The Law Office of Wesley Scott Jones, P.C.

Business Law

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BUYING AND SELLING A NORTH CAROLINA BUSINESS OR BUSINESS ASSETS

Are you considering Buying or Selling a Business or Business Assets?  Where do you start?

If you are the Buyer should you buy the entire business (typically called a stock purchase) or just the business assets (typically called an asset purchase)?  If you just buy the assets of another business should you do so as an individual or as a newly created entity such as a North Carolina Corporation or North Carolina Limited Liability Company?  Should you require a Non-Compete Agreement with the Seller?  Should you pay cash at closing or should your payment be structured over time?

If you are the Seller should you require cash at closing or accept payments over time? If you accept payments over time should you secure the debt with a UCC Financing Statement and/or a Personal Guarantee Agreement or other security interest?

As a Buyer or Seller does the North Carolina Bulk Sales Law apply to your transaction?  These are just a few of the topics you must consider when Buying and Selling a North Carolina Business or Business Assets.

Call Wesley S. Jones now at 910-256-5800 for a free telephone consultation.

Business attorney serving all of Southeastern North Carolina including  New Hanover County (e.g. Wilmington, Kure Beach, Wrightsville Beach, Landfall, and Mayfaire), all of Pender County (e.g. Burgaw and Topsail Beach) and all of Brunswick County (e.g. Bolivia, Southport, Ocean Isle and Oak Island).

 

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Business Litigation Matters

Business Litigation MattersWhen Wilmington attorney Wesley Scott Jones takes on a case, his goal is to handle the matter swiftly and effectively.  As a business and lawyer and litigator, Wesley appreciates that his clients want to get back to business, not spend their valuable time in a courtroom. Over the years, attorney Jones has represented both plaintiffs and defendants from large and small businesses, including family-owned businesses, Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Sole Proprietors, and Franchises, both big and small in District Court, Superior Court, Federal Court and in Mediation.  Learn more about Business Litigation Services from Wesley Jones.

Whether the business owner is a new or experienced professional, the wide variety of issues that can escalate into a legal dispute is truly amazing.  That is why it makes sense to retain the services of a skilled litigator, just in case.  In recent years, Attorney Jones has represented clients throughout the courtrooms of southeastern North Carolina, in matters such as:

  • Account Collection
  • Breach of Contract
  • Breach of Corporate Duty
  • Business Judgment Rule
  • Contract Disputes
  • Collection of Past Due Accounts
  • Deceptive Trade Practices
  • Deceptive Business Practices
  • Debt Collection
  • Delinquent Accounts
  • False Statements
  • Franchisor-Franchisee Disputes
  • Fraud
  • Interference with Contracts or Business Relations
  • Judgment Recovery
  • Misappropriation of Trade Secrets
  • Misrepresentation
  • Negligent Misrepresentation
  • Nonpayment
  • Ownership Disputes
  • Partnership Disputes
  • Payment Disputes
  • Piercing the Corporate Veil
  • Torts
  • Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices
  • Unfinished Work
  • Undelivered Goods

Most everyone going into a business or construction deal is usually hopeful and excited about the anticipated end result.  Ensure smooth sailing for your business and gain piece of mind with a little help from the Law Office of Wesley Scott Jones.  To learn more about the services his firm provides, please call lawyer Wesley Jones today at 910-256-5800 for a free consultation.

Wesley Jones is a Litigation Lawyer serving all of Southeastern North Carolina including  New Hanover County (e.g. Wilmington, Kure Beach, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and the areas of Ogden, Masonboro, Myrtle Grove, Landfall, and Mayfair), all of Pender County (e.g. Burgaw, Surf City, Hampstead and Topsail Beach) and all of Brunswick County (e.g. Bald Head Island, Bolivia, Calabash, Leland, Shallotte, Southport, Saint James, Ocean Isle, and Oak Island).

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TIPS FOR BUSINESS STARTUPS IN WILMINGTON, NC

An Attorney reviewing documents with clients.When taking the leap to start a business, it pays to have a few skilled professionals behind you. Although you may be a natural with managing finances and employees along with marketing and delivering the goods or services the firm will provide, there’s true piece of mind when all of the bases are truly covered. Local business attorney Wesley Scott Jones has helped hundreds of clients in the greater Wilmington area develop a blueprint for success.

As with most endeavors, creating a foolproof plan is key.  With that idea in mind, please consider these tips for streamlining a business startup.

  • Hire an attorney, such as Wes, who is well versed in all aspects of business and contract law.
  • Hire a local accountant who is also familiar with the territory.  As a business owner, you will discover that in the long run, having experts on your team in those two disciplines is priceless.

Next, your attorney and accountant will be able to advise and guide you on aspects such as:

  • Structuring your business entity
  • Registering with the local, state, and federal tax offices
  • Protecting yourself from deadbeat clients (See: Collection of Past Due Accounts)
  • Preparing for employee issues, such as Noncompetition Agreements, Independent Contractor Agreements, Employment Agreements, and defining your responsibilities to those individuals
  • Contract drafting
  • Draft and implement company policies, including terms of service, disclosure, and privacy matters
  • Financial aspects such as payroll, income tax forms, profit and loss statements

Please note that the above tips are merely suggestions and each company will have its own list of areas to address. Because every business is unique and laws and financial guidelines vary state by state and even county by county, having skilled professionals at your disposal is just the responsible thing to do.

Attorney Wesley Scott Jones would be happy to discuss more about the essential steps you’ll need to consider for your specific company.  To schedule an appointment for a free consultation please give his office a call at now 910-256-5800.

Wesley Jones is a Business Lawyer serving all of Southeastern North Carolina including  New Hanover County (e.g. Wilmington, Kure Beach, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and the areas of Ogden, Masonboro, Myrtle Grove, Landfall, and Mayfair), all of Pender County (e.g. Burgaw, Surf City, Hampstead and Topsail Beach) and all of Brunswick County (e.g. Bald Head Island, Bolivia, Calabash, Leland, Shallotte, Southport, Saint James, Ocean Isle, and Oak Island).

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Avoiding Disputes Over Past Due Accounts

Avoiding Disputes over Past Due AccountsAs a Wilmington attorney for a variety of business owners and operators throughout southeastern N.C., Wesley Scott Jones has handled numerous disputes over past due notices.

For over-burdened business owners, handling past-due accounts can be a thankless, time-consuming task. That’s why so many firms choose to take action only when receivables are 90 days or more past due. This tactic may result in limiting your cash flow and profits.

In an effort to assist the parties involved before it becomes a legal issue, Wes has a few suggestions:

  • Stay on top of unpaid receivables and create a safety net in the form of a tighter credit policy.
  • Set up an accounts receivable aging report so you’ll be able to recognize non-payment patterns before thy get out of control.
  • AllBusiness.com reports that, “Studies reveal that the likelihood of collecting receivables drops drastically as time goes on-from more than 90 percent after 30 days to 74 percent after 90 days and just 50 percent after six months.” With that in mind, establish a policy that any customer 35 days past due, will receive a friendly phone call as a reminder.
  • Since missed payments can and do happen, consider working out a specific deal with a customer who’s honestly had a cash flow issue. Establish a realistic payment schedule and identify a pay-off goal day. Have it legally drafted and both parties must sign in front of witnesses. Only do this for very special cases.
  • Follow up courtesy calls by mailing past-due notices and letters by regular mail – not e-mail! Sometimes a little humor can go a long way, such as a postcard with an appropriate graphic and a message like, “Please pay your bill so I can pay mine.”  Always include a phone number in case the customer needs to explain his or her situation.

If 90 days or more have passed and you still have not received payment, it’s time to contact the office of Wesley Scott Jones: 910-256-5800. Let Wes help you recoup past due accounts in a legal manner that will deliver results.

Related Post:

Collection of Past Due Accounts

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Litigation Services in Wilmington, NC

Litigation AttorneyWesley Scott Jones is a local attorney with a high degree of expertise in the multi-faceted process of litigation. As an experienced trial lawyer, Wes is able to represent plaintiffs and defendants in District, Federal, and Superior Court.

The key to attorney Jones’ success is his experience in managing all phases of the litigation process such as investigation, pleadings and discovery, pre-trial responsibilities, trial and courtroom proceedings, settlement and the appeal process.

As a litigator, attorney Jones specializes in:

Each case comes with its own unique set of circumstances, which is why Wes goes the extra mile in conducting in-depth investigations to ensure there is enough evidence to file a lawsuit. This procedure involves having a thorough interview with the client, locating witnesses, taking their statements, gathering documents, checking and re-checking the facts that resulted in the dispute. During these proceedings, it may become apparent that a pre-litigation settlement can resolve the issue before a lawsuit is even filed.

If you are considering hiring Wes as your litigator, here’s a quick look at the Basic Breakdown of the Litigation Process:

Pleadings – During this phase, the facts are reviewed prior to drafting a wide variety of pleadings and motions on behalf of the client. Formal complaints and official summons documents are also formulated at this time. Whether the client is the plaintiff or the defendant, allegations are investigated, responses are discussed, and a number of motions may be drafted including motions to strike, dismiss, amend or change venue and motions for judgment on the pleadings.

Discovery – This is when the litigation attorney gathers information and evidence that is relevant to the case. The discovery process is a vital step litigators use to find out the facts relating to the problem, identify the extenuating circumstances, and developing a strategy for how the case should proceed.

Pre-Trial – During this stage, attorney Jones will consult with and advise clients; acquire expert witnesses, attend pre-trial conferences and develop a trial strategy based on the facts and evidence. Pre-trial work also requires working with key witnesses, preparing trial exhibits, articulating arguments and pre-trial motions.

Trial – The good news is most lawsuits are settled before they come to trial. However, when cases cannot be resolved, attorney Jones is well-versed and extremely experienced in all such matters including witness and jury preparation, identifying the case’s strengths and weaknesses, using them to their fullest potential, and the art of persuasive reasoning.

Settlement – As a litigator, Wes always has the best interests of his clients in mind, which is why seeking a settlement as opposed to going to trial, is a worthy goal. Cases settled out of court usually always save both parties a great deal of time and expense. To ensure that clients are satisfied when a settlement is the solution, Wes conducts an extensive number of mediation and settlement conferences with both parties and the judge to ensure the best outcome is reached.

Appeal – When a favorable outcome is not reached, then Wes may consider appealing the case.

If you would like to meet with Wes to discuss whether or not legal action is the next step, please call the office at 910-256-5800 to set up a consultation.

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Adding a DBA to an S-Corporation or LLC

Adding A DBA to an SCorp or LLCAs a business grows and evolves, it may become apparent that operating under a different name, or re-branding, may be beneficial. In that case, choosing a DBA may be the way to go.

To review, DBA stands for “doing business as.” In some states, this may be referred to as operating under a “trade name” or “assumed name.” Many business, and especially franchises, are set up this way.

S-corporations are taxed like partnerships and share the benefits of incorporation. The IRS limits the number of shareholders in this type of company to 100 or less. Next, consider Limited Liability Companies or LLCs. When set up under the proper guidelines, an LLC can be taxed like a partnership, which is an advantage.

If a business owner decides to add a DBA to an S-Corp or LLC, there are definite legal guidelines. Please note they vary slightly from state to state. That’s why it’s important to choose a qualified, licensed and experienced business attorney, such as Wesley Scott Jones, for such matters. Here’s a look at the steps involved:

  • A meeting with all of the shareholders and board of directors must be held. In order for the inclusion of the DBA to be approved, a majority must support the action. It is essential that the proceedings of this meeting are recorded in the minutes of the company’s official log.
  • Make sure that the selected DBA name does not conflict with another registered corporate name in your state or a federally registered name or trademark. This query involves checking with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and your secretary of state. Check their individual websites, for instructions on how to conduct these searches free of charge.
  • Because each state has different laws in the way DBAs are added, it is necessary to contact the Secretary of State where your company is registered. Either the Secretary of State’s office or the State Corporations Division office can guide you through the steps and required paperwork that must be completed before a DBA can be added to an S-Corp or LLC.
  • Next, new bank accounts must be established to avoid any confusion. The new accounts will need to include information about the full name of the S-Corp or LLC, plus details on the DBA name.
  • Finally, the name change must be filed with the IRS. Please note:
    • ***On the Form 1120-S income tax return, check the “Name Change” box in Section 1, Line H-this is where you will write the new full name of the business. The original DBA name will be listed on the form’s “Name” line.

Your “employer id numbers,” or EIN will not change, because you are not forming a new business, just being added to an existing one.

If you have further questions or would like to discuss the pros and cons of adding your DBA company to an S-Corp or LLC, contact Wes Jones. To contact our directly, call 910-256-5800.

Learn more about our practice and the other types of cases we handle by visiting our wsjlaw.com.

The office is located in Lumina Station, just before the Wrightsville Beach drawbridge. The address is 1904 Eastwood Avenue, Suite 30.