Starting a business with partners can be fun, but complicated. Many entrepreneurs even recruit their family and friends as co-founders to get things off the ground. They tend to believe mob boss Michael Corleone’s assertion that “It’s not personal, it’s strictly business”. I disagree. Business can become deeply personal, especially when there are disputes or close […]
Category: Michigan Law
Joe Shanley Appointed to SBM Affordable Legal Services Committee
Earlier this month, the State Bar of Michigan appointed Joe Shanley as a member of its Affordable Legal Services Committee. Joe Shanley is the founder and principal attorney for Awen Innovations. Approximately 80% of people of poor to moderate means do not get the civil legal assistance they need. The Affordable Legal Services Committee hopes […]
Michigan LLC Annual Statement Filing Requirements
Michigan Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) must file an annual statement with the Corporations Division of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) every year to keep their business in good standing. In this week’s article, I discuss the requirements for filing Michigan LLC annual statements. Please note that this article does not discuss separate […]
Non-Compete Agreement Basics for Small Business Owners
Non-compete agreements (or Non-competition agreements) are used in contracts to prevent one party from directly competing with another party in the same industry or profession. You’ll typically see them in employment agreements to prevent employees from using a company resources or information to benefit competitors. Or worse, to harm their employer. Yikes. This past July, […]
Michigan LLC Formation Essentials
Before beginning your journey as a business owner, you should form a legal entity. Legal entities offer business owners liability protection to facilitate responsible risk taking in the marketplace. They also establish statutory and contractual guidelines that define your relationship with partners, employees, and customers. Entity selection is complicated and must be tailored to the […]