Business law attorney
Business law in Wisconsin
As a business owner, you want predictability, reliability, and consistency from your lawyers, and that is what Zimmer & Rens delivers. With our clients, we’re not just your attorney, we become part of your team.
Whether you need to form a business, buying or selling a business, investing in a business, raising capital for your business, someone sues your business or your business needs to file a lawsuit, or even if you just want help or guidance with handling day-to-day legal issues and contracts, our experienced attorneys at Zimmer & Rens LLC help businesses of all types accomplish their goals..
Video transcript
00:00:00
Taylor: When you’re a business owner, you’re surrounded by risk.
00:00:03
Paul: At any given moment, you could be hit with a lawsuit or other legal claim. From a customer, vendor, employee, or even your own business partner. Hi, my name is Paul Zimmer
00:00:12
Taylor: And I’m Taylor Rens. Zimmer & Rens LLC is a Wisconsin real estate and business law firm that helps southeastern Wisconsin individuals protect their real estate and business investments.
If you’re starting a business with a partner or with multiple business partners, it’s important to have a thorough operating agreement in place at the outset to set forth the rights, responsibilities, and obligations of each owner.
In my experience, upset expectations are the core of most disputes that take place between co-owners of a business. For example, what happens if one owner wants to exit the business and sell his or her interests earlier than anticipated? What if the company’s revenue is insufficient to pay the business’s expenses? Or what happens if one of the members dies gets divorced? Files bankruptcy. How much of the profits should go to reinvestment in the business versus distributions to owners? Setting uniform expectations at the beginning of the business greatly reduces the risk of irreconcilable conflicts arising among the owners.
00:01:09
Paul: And even if you don’t have any business partners, every business should ensure that the form contracts that they use with their customers, vendors or other third parties are written in the most advantageous way possible. Nobody gets into business to get sued, but lawsuits do happen, and that’s why you need to protect your business, because you could be one outside creditor or disgruntled employee away from a mistake that could cost your business dearly in the long run.
At the end of the day, it’s a lot less expensive to plan and prepare ahead. Try to avoid legal disputes from arising in your business than it is to resolve legal claims after they’ve already arisen.
00:01:44
Taylor: Take John and Jack, for example. John and Jack were best friends who decided to start a real estate fix and flip business together. John and Jack started off great, but when the market took a turn and their business started losing money. John wanted to double down and invest more funds into the business and try to turn a corner. While Jack wanted to sell the company’s assets, shut down the business and just cut their losses. But John and Jack did not have an operating agreement to address how they would resolve the deadlock.
This ultimately resulted in not only hurting their business, but also their long-time personal friendship. If John and Jack had consulted with an experienced attorney at the outset of their business venture, they could have created a written operating agreement containing provisions designed to fit their relationship and expectations for the business. That way, when they started losing money and having disagreements about the direction of their business, their agreed upon written document would have been in place to help sort out how to proceed in light of the disagreement.
00:02:41
Paul: Simply put, without solid written agreements in place with your business partners and with the other businesses and individuals that your business interacts with, your business is vulnerable to any legal claims which can be devastating not only to your business, but to you personally and financially. We just hate to see it when good people have worked hard to develop a business or real estate investment, but they’re not protected.
With our clients, we’re not just their attorney. We become part of their team. Whether you’re trying to start a business, planning to buy or sell a business, or need help navigating the law within an existing business, we provide a one stop option for your business law needs.
00:03:18
Taylor: So, call your friends at Zimmer & Rens. And one of our team of Wisconsin business lawyers would be happy to have an initial free consultation with you.
Protecting your business from risk: Why strong legal foundations matter
Running a business is exhilarating but comes with its fair share of risks. At any moment, you could face a lawsuit or legal claim from a customer, vendor, employee, or even your business partner. Without the right legal safeguards, these risks can become costly, time-consuming, and detrimental to your business’s success.
At Zimmer & Rens LLC, we help southeastern Wisconsin business owners protect their ventures with sound legal strategies. Here’s why building a strong legal foundation is essential for your business.
The importance of an operating agreement
If you’re starting a business with one or more partners, a comprehensive operating agreement is one of the most valuable tools you can have. This document clearly outlines the rights, responsibilities, and expectations of each owner, reducing the likelihood of disputes that can derail your business.
Consider questions such as:
- What happens if an owner wants to sell their share of the business?
- How will profits be divided – reinvested in the business or distributed to owners?
- What happens if a member dies, divorces, or files for bankruptcy?
Take John and Jack’s story as an example. They started a real estate fix-and-flip business as best friends. When the market shifted and profits dipped, John wanted to invest more funds to turn things around, while Jack wanted to sell the assets and close the business. Without an operating agreement to resolve their deadlock, their business suffered, and their friendship ended.
A carefully crafted operating agreement could have saved their business and their relationship by providing a clear path forward in the face of disagreements.
Protecting your business with solid contracts
Even if you’re the sole proprietor, every business needs robust contracts for dealing with customers, vendors, and other third parties. These agreements ensure clarity, minimize disputes, and protect your interests.
No one starts a business expecting lawsuits, but they happen. A disgruntled employee, an outside creditor, or a poorly worded agreement could cost your business significantly. It’s far more cost-effective to work with an attorney upfront to craft advantageous agreements than to resolve disputes after they arise.
Zimmer & Rens: Your business law partner
At Zimmer & Rens LLC, we provide tailored legal services to help business owners:
- Start strong: Establish your business with agreements that reflect your goals and relationships.
- Stay protected: Draft contracts and legal documents that shield your business from unnecessary risks.
- Resolve disputes: Navigate legal conflicts swiftly and strategically to minimize impact on your operations.
We’re not just your lawyers—we’re part of your team. Whether you’re launching a new venture, buying or selling a business, or addressing legal challenges in your existing business, we’re here to help.
Schedule a free consultation
Don’t leave your business vulnerable. Call Zimmer & Rens for a free initial consultation to discuss how we can safeguard your business and protect what you’ve worked hard to build.
With Zimmer & Rens LLC, you gain a trusted legal partner who understands your needs and is committed to helping your business thrive.
Contact Zimmer & Rens LLC today for a free initial consultation. Our team of Wisconsin-based attorneys is here to assist you with your transactions or legal challenges, helping you find clear and effective solutions.
At Zimmer & Rens LLC, we’re more than just attorneys – we’re your legal partners, committed to helping you succeed.
