Payroll Protection Program Pickiness

The Payroll Protection Program supposedly was taking first applications on April 3, 2020.   I have to admit that I know of no one that got an application in to a bank on that day.   But last week, people were actually getting applications in, and some have already received approvals.  That means that if you are … Read more

Families First Means Paid Leave

There are currently two COVID-19 related acts:  The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. I know everyone wants to know about the Payroll Protection Program under the CARES Act. We’ve been looking at it and talking to banks, but let’s address the Families First Act … Read more

Best Laid Plans

I had grand plans for today’s blog post. I should discuss the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. I should discuss the different loan and business programs available in Wisconsin. I should do a lot of things. But really, what I want to do is just figure out a way to get us all through the … Read more

Categories fun

Side Gig or Not: Limit Your Liability.

I have been asked quite a bit lately about when one should create a business entity like an LLC. I get told things like: “It is just a small side gig.” or, “It is a direct sales thing.” And I get it. You don’t know if it is going anywhere, and you don’t want to … Read more

We ARE Trying.

It has been a busy first quarter for our clients, which means a busy time for us. One thing that has kept us hopping is the purchase or sale of businesses. Often, but not always, that takes the form of an asset sale. That means assets of the business are sold – not ownership of … Read more

The Licensing Lion

We have written in the past about the control that a copyright owner has over the subject of his or her copyright. However, it seems some people aren’t paying attention to the message that they can’t simply use (and especially charge money for) other people’s works without permission. In this case linked to above, there … Read more

Family Feud

OK, you have gone through all of the questions that Gary set out for you, but now’s the toughest one of all: Do you have the support network at home for this? Start-ups are not for the faint of heart. You will be putting in hours of work – possibly for little or no pay … Read more

Are you right? Right now?

I joked last time that I was having an existential crisis about my own value by discussing how much I should pay myself when starting a business, but this week’s post kicks it into high gear as we ask: Are you the right person to start this business? Well, now, these questions are not getting … Read more

Happy 2020!

As we have discussed before, January 1 brings a new year and a new crop of copyrighted works entering into the public domain. This year, works from 1924 become available. We wish you a wonderful, fulfilling new year with lots of great works to build on! A few of my favorites: All these shorts and … Read more

But Will You Be Paid?

Perhaps one of the most important questions that someone thinking of starting a business (or adding a new line to their existing business) is: Will you make money? Or as Gary put it: Can you compete and still make a reasonable return on your investment?  This is an easy, yet hard question. Often, people will … Read more