Business Contracts
Business Contracts Lawyer in Ephrata, Pennsylvania
One of the traps waiting to snare a business owner is the lack of solid contracts. A poorly drafted purchase contract, or worse none at all, can doom a business being purchased to failure before it starts, or rob a business seller of the fruits of years of hard work. The lack of a good contract can turn any business deal into a curse.
It is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to discussing business contracts with an attorney. Contact me today to schedule an appointment.
Goods or Services Contracts
A business should almost always have a written agreement with their customers which, at a minimum, specifies what service or product is to be provided, the price, and the date performance is due. Sometimes a pre-printed form or one obtained from the Internet is adequate, but without legal advice, finding out it wasn't can come too late. Especially in tough economic times such as this, when customers either can't or don't want to pay, a properly drafted legal contract can mean the difference between business success and business failure.
Business Purchase or Sale Contracts
There are few contracts more complex, or more important, than for the purchase or sale of a business. I have 34 years' experience in helping clients sort through the myriad issues involved in a business transfer, explaining the consequences of inclusion or exclusion of various provisions, drafting the appropriate language and negotiating the terms. Judging from the problems I have seen over the years, even buyers and sellers of modest enterprises can benefit from experienced legal advice.
Employment Contracts
Depending on how an employment contract is written and when it is signed, an employer can be vulnerable to an employee who learns business trade secrets and client names. An employee may sign a contract that prevents pursuing their trade, business or service for years or many miles from home, even if fired or laid off. An employer may need legal help to enforce a fair and legal restrictive covenant, while an employee may need representation in escaping from one that isn't either fair or legal.
Partnership, Shareholders and Buy-Sell Agreements
The lack of a partnership or shareholders' agreement can lead to disastrous infighting between co-owners, or business paralysis when one co-owner dies, retires, divorces or becomes disabled.
The best safeguard against such problems between co-owners is a solidly drafted agreement that establishes who does what, what they get paid, and how disputes can be resolved. Without a contract covering future eventualities, the death, disability, divorce or retirement of an owner may doom an otherwise thriving business. If, when and how to sell a business is best decided in advance, and committed to writing, before the needs and desires of the owners change over time.
Contact Me Today
If you would like to discuss a business related contract, or any other business related legal matter, please call me at 717-842-4467 or toll free at 888-633-8853. I will be glad to discuss legal fees and costs when you call. If we cannot arrange an appointment during my business hours between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., we can schedule an evening appointment.
