From creating a will to establishing a revocable trust, there are many tools and options available to individuals creating a Houston estate plan. However, many people are unaware of the role insurance can play in an estate plan, especially for small business owners. Many estate planning attorneys will advise their…
Asset protection is the process of employing risk management products and legally acceptable solutions to ensure a person’s wealth is not unjustly taken. Ever heard of the rule of entropy? Roughly, it says that things tend toward chaos. So it is with business and the chaos of litigation. If you…
For many years, when an individual outgrew a proprietorship, a corporation was the norm. Today, limited liability companies (LLCs) are popular. But despite the inroads of the LLC, corporations persist. But there are key differences between S and C status. If you own a business or are chosen to inherit…
The buyers and the sellers couldn’t agree on how much the company was worth. A business is essentially an asset, but assigning a value to this type of asset tends to be very complex. If your retirement plan (and maybe your estate plan for your heirs) relies upon the business,…
The 1974 ESOP law and later amendments were designed to encourage employee ownership. Company founders who initially sell just part of their stake and stay on as CEO say the best news comes after the deal: employees start to act more like owners. Ideas formerly kept quiet start to bubble…
These two experiences taught me a lesson about family businesses. Making a family business a family legacy takes planning and preparation. While each family business has its own unique issues, there are some common strategies associated with succession planning. Sometimes, passing along your assets to the next generation is simply…
For business owners that have also established their business as a corporation (not an option for partnerships), an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (or ESOP) may provide a better retirement option. How you go about selling your business is completely up to you. And for most, that moment is bittersweet. Bitter…
While your goal might be to attract the most qualified buyer that will pay the asking price and lead the company on a path of continued success, it is what you expect of your life post-sale that should constitute how you execute the deal. Done right, a business succession or…
To ensure your exit goals are met and your family relationships remain intact, it's important to clarify the family succession process right from the start. When you are a family business owner looking to pass the torch, the business is typically your greatest asset and likely the center of the…
An estimated 70% of businesses don’t have a family member capable or willing to assume responsibility. What are you doing to plan for the sale? A certain reality will eventually set in when it comes to the future of your business. And that reality is that some day you…