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The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

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Page 1: The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

The Jointly Owned

Business: Working with Partners:

Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Page 2: The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Rick PorotskyPartner, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP

Warner OffPartner, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP

Mark HomerCEO, Get Noticed Get Found

Jabez LeBretCIO, Get Noticed Get Found

Page 3: The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

We’ll help you think about

Costs and benefits of working with a partner?

What non-business / legal issues can

cause things to ‘go wrong’?

What initial questions and planning

can help you avoid issues?

What can you do increase your

chances of a smooth exit?

Page 4: The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Lack of a proper agreement among owners causing initial problems

Real example: Get Noticed Get FoundDifficulties caused by lack of agreement

The Importance of a

Proper Agreement

Page 5: The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Starting a Business with Partners

Page 6: The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Starting a business: Cash is King

Page 7: The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

What happens when

someone needs to

leave?

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Page 8: The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Perceived Value of the Business

Leaving Partner

Other Partners

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Page 9: The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Real lawsuit:

⨠ Vague agreement and misunderstanding

⨠ Some issues could have been prevented

Page 10: The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Entity Creation and

liability protection

Protection of intellectual

property

Obtaining counsel

Documentation

Page 11: The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Setting up an Entity

Provides framework for business

Protects you personally

Page 12: The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Protect your IP and Assets

Don’t forget IP protection

Know who owns what

“Later” is too late

Page 13: The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business
Page 14: The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

(Seriously…call your lawyer)

Individual vs. company issues

Formation issues

IP protection

And…

Page 15: The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Documentation

Ownership

Voting/control

Exit rights

Valuation

Expectations/obligations

Page 16: The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Issues in Exiting

the Combination

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Page 17: The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Real lawsuit:

-- Owner of a 40-year business

⨠ lack of contact for transition to new owner

⨠ loss of much of their equity

Page 18: The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Real lawsuit:

-- Co-owner of an 8 year business

⨠ lack of contract

⨠ lack of accounting

⨠ contentious suit re: valuation / payments

Page 19: The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Current success in

negotiating exit sale

⨠ Involvement of counsel for each side

⨠ Involving accounting and insurance professionals

Page 20: The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Profitably exiting your partnership

Page 21: The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Rick PorotskyPartner, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP

[email protected]

Warner OffPartner, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP

[email protected]

Mark HomerCEO, Get Noticed Get Found

[email protected]

Jabez LeBretCIO, Get Noticed Get Found

[email protected]

Page 22: The Jointly Owned Business: Working with Partners: Achieve Stability & Avoid Common Pitfalls Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | The Jointly Owned Business

Learn more at:

dinsmore.com

gngf.com