Chris Green’s Legal Basics 
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Leasing Retail Space: the good, the bad and the scary
All of us have been tenants at one time or other, whether it was a shared house during college, or our very first apartment after leaving home, so we all think we know a little bit about Landlord Tenant Law.
Unfortunately, what we know a little bit about is the law relating to residential tenancies: social policy legislation which is designed to protect the rights of the disadvantaged, and that little bit of knowledge is truly a dangerous thing once you dip your toe into the waters of commercial leasing.
If you intend to run a retail operation the very first thing you need to do is to forget everything you thought you knew about Landlord Tenant Law.
The basic principles of commercial leasing have changed very little since the time of Charles Dickens, and most assuredly in Dickens time there was no such thing as tenants rights. Commercial leases are drafted by the landlord, for the landlord, and are unfettered by social policy concerns.
New retailers are sometimes shocked to find that there is no automatic grace period for the payment of rent. Residential tenants can lead a landlord on a merry dance for weeks before the payment of rent becomes critical. Not so in a commercial setting. The rent is due in full and on time on the due date, and the landlord is completely entitled to padlock your premises and seize your goods if you are …
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Become a Cash Flow Ninja
Chris Green looks at reasons to be thankful for having good operating capital and examines ways to increase your capital by cutting expenses. He finds inspiration from the remarkable spirit and business acumen of Third World entrepreneurs.
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School of Hard Knocks
Chris Green explores the idea of education and the entrepreneur. Have we become a society too intent on formal education? Is an official title important, or is there room for real life experience and the School of Hard Knocks?
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Multiple streams of (taxable) income
Chris Green talks about multiple income streams, exploring different types, giving his opinion on some of them, and reminding entrepreneurs that regardless of how they make their money, they still need to report their income and pay taxes to the Revenue Agency.
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Key to making better business decisions: slow down
Chris Green explains why slowing down can help you make better decisions.
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Mentoring for small business: Advisory Boards
Many of us were lucky in our early years to have someone special to guide us along the right path – a favourite teacher, coach, scout leader, or, in our professional lives, an insightful boss or senior co-worker to show us the ropes.
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Working From Home – The Legal Stuff
Why is it when ones hears the words “Woman Entrepreneur” that one automatically thinks “Home-Based Business?” Well, probably because it is so often true. Home-based entrepreneurship is a viable and logical solution to the many competing demands made upon today’s businesswoman, wife and mother.
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What to do when your business grows up
There comes a time in a young woman’s life when she is forced to abandon skin-tight jeans and a “barely there” top in favour of a modest skirt and blouse and sensible shoes. Such is the tyranny of growing up and joining the workforce.
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The Taxman Cometh
Ah, Springtime! Cherry blossoms, daffodils, and everywhere signs of new growth and optimism, except of course for that black cloud of an April 30 tax deadline looming on the horizon.
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Business Relationships 101
A business partnership is like a marriage but without the sex to knock off the rough edges. Indeed what most people entering into a partnership fail to realize is that in all likelihood they are acquiring not one business partner, but two. The second, silent and sometimes sinister one is your business partner’s life partner to whom they go home and grumble to at the end of the business day.
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Getting Paid, Part 2: Delinquent Accounts
The starting point for any accounts receivable recovery strategy has to be timely and accurate record keeping. All of the major accounting software packages contain an accounts receivable module, so there really is no excuse for not having an up-to-the-minute print out of who owes you money.
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Getting Paid
The bane of every small business owner’s existence is actually getting paid for the work she does. While the problem is universal, it seems to be most acute in the services sector, especially for those selling advice or specialized knowledge. There seems to be a general reluctance to pay for something the consumer can’t see, touch, eat or feel.
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Business structure for dummies
One of the more stimulating exercises facing the budding entrepreneur is deciding upon the structure for her new business venture. There are important considerations of cost, liability and brand protection, and tax to be addressed. There are also the needs of family, partners, financial backers, and employees to be considered.
