Category: Business & Corporate

Key Takeaways California corporate officers, directors, and business partners generally owe fiduciary duties of loyalty and care. Fiduciaries must avoid self-dealing, undisclosed conflicts, misuse of company assets, and improper personal gain. California’s business judgment rule can protect informed, good-faith...

Key Takeaways Business owners should review renewal clauses, rent increases, maintenance costs, and repair obligations before negotiations. Future space needs and projected cash flow should guide commercial lease renewal decisions. Market rents, vacancy rates, comparable leases, and tenant incentives...

If your business’s lease is scheduled to come up for renewal in 2026, it’s time to prepare to negotiate a new lease if you wish to remain in your present location. Taking time to develop a focused negotiation strategy can help you secure a favorable deal for your company. 

Key Takeaways Clear contract language can help California businesses prevent misunderstandings and legal disputes. Contracts should define payment terms, performance obligations, deadlines, and remedies for breach. Dispute resolution, termination, attorney’s fees, and integration clauses can provide additional protection.

Key Takeaways A written partnership agreement can help Ventura County businesses prevent disputes and clarify expectations. Agreements should define each partner’s responsibilities, authority, capital contributions, and profit sharing. Buy-sell provisions can address a partner’s departure, death, disability, or transfer...

Key Takeaways LLCs offer Ventura businesses flexible management and limited liability protection. S-Corp status provides pass-through taxation and can offer tax advantages for eligible businesses. General partnerships are simple to form but generally leave partners personally liable for business...

When Mark started his custom cabinetry business in Ventura County, he went with the simplest option—a sole proprietorship. It worked fine at first. But as he hired employees, took on bigger projects, and started thinking about retirement planning and liability protection, Mark began to wonder: Should I be doing this differently?