Mistake #2: Not Having an Operating Agreement (Partnerships and Corporations) An “Operating Agreement” is a contract between the founders of the business. This includes people involved in the management, people who provide capital, and people who do both. This agreement sets out operative issues … [Read more...]
About Carole Aippersbach
The Intersection of Law, Language and Culture
Introduction When we think of the intersection of law and language, most of us reflect on the linguistic sides of the issue, such as: questions about why law-makers use certain words as opposed to others, queries about ‘legalese’, and problems of misunderstanding, interpretation and translation. … [Read more...]
How to Avoid Your Day in Court
When people think of needing legal help, they often think of lawyers, court forms, and court rooms. As those who have been there already know, it isn’t nearly as glamorous as it seems on television, and quite to the contrary, it can be quite scary. The good news is that not every legal issue has to … [Read more...]
Food Safety in Canada – A Balancing Act?
Many of the food-related policies and the information that we rely upon as consumers have come about through the work of the Food Directorate and the CFIA. In 1967, Pierre Trudeau famously stated that the Canadian government has no place in the bedrooms of the nation. What he didn’t comment upon … [Read more...]
Top 5 Legal Mistakes in Starting a Small Business (Part 5)
Mistake #5: Not Getting a Lawyer for your Business As the owner of a business, you would likely never try to do all of your own accounting, computer support, and cleaning – you would probably hire someone. After all, you are there to run the business part of your endeavour – that is what you … [Read more...]
Top 5 Legal Mistakes in Starting a Small Business (Part 4)
Mistake #4: Not Being Adequately Insured New businesses often have insufficient insurance. In deciding what kind and how much insurance to secure, a new business owner should carefully examine the needs of the business. Here is a summary of the most common forms of insurance coverage. Property … [Read more...]
Top 5 Legal Mistakes in Starting a Small Business (Part 3)
Mistake #3: The Contents of Leases When you start a small business, you will need to consider where that business will be located. If your business is not a home-based one, this may be the first time you have had to deal with a commercial lease. Although such leases generally favour the landlord, … [Read more...]
Top 5 Legal Mistakes in Starting a Small Business (Part 1)
So you want to start a small business? You have your business plan at the ready, you can get a start-up loan with an interest rate that is at an all-time low, and your determination is at an all-time high. You are ready to go. Ironically, now – during this flurry of energy, excitement, and … [Read more...]
