O'Donnell Law Center : Lake of the Ozarks

Women are playing increasingly prominent roles in the modern workforce. Women were once found almost exclusively in homes caring for their families, and now they are holding higher and higher positions of power in both small and large companies. In recognition of the contributions and achievements of working women, the Business & Professional Women's Foundation has designated this week (the third week of October) as National Business Women's Week . As a woman-owned business, O'Donnell Law Center is excited to celebrate this week-long observance. In honor of National Business Women's Week, we are dedicating today's blog to some of the business law services at the Lake of the Ozarks to our local professional women. Business Formation Starting a business is a thrilling - but often daunting - process. Our legal team is here to help take the weight off your shoulders by assisting with the formation process. We can help you determine which type of busines...

No matter what industry you're in, your  company may encounter a variety of different hazards during its daily operations that can threaten the integrity of the business. A s a business owner, solid legal contracts are your first line of defense against the inevitable hidden hazards that may arise during your company's lifespan. At O'Donnell Law Center , we are frequently asked to review or prepare business contracts for various companies. This week, we thought we'd share a few examples of some of the different types of contracts a new company may need. 1. Employment Contract When you hire a new employee, you may want to ask them to sign a contract of employment. This contract outlines their responsibilities, your expectations, how certain disciplinary measures may be carried out, and anything else that may influence their performance while at your company. Having a thorough employment contract will give you the authority you need to enforce certain performance...

If you plan to start a business at the Lake of the Ozarks , one of the first things you will have to do is determine what business entity you would like to use. Because of its many distinct advantages, more and more entrepreneurs are choosing to incorporate their businesses as limited liability companies (LLCs). If you are an aspiring entrepreneur, you probably have several questions about the process. Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about setting up an LLC, courtesy of your business attorney in Osage Beach MO . What Does It Take To Set Up An LLC? In order to set up a legally recognized LLC, you will have to check with the Secretary of State's office to ensure that your proposed business name has not already been claimed by someone else, and if not, then you will prepare and submit your Articles of Organization. Unless you are registering a fictitious name, you do not have to take separate steps to register the business name. How Many Pe...

When you're setting up a business at the Lake of the Ozarks , choosing the right business entity is absolutely critical. Your business entity will impact the way your company's income is taxed, the way important decisions and processes must be handled, and how its eventual sale or dissolution must be conducted. A limited liability company (commonly abbreviated as "LLC") is a particularly popular business entity with a unique set of advantages. However, it also comes with its share of potential drawbacks. This week, O'Donnell Law Center explores some of these pros and cons. PROS An LLC can have an unlimited number of members. Owners of an LLC can enjoy greater flexibility than those with other business entities. Unless the operating agreement outlines specific procedures for a certain task, owners are able to structure their company in whatever way best meets their needs. Members/owners are protected with "limited liability," which helps to prot...

It may seem like a surprising comparison at first, but if you think about it, starting a new business has a lot in common with starting a new marriage. Both are filled with excitement, wonder, and - of course - nervous anticipation. Both can be incredibly rewarding i f handled correctly and given the proper attention , but both can also be challenging at times. Here is a quick look at some of the other things new businesses and new marriages have in common. Both Need To Be Established Correctly As the owner of a brand new business, you have a lot of important decisions to make. First and foremost, you have to choose which form of business entity to use. Do you want to incorporate as a sole proprietorship, a limited liability company, or something else? Each options offers its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and you will have to carefully evaluate your business' unique needs in order to make an informed decision. In order for your business to thrive, you need to ch...

Managing employees is a tricky business. Building a team of excellent employees is crucial to the success of your company; without dependable, high-quality performance from your employees, your company can suffer enormously. As an employer, you will probably want to weed out any bad employees - and rightly so. However, firing someone for the "wrong" reasons (in the eyes of the law) can cause serious repercussions for you and your company. Our trusted business attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to help you guard against firing someone for the wrong reasons. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is a federal agency that carefully guards employees against any forms of discrimination in the workplace. Specifically, the EEOC strictly prohibits employers from discriminating against their employees on the basis of their national origin, sex, race, color, religion, age, genetic information, or disability. I...

If you're reading this blog post, you are probably well aware that social media has become an integral part of the world as we know it. Most people log in to their social media accounts multiple times a day and may spend several hours absorbing and sharing content. People post statuses and tweets about their daily lives, discussing everything from big news to mundane activities. Most of these posts are completely benign, but some of them can have major consequences. In one of our earlier blog posts, we looked closely at how social media affects the law and examined certain examples of when people faced legal consequences for posts they made on social media. Today, the team at O'Donnell Law Center is here to examine one of the other major challenges faced by social media users today: leaks of confidential information. Business Secrets Are Being Leaked On Social Media As social media becomes a more and more integral part of our lives, we begin paying less and less ...

Last Friday, the team at O'Donnell Law Center opened our doors to friends, clients, colleagues, neighbors and our families,  at our official open house event. After many months of hard work remodeling the office, we were very excited to welcome everyone into our Center. Thank You For Attending! All of us at O'Donnell Law Center would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for braving the winter elements and coming out to tour our center and meet our staff. We had a wonderful turn-out!  For those of you who were unable to attend the open house last week, we invite you to peruse this brief summary of the event's activities: We provided tours of our Center to all of our visitors Visitors had the opportunity to meet our talented staff members We had our ribbon cutting ceremony to officiate us as members of the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce  -  photo coming soon! Visitors enjoyed drinks, finger foods, and desse...