How do I keep former employees from competing against me? After investing the time and money that it takes to launch a new, successful business, it is not surprising that many companies seek to protect their confidential information and general know-how. By signing a simple non-competition agreement (or “non-compete”) with employees or contractors, a company [...]
As a tenant, what should I consider when renting an office or commercial space? In order to lease an office or commercial space, you will need to sign a commercial lease with a landlord. Unlike residential leases, which in Oregon and Washington are regulated by laws that are highly protective of residents, a commercial landlord and [...]
Is my Worker an Independent Contractor or an Employee? For every business owner, large and small, knowing the difference between an independent contractor and employee is an important one. It is particularly important because, even though it is not always clear, the financial consequences of mistaking a contractor for an employee could be dire (taxes, [...]
How Do I Engage my Employees to Produce the Best Results for my Company? Immix hosted a Powerup Event on October 18, gathering business leaders and consultants to discuss an important topic for small and growing businesses. Although the topic was branding, we were reminded of the importance of an employee’s role in bringing a [...]
As a landlord, what should I consider when leasing my commercial space? The flexibility that a commercial landlord and tenant have in structuring their lease allows the parties to develop a lease that closely matches their intentions. This is often to the commercial landlord’s advantage, since many landlords have a superior bargaining position in lease [...]
Short answer-Yes. It’s a typical story for a new business: step one in forming a new company is to name the company. In this modern era, choosing a name requires that you check what domain names are available and secure your digital presence. From the first day of your company you’ll probably be thinking about [...]
Trademarks are all around, and you probably even know them when you see them, but what are they? To answer this question we will look at (1) what they are not, (2) how you get them, and (3) how they’re used. The difference between trademarks and copyrights A trademark is not a copyright, though both [...]
New Rules for Waiting Periods in 2014 An employer with a policy that requires a waiting period before an employee is eligible for health insurance coverage should review it to ensure they are compliant heading into 2014. Proposed rules implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act would prohibit employers from imposing waiting periods of [...]