For the love of your business

Articles to LIFT Your Life and Business

Can Emails be Considered Enforceable Contracts

It is a common misconception that oral contracts are not enforceable. It is true that certain agreements must be in writing to be enforceable. For example, the statute of frauds requires agreements involving real property, marriage, performance over multiple years and the sale of goods over $500 to be in writing. If an oral agreement […]

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How to Improve Your Cash Flow with Good Invoicing Practices

Many business owners encounter cash flow problems at one time or another, primarily due to slow collection on past due invoices.  However, the way you invoice can help you avoid late payments.  Here are six tips to good billing practices: Identify each service or good being provided along with its cost. Be sure to include […]

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How Your Employees’ Social Media Contacts Could be Protectable Trade Secrets

The question of whether an employee’s LinkedIn contacts can be considered trade secrets belonging to a former employer is a question currently before a Central California district court. In Cellular Accessories For Less, Inc. v. Trinitas, LLC, defendant David Oakes was a sales account manager for Cellular Accessories for Less, Inc., a company that sells […]

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How to Have an Office Holiday Party with No Legal Hangovers

Holiday parties that had fallen victim to the economic recession are now back at many offices across the country, and are a wonderful way to show your appreciation for your employees and their hard work during the year. However, business owners are also wary of hosting parties that could leave them with a legal hangover.  […]

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How to Create a Bulletproof Independent Contractor Agreement

One of the most common issues facing small businesses is how to govern relationships with independent contractors (ICs). Which is not really surprising, since many small businesses use ICs to perform critical work functions like website development, marketing, bookkeeping and other important functions that keep your business functioning and growing. To protect your company’s future, […]

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The Best Time to Update Your Employee Handbook is Right Now

If business owners realized the role a good employee handbook can play in protecting their company from employee litigation, keeping it up to date would be a bigger priority. Alas, many employers neglect these documents until a glaring error decides a case in an employee’s favor. Historically, employee handbooks were used primarily to educate employees […]

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A Simple Way for Business Owners to Document Their Legal Agreements

Sometimes you just want to document your own agreements without consulting with a lawyer. Written agreements are binding documents that define the obligations of all parties involved in a specific project or for the sale of a good or service. Written agreements are necessary to provide a clear record of agreed upon terms. That way, […]

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When a Handshake Can Be the Kiss of Death for Your Company

Many business deals get done on the proverbial handshake — an email exchange, a discussion on the golf course — but those types of deals could be the kiss of death for your company if they go bad and there is little documentation to back up what you thought were the terms of the deal. […]

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Why Every New Business Needs a Lawyer & How to Find a Great One

Chances are if you are an entrepreneur, you have a little “issue” when it comes to controlling everything about your company — in other words, you find it hard to trust others when it comes to your “baby.” But unless you are an experienced business attorney, you probably don’t have the knowledge — and most […]

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The Audit That Will Change the Way You Run Your Business

Most people hear the word “audit” and hit the panic button, including business owners.  But there is an incredibly powerful tool called the LIFT Foundation Audit that can change the way you run your business for the better. The LIFT (Legal, Insurance, Financial, Tax) Foundation Audit is a process we walk through with our business […]

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Avoid These Top 10 Mistakes New Small Business Owners Make

A New York Times article lists the top rookie mistakes entrepreneurs often make when starting a business, and with our years of experience in helping entrepreneurs capitalize on new business opportunities, many of them ring true.  Here’s the list: Hiring a good friend or family member. When it comes to hiring staff for your new […]

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