Small Business/Business Start-up

Small Business/Business Start-up

Throughout our history, Ruder Ware has worked with businesses at every stage.

Guiding entrepreneurs with innovative ideas, protecting their intellectual property, and ultimately advising on all facets of running their business, our attorneys have been involved at every important juncture.  We’ve learned that when small businesses invest in legal services early it can prevent complications and allow owners to successfully reinvest in their business as they expand.

Small businesses play such an important role in Wisconsin’s economy.  Working with Ruder Ware, small business owners are able to tap into an attorney team whose background in business is extensive.  A team that can assist with making connections and providing resources, guide you through the issues that keep you up at night, and provide you with the tools to grow your business.

Seasoned business lawyers at Ruder Ware can help you with:

General Counsel

  • Strategic entity selection, conversion, or dissolution
  • Articles of Organization and Incorporation
  • Operating agreements
  • Shareholder and partnership agreements
  • Drafting and negotiating contracts
  • Purchase and sale of a business
  • Intellectual property (trademarks, patents, copyrights, trade secrets & software matters)

Financing

  • Due diligence
  • Loan agreements
  • Private placement strategy and counsel
  • Private placement memoranda

Real Estate

  • Buying and selling property
  • Letters of Intent
  • Negotiation and drafting of other real estate agreements (leases. subleases, options to purchase, rights of first refusal, development agreements, easements)
  • Condominium matters

Employment

  • Employment policy and procedure review
  • Employee agreements

Litigation

  • Business ownership disputes
  • Collections
  • Breach of contract
  • Tenancy/real estate disputes

Founded in 1920, Ruder Ware provides business, employment, estate planning, and litigation services. A full-service law firm, over 45 attorneys provide clients with a one-stop approach to their legal needs. Ruder Ware, Business Attorneys for Business Success.

IRS Releases Mileage Rates for 2024

Posted on December 14, 2023 by

The Internal Revenue Service issued the 2024 optional standard mileage rates today for computing the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical, or moving purposes.  The most notable change is the slight per mile increase for businesses. Effective January 1, 2024, the optional standard mileage rates for the use of a car […]

Collections in a Post-COVID-19 World

Posted on October 23, 2023 by

As a collection and banking attorney, I am often asked whether (or when) I think collections will restart now that we are somewhat “beyond” COVID-19, although not fully. In my own practice I have seen an increase in demand letters to businesses and consumers for past due accounts or debts. Banks and businesses need to […]

U.S. Treasury Clarifies Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirements for Businesses

Posted on February 22, 2023 by

When it goes into effect on January 1, 2024, a provision tucked inside the Corporate Transparency Act (the “CTA”) will impose lengthy new reporting requirements on many business entities, including many single-member LLCs. The final rule recently issued by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network clarifies the scope and applicability of these new […]

OFCCP Issues New March 3 Deadline for Federal Contractors to Object to Disclosure of EEO-1 Data!

Posted on February 14, 2023 by

If you are a federal contractor, keep reading. Last summer, the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (OFCCP) issued a notice to all federal contractors that the Center for Investigative Reporting had requested EEO-1 reports for 2016-2020 pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). While the motive is uncertain, it is likely that this […]

Who Benefits? The Corporate Transparency Act Requires Companies to Disclose Their Beneficial Owners Under New Federal Rules

Posted on February 3, 2023 by

To do business in Wisconsin, a business owner needs to file numerous documents with federal, state, and local governments. Congress recently added a new one. Under the Corporate Transparency Act, most corporations, LLCs, and similar company types doing business in the United States must file a report divulging the personal information of anyone who “controls” […]

IRS Releases Mileage Rates for 2023

Posted on December 29, 2022 by

The Internal Revenue Service issued the 2023 optional standard mileage rates today for computing the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical, or moving purposes.  The most notable change is the three-cent per mile increase for businesses. Effective January 1, 2023, the optional standard mileage rates for the use of a car […]

LLCs: The Next Generation Under Wisconsin Law

Posted on October 6, 2022 by , , and

Under new Wisconsin laws coming into effect soon, some important rules governing how limited liability companies (LLCs) operate will change. This article will describe some of the key changes, what LLC owners need to be thinking about, and some approaching deadlines for those wishing to be governed under the “old” rules. The New LLC Law […]

Significant Changes to Medical Collection Debt Reporting: How Might it Affect Business?

Posted on July 27, 2022 by

In March of this year, the three major nationwide credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) announced there would be substantial changes to medical collection debt reporting coming this summer in an effort to help consumers faced with unexpected medical bills.  The changes will remove nearly 70% of medical collection debt tradelines from consumer credit […]

Pain at the Pump: IRS Announces Mid-Year Adjustment of Business and Medical Mileage Rates

Posted on June 9, 2022 by

Due to the increase in the cost of gasoline since establishing the 2022 rates last year, the Internal Revenue Service is increasing mid-year the optional standard mileage rates for computing the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business, medical, and moving expenses.  Effective July 1, 2022, the optional standard mileage rates will be 62.5 […]

Resolving Business Disputes

Posted on May 10, 2022 by

In a perfect world, business owners could spend all of their time and money focusing on a singular task:  running their business.  Despite the best laid plans, however, at some point ancillary concerns will arise and require—at least to some extent—that a business divert its resources to address and correct an issue.  One area of […]

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