut You Down" - Liability in business arises from three main sources: tort, contracts and regulation.  Unlike tort and contract risk, regulation is not something small business can control or limit for the most part.  If your business is subject to a particular law, you must comply!

• "Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Contract?" - Contracts are easier to form than you think.  A few thoughtless words and you may be bound. Learn some of the surprising things ways legally-enforceable agreements arise.  A little knowledge can go a long way to keeping you out of hot water.

• "(There Must Be) 50 Ways to Leave Your Employer" - Do’s and Don’ts of Quitting Your Job in an At-Will Employment State

• "To Hire or Not to Hire--What a Question!" - Through the years I have worked with firms both large and small. No matter their size, companies have no greater challenge, expense or risk than human resources.

• "How Healthy is Your Small Business?" - Most small business owners start their enterprises with the best intentions. Make sure your company keeps operating in peak condition by having a professional "check-up" from time to time.

• "Cover Your Assets: Protect Your Assets!" - Four ways to protect what you have earned.

• "Cover Your Asset: Protect Your Ideas!" - Trademarks, patents and copyrights.

• "Cover Your Assets: Should You Incorporate?" - Overview and comparison of the six different ways of doing business in Louisiana.

• "What Manufacturers Should Know About Intellectual Property" Solutions for Louisiana Manufacturers, Issue 38, October 2006.

• "You Know It, Baby!  Now, Keep Everybody Else From Finding Out" - Trade secrets are a substantial, but often overlooked asset of most small businesses.  Tips on discovering the hidden value of "trade secrets" in your business and ways to protect them.

• "Uncle Sam Wants Your Tech!  Federal Grants Encourage Small Business to Develop Technology Needed by Agencies" - An introduction to SBIR/STTR grants and how small businesses interested in developing or adapting technology for certain federal agencies can qualify for up to $855,000 to assist them in their efforts.

• "Building a Firm Foundation for Small Business" - Employing an attorney as counselor to your small business is like building your house on a firm foundation.  While you sometimes can repair a faulty foundation, it is an expensive and time-consuming process that everyone wishes had been done right the first time.