The Fundamentals of Small Business Financing
Where Money Actually Comes From, and What It Really Costs Most small businesses don’t fail because the owner lacks talent, drive, or customers. They fail because cash dries up at the wrong time. That’s not a moral failing. It’s a structural one. Revenue can look strong on paper while cash quietly disappears. Payroll doesn’t wait. […]
What You Should Know about Life Insurance in Estate Planning
An estate plan may look perfect on paper—until your heirs need cash quickly. Life insurance can be a powerful tool for addressing that gap, providing funds precisely when they are needed most. When coordinated with the rest of your estate plan, it can also help ensure that your wishes are carried out as intended. Why […]
Attorney Spotlight: Michael Klemm
In what area of law do you practice and why did you choose this? Real Estate — my father and my grandfather worked as self-employed builders and remodelers, so real estate law feels like home. What did you want to be when you grew up? I considered many of the traditional professions — teacher, doctor, […]
How Do You Know When It’s Time for a Business Divorce?
The Red Flags Partners Ignore—Until It’s Too Late Business divorce isn’t rare. Worse, it’s inevitable for the partnerships that ignore warning signs. Most partners don’t wake up one morning wanting out. Instead, they tolerate small problems. They rationalize bad behavior. They tell themselves it’s temporary. That’s how businesses die slowly. A Red Flag is an […]
Yielding Certainty: Structuring Agricultural Agreements in an Era of Absentee Landownership
Co-Authored by: Alec Sherod & Evelyn O’Brien With absentee ownership of farmland growing in the United States, well-structured lease agreements are vital to ensuring operator and landlord profitability. In 2024, approximately 348 million acres of U.S. farmland were leased to operators. Because farmland has high profitability potential and many families prefer to keep farmland in […]
Today In Agri-Business: Navigating Global Supply Chains
Co-Authored by: Alec Sherod & Evelyn O’Brien American farmers rely on supply chains that stretch far beyond the United States’ borders. Accordingly, geopolitics plays a critical role in determining the input costs that farmers face, from fertilizer and fuel to agricultural equipment. As geopolitical tensions rise and production prices remain high, farmers are faced with […]
ESOP: The Overlooked Baby Boomer Business Transition Option
Co-Authored by: Samuel Landman, Hellmuth & Johnson & Daniel Zugell, Business Transition Advisors Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) continue to gain massive momentum as the “Baby Boomer” generation hits peak retirement. With roughly 10,000 individuals turning 65 every day, a historic wave of business succession is underway. Many business owners want to transfer their companies […]
Oil and Gas Law: Myths vs. Reality
What Surface Owners and Mineral Owners Get Wrong—and Why It Matters Oil and gas law is surrounded by folklore. Some of it comes from outdated practices. Some from bad advice. Some from wishful thinking. And some from people who confidently repeat things they’ve never bothered to verify. That confusion is expensive. Here are the most […]
Keep Your Trademarks Strong: How Marketing Teams Protect Registrations Through Consistent Use
Your marketing drives brand recognition, but it also directly affects your trademark rights. The way your team uses your marks in ads, social media, packaging, and websites can strengthen (or erode) the value of your registrations at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Trademarks are legal assets defined by their exact wording and, for […]
Why You Need the Right Business Partnership Agreement
Because the End Is Where the Rules Actually Matter Most business partners sign formation documents while everything is going well. Everyone is optimistic. Everyone is fair-minded. No one thinks they’ll be the partner who gets sick, burned out, divorced, or fed up. That’s precisely why the beginning is the only moment when balanced rules can […]