If you are a business owner, then you, no doubt, have or will go through the process of finalizing your financial statements and gathering your other accounting records and tax documents for your CPA. I encourage you to take time to also locate your company record book and critical legal documents. Having your legal house in order is an important part of business risk management and planning. A basic business check-up should include the following:
1.) Corporate/Company Record Book Review.
Make sure you can locate your company record book and that it is up-to-date, including the ownership records. There are statutory requirements as to certain minimum records that must be kept by certain types of companies. For a detailed list of the records that must be kept, refer to the following article: Statutory Requirements for Record Books.
2.) Organizational Document Review.
A company’s organizational documents contain the rules that should be followed in carrying out business operations. For corporations, the controlling document is the Articles of Incorporation. For limited liability companies, the controlling document is the Articles of Organization. Usually both of these documents contain relatively few provisions. However, whatever provisions they do contain will control if other documents contain conflicting provisions. Watch out for particular limitations or restrictions on ownership. Sometimes restrictions that once made sense are no longer applicable. If those restrictions are in your Articles, they will still be binding!
After reviewing the Articles, you should review the Bylaws (for corporations) and Operating Agreement (for LLCs). These documents should contain more specific details regarding the management and general operations of the business. Review the documents for specific restrictions placed on the authority of managers, officers and directors. Are you acting in compliance with these restrictions? This can be especially critical if you are not the sole owner of the business; however, even if you are the sole owner, it is still important to understand what “position” has what authority.
In addition to reviewing the basic organizational documents, now is the time to review your meeting minutes or resolutions. Some businesses will hold formal meetings to conduct business at the shareholder, member, director and manager levels. Other businesses opt to use “informal action resolutions” or other forms of written consent to document important decisions. In either case, it is important that your records are accurate and kept up-to-date. Remember, if you want others to respect your company as a distinct legal entity, then you must respect it too.
3.) Buy-Sell Agreements.
If you are in business with someone other than your spouse, take a few minutes to review the following article written by my colleague, Steven Thompson: Buy-Sell Agreements: Working for the Best and Planning for the Worst. This article discusses the value of a buy-sell agreement to your business.
4.) Key Contract Review.
Review your key contracts, including leases, customer contracts and vendor agreements. Calendaring important dates from each contract can help you avoid costly mistakes. Many contracts will automatically renew each year or at the end of the term unless some advance notice is given. This may be a good or bad thing, depending on your perspective on any given contract. What it should not be is a surprise!
I find that most owners have a pretty good handle on the “business terms” of their contracts but the standard legal terminology and provisions are often a mystery. Such standardized legal language is known as “legal boilerplate.” Those “boilerplate” terms, however, are often the most important. For example, look at the “assignment” provisions to understand if your contract could be assigned to another person. If you are planning to sell, then assignability of a key customer contract could be crucial. Other often overlooked terms include limitations on liability, indemnification and insurance requirements. While these provisions may mean little if all goes well, they could be the most important provisions if there is a problem. Ask yourself if those provisions are both fair and adequately protect your business.
5.) Insurance Review.
Forming an LLC, corporation, or other business entity can be a critical part of your business risk management and control. However, forming a business entity alone is not sufficient. Proper liability and property insurance coverage is critical. Hopefully you meet at least annually with your insurance agent or broker to review coverage. If it has been a while, then you should take time now to review what you have in place. Consider the following:
- General commercial liability and products liability.
- Fire and extended insurance coverage for your business assets.
- Worker’s compensation insurance as required by law.
- Insurance for business vehicles (liability, collision and comprehensive).
- Non-owned and hired vehicle insurance coverage.
- Theft, vandalism and malicious mischief.
- Bonding for employees handling funds of business and required bonding for fiduciaries of qualified retirement plans.
- Any insurance required of you under a lease arrangement.
- Make sure that owners and your subsidiary companies are included as additional insured parties or are covered on their own policies and include necessary parties (like landlords or mortgagees) as additional insured parties or as loss payees, if required in your leases, contracts or mortgages.
Make reviewing these basic business records part of your normal routine! Reviewing these types of business records routinely puts your business in a safer and more productive state. If, during your review, you have questions or need assistance, contact the skilled attorneys at the Anderson O’Brien Law Firm.
