Congratulation to Morgan A. Carter (Universal Technical Institute), BrewerLong’s 2022 Future Business Leaders Scholar. Over 450 applicants submitted essays reflecting on this quote from former Illinois governor and US presidential candidate, Adlai E. Stevenson: “Law is not a profession at all, but rather a business service station and repair shop.” Following is an excerpt from Mr. Carter’s winning essay...

Franchises are excellent ways for entrepreneurs to enter new markets without starting a new business from scratch. Alternatively, if you have a successful business model, a way to grow your business without stretching your time and resources thin is to transform it into a franchise. The person who decides to run the franchise (the franchisee) opens a new location...

As a Florida business owner, you may not realize that your intellectual property (IP), or the ideas behind your business, can be as valuable as your business itself. Obtaining a trademark to protect some of your intellectual property can prevent others from stealing your ideas and profiting from them. That said, whether you are a new or experienced entrepreneur,...

When you run a business, you orchestrate many moving parts that work toward a common goal. But your company is more than a collection of bookshelves and office space. What makes your business unique is its proprietary way of baking a cookie, meeting customers’ needs, or providing goods and services. Like most business owners, you may take things like...

You’ve probably heard the terms merger and acquisition before. They’re terms we frequently hear in the news, like the recent announcement that 21st Century Fox and News Corp may merge into one company again. But these very different terms are often lumped together, creating confusion about what separates the two very distinct types of purchases. What is the difference...

Buying and selling companies is significantly more challenging than simply going to the store and picking an item off the shelf. In corporate transactions like mergers and acquisitions, the buyer and seller need to share certain confidential information to evaluate the merits of the deal—they cannot simply look at a price day and decide “yes” or “no” without doing...

More workers are returning to the office, with the workforce creeping back to normalcy after the pandemic pause. Additionally, businesses that boomed during the past few years are hunting for new office space or locations to accommodate the rise in sales. Landlords looking to keep up with inflation and profit off the changing economy are driving rent prices higher...

Social media is a ubiquitous part of our personal and professional lives. It offers a way for individuals to express themselves and connect with a wide range of people from whom they would otherwise be disconnected. Companies use this unique and powerful tool to propel their brand into the 21st century and connect with a broad audience. For some...

If you are a Florida business owner ready to grow or sell your business, you may be considering a merger or acquisition to take the next step in the business lifecycle. Whether that next phase is leveling up or retiring on the beach, you may be asking yourself, “Do all mergers and acquisitions require shareholder approval?” In planning transactions,...

Alternative dispute resolution, like arbitration, is a great way to resolve business conflict and save money. In Florida, arbitration is a preferred method of dispute resolution. Arbitration can save businesses time and money in resolving disputes. However, not every case is easy to resolve through arbitration. In fact, you may even need to ask the Florida courts to enforce...