Contact Robert Melton, Esq. or submit a business inquiry online.
-
Franchise Law: Key Legal Considerations Before You Buy or Sell a Franchise
- July 31, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Category: Business Law
No Comments
Franchising offers a proven business model, but the legal framework is complex. Before buying or selling a franchise, here is what you need to know about FDDs, franchise agreements, state law, and your legal rights.
-
Letters of Intent in Business Transactions: What They Mean Legally
- July 30, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Category: Business Law
Letters of intent are common in business deals, but their legal effect is widely misunderstood. Learn when an LOI is binding, what provisions carry legal weight, and how to protect yourself before signing.
-
Workplace Drug Testing: Legal Framework for US Employers
- July 29, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Category: Employment Law
Workplace drug testing is legally complex, shaped by federal and state law, the ADA, and evolving marijuana regulations. Here is what US employers need to know to build a lawful and effective policy.
-
ERISA and Retirement Plans for Small Business Owners: What You Need to Know
- July 28, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Category: Tax & Compliance
ERISA sets strict rules for employer-sponsored retirement plans. Learn how small business owners can choose the right plan, meet fiduciary obligations, and avoid costly compliance mistakes.
-
Business Contracts with the Federal Government: FAR Basics for Small Businesses
- July 27, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Categories: Business Law, Tax & Compliance
Federal government contracting offers significant revenue opportunities for small businesses — and comes with a complex set of regulations called the Federal Acquisition Regulation. This guide explains how government contracting works, what small businesses need to know about FAR requirements, and how to qualify for small business set-asides.
-
Commercial Real Estate Leases: Key Legal Provisions for Business Tenants
- July 26, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Category: Business Law
A commercial lease is typically one of the most significant long-term financial commitments a small business makes. Unlike residential leases, commercial leases are governed almost entirely by contract rather than protective statutes. This guide explains the key provisions every business tenant must understand before signing.
-
Intellectual Property Audit: A Practical Checklist for Small Business Owners
- July 25, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Categories: Business Law, Intellectual Property
Most small businesses own more intellectual property than they realize — and protect less of it than they should. An IP audit is the process of identifying, assessing, and protecting your company’s IP assets. This guide explains how to conduct one and what to do with the results.
-
Mechanic’s Liens: What Contractors and Property Owners Need to Know
- July 24, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Category: Business Law
Mechanic’s liens give contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers who improve real property a security interest in that property if they are not paid. This guide explains how mechanic’s liens work, the strict deadlines that govern them, and what both contractors and property owners must do to protect themselves.
-
Business Succession Planning: Legal Essentials for Business Owners
- July 22, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Categories: Business Formation, Business Law
Every business owner will eventually leave their business — through sale, retirement, disability, or death. Business succession planning is the process of ensuring that transition is orderly, tax-efficient, and aligned with the owner’s goals. This guide covers the legal tools and key decisions every owner should address.
-
Commercial Litigation: When to Sue and When to Settle
- July 21, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Category: Business Law
Commercial disputes are an inevitable part of doing business. This guide helps business owners understand how commercial litigation works, what it costs, how to evaluate whether suing or settling makes more sense, and what to do when you find yourself on either side of a business dispute.
-
Buy-Sell Agreements: Protecting Your Business When Co-Owner Situations Change
- July 20, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Categories: Business Formation, Business Law
A buy-sell agreement is the legal mechanism that governs what happens to an owner’s interest in a business when they die, become disabled, divorce, retire, or want to exit. Without one, co-owner transitions can become chaotic, expensive, and destructive to the business. This guide explains how buy-sell agreements work and what they must address.
-
Arbitration Clauses in Commercial Contracts: Benefits, Risks, and Drafting Considerations
- July 19, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Category: Business Law
Arbitration clauses are among the most consequential provisions in any commercial contract — they determine whether disputes are resolved in court or before a private arbitrator. This guide explains how arbitration works, when it benefits businesses, how to draft effective clauses, and where arbitration can go wrong.
-
Consumer Protection and the FTC Act: What Every Business Must Know
- July 18, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Categories: Business Law, Tax & Compliance
The FTC Act prohibits unfair or deceptive acts and practices in commerce — and it applies to virtually every US business. This guide explains what the FTC considers deceptive, how the unfairness standard works, what specific practices draw FTC enforcement, and how to keep your business’s marketing and sales practices on the right side of the law.
-
Music Licensing for Businesses: What You Need to Know
- July 17, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Categories: Business Law, Intellectual Property
Playing music in your business — whether in a retail store, restaurant, gym, or on your website — requires a license. This guide explains how music copyright works, why streaming services don’t cover business use, what performing rights organizations require, and how to get the licenses your business actually needs.
-
Equity Compensation: Stock Options and Restricted Stock for Private Companies
- July 16, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Categories: Business Formation, Business Law
Equity compensation is a powerful tool for attracting and retaining talent at private companies. This guide explains the key forms of equity — ISOs, NSOs, restricted stock, and RSUs — how they are taxed, and what companies and employees need to know before granting or receiving equity.
-
Employee Benefits Law: Required and Optional Benefits for US Employers
- July 15, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Categories: Employment Law, Tax & Compliance
US employers face a layered set of legally required benefits obligations and must navigate complex rules when offering optional benefits. This guide explains which benefits are required by law, which trigger the ACA’s employer mandate, and what legal requirements apply to voluntary benefits programs.
-
State Privacy Laws: What US Businesses Need to Know Beyond California
- July 14, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Categories: Data Privacy & Cybersecurity, Tax & Compliance
A wave of state comprehensive privacy laws is sweeping the US. Beyond California’s CCPA, Virginia, Colorado, Texas, Oregon, and more than a dozen other states now have comprehensive consumer privacy laws in effect. This guide explains the key requirements and how businesses can build a compliance program that works across states.
-
Reg D and Accredited Investors: Raising Capital Without SEC Registration
- July 13, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Categories: Business Formation, Business Law
Regulation D is the most commonly used exemption for private securities offerings in the United States. This guide explains how Rule 506(b) and Rule 506(c) work, who qualifies as an accredited investor, what disclosure and filing obligations apply, and what businesses must do to stay on the right side of the SEC.
-
Regulation CF: Investment Crowdfunding for Small Businesses
- July 12, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Categories: Business Formation, Business Law
Regulation Crowdfunding allows startups and small businesses to raise capital from everyday investors online without a traditional IPO. This guide explains how Reg CF works, the disclosure requirements, investment limits, and what businesses need to know before launching a crowdfunding campaign.
-
Mergers and Acquisitions: Due Diligence Checklist for Business Owners
- July 11, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Category: Business Law
Whether you are buying or selling a business, due diligence is the process that separates informed deals from costly surprises. This guide explains what legal, financial, and operational due diligence covers, and what business owners on both sides of a transaction must prepare for.
-
Business Bankruptcy: Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 11 for Companies
- July 10, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Category: Business Law
When a business faces financial distress, bankruptcy may offer protection and a path forward. This guide explains the key differences between Chapter 7 liquidation and Chapter 11 reorganization, introduces the Subchapter V small business reorganization option, and helps business owners understand when bankruptcy makes sense.
-
Workplace Harassment Prevention: Legal Requirements and Best Practices for Employers
- July 9, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Category: Employment Law
Workplace harassment is both a legal liability and a workplace culture issue. This guide explains what harassment law requires, how employers can use the Faragher-Ellerth defense, what training and policy obligations exist, and how to conduct a harassment investigation that holds up to scrutiny.
-
Employment Discrimination Law: A Primer for US Business Owners
- July 8, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Category: Employment Law
Federal law prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and genetic information. State laws add many more protected categories. This guide explains what business owners must know to avoid discrimination claims and respond when they arise.
-
Non-Disclosure Agreements: Drafting, Negotiating, and Enforcing NDAs
- July 7, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Categories: Business Law, Intellectual Property
Non-disclosure agreements are among the most commonly used — and most frequently misunderstood — business contracts. This guide explains what makes an NDA enforceable, the key provisions to include, and how to use NDAs to protect confidential information without creating legal landmines.
-
ADA and Employment: What the Americans with Disabilities Act Requires of Employers
- July 6, 2026
- Posted by: allan
- Category: Employment Law
The ADA prohibits employment discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations. This guide explains who is covered, what reasonable accommodation means, and how to handle the interactive process.
- 1
- 2