Cooperatives as a business structure help maximize resources and distribute profits equally among members. They can also foster a strong community since members work and vote alongside each other. This webinar, presented by attorney Erika Dunyak of Vermont Law and Graduate School, reviews the different types of cooperatives and what to consider before filing.
Participant: Everyone
Branding Best Practices
As a small business owner, you want to develop and protect your brand, but you don’t yet have the funds to file for trademark protection. In this webinar, Attorney Christina Licursi of Wolf Greenfield covers steps you can take to have some level of protection from the beginning as well as when to take the plunge and file for protection.
Introducción a la formación de cooperativas
Una cooperativa (“co-op”) es un tipo de empresa con fines de lucro de propiedad comunitaria y administrada democráticamente por sus miembros. Esta guía legal cubre tipos comunes de cooperativas, beneficios fiscales de las cooperativas, beneficios y riesgos, así como también cómo formar una cooperativa.
Preparing an Offer of Employment Letter
An offer letter is an important start to any employment relationship because it ensures the employer and employee have a mutual understanding about the key terms of employment. This guide identifies the key elements of an employment offer letter and provides a sample letter for you to review and consider when drafting your own offer letter. As a future employee, this guide will help you to clarify some points of employment before accepting.
Onboarding New Employees
Congratulations! Your small business is ready to hire your first employees. This is both an exciting and daunting process. Luckily, we have Tara Walker and Bill Wahrer of Bernstein Shur Portland, Maine who will walk you through this process. They will cover common legal traps for the hiring manager in the hiring and interview process, she will provide a checklist of best practices, and recommended documentation for your new employees.
Presenters: Attorneys Tara Walker and Bill Wahrer of Bernstein Shur
Media and Marketing 101
As a small business, you are likely using emails, text, and social media to advertise your business and communicate with your customers. You may also have your own webpage spotlighting customer reviews and other content. With all these forms of social media and communication comes a web of laws that are difficult to navigate. During this webinar, a team of attorneys from Bernstein Shur will help you detangle these laws. We will cover topics such as email, text, and social media marketing, claim substantiation, website policies, the proper use of logos and other copyrighted material, endorsements, testimonials, and customer reviews, and other hot topics in advertising law.
Presenters: Attorneys Elliot Brake, Kevan Lee Deckelmann, Chad W. Higgins, Matthew J. Saldaña
Labeling Your Food Product
Small food businesses and farms with value-added processing often sell their products locally, but understanding the Food and Drug Administration’s rules for labeling those products can be challenging. This webinar will prepare you to feel confident creating a food label and selling your product.
Presenters: Rachel Gartner & Zac Maciejewski, Faegre, Drinker Biddle and Reath.
Starting your Farm or Food Business: Succession Planning
When you’re forming your LLC or other business entity, it is important to plan for the future. This webinar will prepare you with key questions to consider about succession planning when forming your business.
Presenter: Kim Memmesheimer, Hoefle, Phoenix, Gormley & Roberts, PLLC.
Intro to Co-Op Formation, New Hampshire
A cooperative (“co-op”) is a type of for-profit business that is communally owned and democratically managed by its members. This legal guide covers common types of co-ops, tax benefits of co-ops, benefits and risks, as well as how to form a co-op. It also covers a few requirements specific to New Hampshire.
Intro to Co-Op Formation
A cooperative (“co-op”) is a type of for-profit business that is communally owned and democratically managed by its members. This legal guide covers common types of co-ops, tax benefits of co-ops, benefits and risks, as well as how to form a co-op.
Incorporación de una organización sin fines de lucro en nueva inglaterra
Explore si una estructura sin fines de lucro es la adecuada para su organización. Aprenda a incorporarse como una corporación sin fines de lucro.
Esta guía legal:
- analiza los pros y los contras de las organizaciones sin fines de lucro
- detalla cómo convertirse en una organización sin fines de lucro
- explica cómo solicitar el estatus de organización benéfica federal 501 (c) (3)
- analiza el patrocinio fiscal como una alternativa al estado 501 (c) (3)
¿Qué es la mediación?
La mediación es un proceso voluntario en el que un tercero neutral (el mediador) ayuda a las partes a resolver su disputa o conflicto facilitando su negociación. La mediación se puede utilizar como alternativa a una demanda. Esta guía explicará los entresijos de la mediación, así como sus ventajas como herramienta para la resolución de conflictos.
Operación de una propiedad unipersonal
Como propietario de una granja o empresa alimentaria, usted elige cómo desea operar. Elegir la estructura empresarial adecuada es importante porque afecta a muchos aspectos de su empresa. Por ejemplo, puede influir en el tratamiento fiscal, la exposición al riesgo y la responsabilidad y el control personal sobre el negocio. Los nuevos agricultores o empresarios alimentarios a menudo operan como propietarios únicos. Esta guía legal analiza las características y obligaciones de operar su negocio como propietario único.
Introducción a las marcas comerciales
Su negocio ofrece productos frescos y de alta calidad y alimentos de valor agregado y se ha ganado una buena reputación en la comunidad. Pero, ¿puede proteger su “marca”, la buena voluntad y la confianza que ha desarrollado para su negocio? ¿Puede evitar que los competidores se monten en los faldones de su buena reputación? Aprenda a utilizar las marcas comerciales sólidas de manera eficaz. Esta Guía Lightning establece cómo obtener y proteger su marca comercial y cómo identificar la infracción de marca registrada.
Conceptos básicos de la ley de derechos de autor
La ley de derechos de autor puede parecer complicada. Pero es simplemente una ley que dice que si creas algo, entonces eres el propietario. Para las empresas, los derechos de autor pueden aplicarse a las cosas que usa todos los días, como los gráficos utilizados en sitios web y en publicidad o contenido de blogs. Aprenda a crear y proteger sus derechos de autor. Esta guía examina cómo proteger sus propios materiales con derechos de autor y evitar el uso indebido de los derechos de autor que pertenecen a otros.
Guía paso a paso para formar una compañía de responsabilidad limitada
Esta guía legal analiza las características y obligaciones de operar su negocio como una sociedad de responsabilidad limitada (“LLC”) y proporciona instrucciones paso a paso para formar una LLC, que incluyen:
- Cómo registrar una SRL ( LLC)
- Qué incluir en un acuerdo operativo
- Presentaciones adicionales a tener en cuenta
Incorporating a Non-Profit in New England
Explore whether a non-profit structure is the right fit for your organization. Learn how to incorporate as a non-profit corporation.
This legal guide:
- discusses the pros and cons of non-profit organizations
- details how to become a nonprofit organization
- explains how to apply for federal 501(c)(3) charitable organization status
- discusses fiscal sponsorship as an alternative to 501(c)(3) status
What is Mediation?
Mediation is a voluntary process in which a neutral third party (the mediator) assists the parties in resolving their dispute or conflict by facilitating their negotiation. Mediation can be used as an alternative to a lawsuit. This guide will go through the ins and outs of mediation as well as the advantages of it as a tool for conflict resolution.
¿Cómo trabajar con un abogado?
Aún cuando usted mismo puede tomar cuidado de muchas necesidades legales, a veces se necesita ayuda o información por parte de un abogado. Aprenda cómo trabajar de la mejor manera con su abogado para obtener los resultados que usted quiere. Su abogado probablemente le hará muchas preguntas durante su primer encuentro. Aquí tiene cómo estar listo para dicho encuentro, y cómo preparar lo más importantes de sus propias preguntas.
Step-by-Step Guide to Forming a Limited Liability Company
This legal guide discusses the features and obligations of operating your business as a limited liability company (“LLC”) and provides step-by-step instructions for forming an LLC including:
- How to register an LLC
- What to include in an operating agreement
- Additional filings to be aware of
Employment Payroll Tax Basics
The rules governing payroll taxes can be complex. Payroll taxes are generally calculated as a percentage of the employee salary. Farms that employ workers must withhold money from their employees’ paychecks, timely submit withheld amounts to the appropriate tax authorities, and file payroll tax returns with state and federal agencies. This guide outlines what payroll taxes are, and how and when to pay them. After reading this guide you will know:
- what are payroll taxes and who is responsible for paying them
- the different types of payroll taxes
- the special exemptions given to agricultural employees
New England Food Policy Advocacy Guide
This guide is designed to provide organizations and advocates with information, support, and inspiration to promote policy changes that build a more robust and resilient regional food system. The report is intended as a tool to guide individuals, organizations, coalitions, agencies, and policymakers to pursue supportive public policies and remove policy barriers. It was developed by American Farmland Trust, Conservation Law Foundation, and Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group.
How to Work with a Lawyer
While there are a lot of legal needs you can tackle yourself, sometimes you need help or information from an attorney. Learn how to work best with your lawyer to get the results you want. Your lawyer will likely ask a lot of questions at the first meeting. Here’s how to be ready for them, and how to prepare relevant questions of your own.
Rhode Island and Federal Leave Laws
Employment leave laws help balance employers’ needs for a reliable work force with employees’ responsibilities outside work. Leave laws also protect workers by allowing them to take time off without fear of losing their job. Both Federal and Rhode Island state laws allow employees to take reasonable unpaid leave for family and medical reasons. Whether you are an employer or an employee, it is important to know your rights and obligations under these state and Federal laws.