Collier County Business And Real Estate Law Blog

Tips for starting a successful nonprofit in Florida

On behalf of Law Office of Sam J. Saad III posted in blog on Sunday, April 22, 2018.

The services that nonprofit organizations render to society are priceless. Personal circumstance may inspire you to start your own to make a difference in the world. You may have a praiseworthy cause and lots of passion, but there is one thing you have to remember: Nonprofits are still businesses.

This fact means that despite the nonprofit status, the company must still run like a business in most ways. If you are not business-minded, then you may want to review these tips to help your nonprofit succeed.

Do street artists have the right to protect their work?

On behalf of Law Office of Sam J. Saad III posted in intellectual property on Friday, April 20, 2018.

Some of the most innovative artists in the world do their work in public spaces. They prefer being street artists (sometimes referred to as graffiti artists) to pursing a more lucrative career in commercial art. Because they create and display their art in public places, does that mean that they don't have the legal right to prevent it from being used without their permission -- particularly if the art was created illegally in a place where they didn't get permission from the appropriate government entity or property owner?

That has been a question in recent years as street artists have fought back against retailers and other companies that have used their art without permission or payment. However, copyright law doesn't address art that's created illegally.

Do you have a standard employment agreement?

On behalf of Law Office of Sam J. Saad III posted in construction on Wednesday, April 11, 2018.

When starting a business, it's imperative to get all your ducks in a row on day one. With this approach, you won't have nearly as much to worry about as the days turn to weeks and the weeks turn to months.

Even if you don't have any intention of hiring employees just yet, you should prepare yourself for when the time comes. This means many things, including creating a standard employment agreement.

Biggest mistakes when buying a house: Try to avoid these

On behalf of Law Office of Sam J. Saad III posted in Residential Real Estate on Wednesday, April 4, 2018.

Buying a house is one of the biggest decisions you'll ever make, as this will have an impact on both your personal life and finances.

While you hope to make the right buying decision, you know that this is easier said than done.

How do you negotiate an office lease?

On behalf of Law Office of Sam J. Saad III posted in business formation & planning on Wednesday, March 28, 2018.

If you are in the process of forming a business, it goes without saying that you'll find yourself in the market for office space at some point.

Unless you're going to purchase space, you need to turn your attention to negotiating the best lease possible. While this sounds simple enough, a few challenges can get in the way.

Things to review in a buyer’s purchase agreement

On behalf of Law Office of Sam J. Saad III posted in Residential Real Estate on Thursday, March 22, 2018.

Although selling your home can be full of twists and turns, it's all worthwhile once you receive a purchase agreement from a potential buyer. This is when you finally realize that you're getting close to the finish line.

Before you sign on the dotted line, it's important to review the purchase agreement in great detail. Here are five things that deserve your attention:

Price. Make sure you understand what the buyer is offering to pay for your property. There shouldn't be any gray area here.
Financing. Is the contract contingent on the buyer obtaining financing? Is the person buying your home with cash? This will have an impact on what you do next.
Response deadline. Simply put, you need to know how long you have to review the offer and make a decision.
Settlement date. When does the buyer want to close on the sale of the home? You must make sure this aligns with your situation, such as when you're able to move out.
Contingencies. Is there a financing contingency? How about an inspection contingency? Be sure to review and understand every contingency.

Avoid business litigation by not breaking these employment laws

On behalf of Law Office of Sam J. Saad III posted in blog on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.

The risk of your business facing litigation is very high, so it is smart to do everything under your control to avoid a lawsuit and the ruin of your company's reputation and finances. One of the areas you can focus on is your interactions with employees, as they are a significant cause of litigation.

Reduce the chances of landing in the courtroom by avoiding noncompliance with the following employment laws.

How to properly evict a commercial tenant

On behalf of Law Office of Sam J. Saad III posted in blog on Wednesday, March 14, 2018.

In many cases, it can prove easier for you as a landlord to evict a commercial tenant than a residential one, but you can still land yourself in trouble if you do not follow proper procedures when doing so. Maybe your tenant failed to pay you within the time frame your lease agreement dictates, or perhaps he or she otherwise failed to abide by the terms of your contract.

Regardless of your reasoning for wanting to evict your commercial tenant, make sure to cover your bases by taking the following steps when moving forward.

How will you prevent these small business tax mistakes?

On behalf of Law Office of Sam J. Saad III posted in business formation & planning on Wednesday, March 14, 2018.

As the new owner of a small business, you'll have many responsibilities, all of which require your time and attention. It only takes one mistake to lead you down a dark path, so you need to stay on top of everything.

For example, tax mistakes can creep up on you when you least expect it. Here are a handful of common mistakes that you need to prevent at all costs:

Not understanding what types of business expenses you can write off. There are many of these to consider, and you need to take advantage of each one. At the same time, you can't break the rules as set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Neglecting to separate your personal and business affairs. A big mistake among new small business owners, you don't want to comingle your personal finances with your company. For example, don't use your personal bank account to make purchases for your business (or vice versa).
Payroll errors. With each employee you hire, it becomes more important to understand the payroll process, including any mistakes that could get in your way. If you don't understand what's expected of your business, you can hire a payroll company to handle everything for you.

The basics of a commercial property inspection

On behalf of Law Office of Sam J. Saad III posted in commercial real estate on Thursday, March 8, 2018.

Buying any type of commercial real estate is a detail-oriented task that requires quite a bit of time and attention. If you let anything slip through the cracks, it could come back to haunt you in the future.

While there are many things you can do to ensure yourself of making the right buying decision, there's nothing more important than a commercial property inspection.