Welcome to Shelton & Power, LLC
We are franchise attorneys who help hard working people who have built up their business, legally expand that business into new markets, which allows them to improve their profits while making their business nationally known.
Learn more about franchising at www.SheltonPower.com
For those of you looking at the business opportunity route rather than the franchise route, be weary. On March 1, 2012, the laws relating to business opportunities changed and the changes affect all current business opportunities as well as expanding the reach to cover others.
Many of the disclosure requirements have changed which, if you are looking to buy a business opportunity, will streamline the information gathering process for you. If you are attending any regional business opportunity shows, you should be aware of these new laws and how they impact your interraction with sellers.
To learn more about these new business opportunity requirements or to discuss buying or selling business opportunies, please call our attorneys toll free at 866-993-7262 or email us at info@SheltonPower.com
Have you ever considered ways to expand your business? The answer to this question seems obvious. However, going about expanding your business into a franchise might not be as obvious of a process. If you’re considering turning your business into a successful franchise, help from a franchise attorney can make the process run smoothly.
There are several steps involved with the franchising process and many business owners can find themselves lost when trying to navigate by themselves. Why go through this detailed process alone when there are experts who can help you make informed decisions along the way? A franchise attorney will be one of the greatest resources available to you while turning your business into a franchise.
Creating your franchise, focusing on executive meetings, conferences and establishing successful franchise practices are some of the major steps involved with turning your business into a franchise. Your franchise attorney will help you to make qualified decisions, helping you throughout the planning and structuring phases. Once your business evolves into a successful franchise, there will undoubtedly be more questions and decisions that arise.
Franchising is a beneficial business venture, but as your franchise expands there will be numerous dilemmas you’re faced with that you might not have foreseen. For these unexpected situations and circumstances, your franchise attorney will help you walk through each new season, making informed decisions to benefit your franchises.
If you’re considering expanding your business through franchising, consult a franchise attorney.
Knowing that you’ve started a successful business brings satisfaction and pride in your product. As your business continues to grow and expand, one way to continue your success is to consider turning your business into a franchise. Interacting with franchise law and attorneys will enable you to better understand what it means to be a franchisor.
In the United States there are several different types of franchises, such as restaurants, health and fitness, automotive and many more. Franchising is the method of expanding your business by licensing its trademark and business system to a franchisee that then pays the franchisor a fee in order to obtain the rights to operate their franchise using the system and trademark. Franchise law helps to protect business owners who are expanding through franchising from unexpected complications with their franchisees.
Franchise owners are to conduct their business following the standards and specifications established by the franchisor. After obtaining the right to operate using the franchisor’s trademark and business system, the franchisor will typically offer training and support to their franchisees. However, there are many business arrangements which function as a franchise without the intent of franchising.
If you’re considering ways to further the expansion of your business, consult with an attorney who can inform you on the details of franchise law.
It’s no secret to anyone that the condition of the economy has made it difficult for many to find work. However, for those who are looking for work, there is a way to become your own boss. Purchasing a franchise offers the opportunity to work for yourself and franchising attorneys can inform you on what you need to know prior to your purchase.
The great thing about becoming a franchisee is that you are not starting a new brand from the ground up. When you purchase a franchise you are taking a successful business model and implementing it in a new market. However, for those who have limited business experience, there is lot that goes into running a franchise.
When considering which franchise to purchase it’s important to evaluate several factors to make sure it’s the right fit for you. Franchising attorneys can act on your behalf to help analyze the franchise you’ve chosen against the industry standards and to help you make informed decisions. Why purchase a franchise without knowing all the ins and outs of the business you’re about to own?
There are several business documents and contracts which you’ll need in order to run your franchise. Franchising attorneys help you to create all of the necessary documents you will need. With the help of a franchising attorney and researching your chosen franchise, you’ll have everything you need to know before buying your franchise.
The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), in theory, should mean only good things for those concerned with intellectual property (IP) law. Well, those on the good side of IP law. For the violators, it might be a different story. So why is this act, which aims to further protect copyrighted intellectual property, facing so much controversy?
Controversy and politics go hand-in-hand. It’s tough to get everyone to agree on one thing, regardless of what that is. Supporters of the bill say it protects the intellectual property market and is necessary to enforce copyright laws, especially against foreign websites. Those who oppose the bill claim that it’s Internet censorship.
For those who are unfamiliar with the bill, basically it will allow the U.S. Department of Justice as well as copyright holders to obtain court orders against websites who enable or facilitate copyright infringement. The consequences can range from the banning of online advertisement to the banning of a website from search engines entirely.
With the markup scheduled for December 15, we thought it’d be a good topic of discussion. Naturally, at Shelton & Power, we aim to preserve intellectual property law. However, we recognize that the Internet has caused a lot of gray areas surrounding the law.
We believe the idea behind SOPA is a noble one. If done correctly, it will prevent pirates from profiting from theft. But it needs to be done properly. Due process, free speech, and privacy rights can’t be compromised.
If you’re on the fence, we’d like to offer some food for thought via U.S. Representative Bob Goodlatte:
Intellectual property is one of America’s chief job creators and competitive advantages in the global marketplace, yet American inventors, authors, and entrepreneurs have been forced to stand by and watch as their works are stolen by foreign infringers beyond the reach of current U.S. laws. This legislation will update the laws to ensure that the economic incentives our Framers enshrined in the Constitution over 220 years ago – to encourage new writings, research, products and services – remain effective in the 21st Century’s global marketplace, which will create more American jobs. The bill will also protect consumers from dangerous counterfeit products, such as fake drugs, automobile parts and infant formula.
Depending on the steps you take, starting up a franchise can either be your express ticket to success or a harrowing ordeal ending in disaster. Although the current economy doesn’t lend itself too well to would-be business owners looking to enter the market, this doesn’t mean that it’s pointless to try. The state of the national economy has caused too many people to be afraid to stick their necks out and seize opportunity when it presents itself, which means those with good business sense and key assets like a franchise attorney can forge ahead in the business world.
Not just a legal aid, an attorney trained in franchise law can work hand-in-hand with you in a variety of ways proven to help companies succeed. An able and knowledgeable consultant, your attorney will be able to provide your business with sound advice for initial setup as well as potential ways to decrease the financial strain of getting your business up and running. When it comes to buying your franchise, an expert legal attorney will also be able to negotiate the terms of business with the parent company and ensure that you’re not getting a raw deal.
When it comes to expanding your business through partnerships or other markets, your franchise attorney will be there to act as the middleman for all contractual agreements. The last thing you want to do in this market is to get taken for a ride and end up losing control of your business in a bad deal. By involving an attorney in all outside business ventures, you will be able to maintain the degree of autonomy that your company needs and deserves even when dealing with tougher negotiations.
Franchise law can be a difficult thing to understand for those untrained in legal matters, and it’s definitely unwise to try to embark on your franchise without a properly experienced attorney along for the ride. Make sure your new business is set for success and seek the aid of a franchise attorney for any and all major business decisions.
Media outlets of all kinds have been reporting on the life of Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple who passed away recently. While much of the reporting has been on his technological achievements, it’s important to acknowledge he benefited greatly from the use of intellectual property law.
Like Mr. Jobs, many business owners have a distinct vision for their brand. In order for you to protect your brand, it’s important to have attorneys with IP law experience who can advise you on your rights. Copyright protection is one of the most valuable tools at a business owner’s disposal. Being the first to do something is paramount when trying to expand your business. Securing a copyright on your original idea will assist greatly in staying ahead of the competition.
While Apple’s success is unique, a lesson can be learned about using the law to your advantage in order to achieve more market share. Mr. Jobs had over 300 patents to his name and Apple’s grasp of brand protection is a major part of their business model. Using intellectual property law to your advantage can provide you with those same kinds of protections.
We can offer guidance on what steps to take to get your ideas legally protected through trademarks and copyrights so you can expand your brand.
The American Dream is as embedded into our culture now more than it has ever been. In times of economic strife, people toil endlessly to make ends meet and get to where they want to be in life. While many choose to go the blue collar route, there are those who have the talent and the motivation to make it big in the business world. For those individuals who have the skills necessary for franchise management, it’s time to seek out a franchise law attorney and get your career started.
Regardless of whether or not there are pressing legal matters for the start-up franchise owner, it’s always a smart decision to consult a franchise attorney. Beyond simply mediating legal complications between the franchise owner and parent corporation, franchise attorneys can act as a guiding force for making the correct business decisions. It’s a common misconception that an attorney should only be brought on when problems arise. If anything, your attorney will be able to work together with you and your franchise to keep business operations running smoothly and prevent any potential issues.
There are a number of important functions which your franchise law attorney may provide to you and your business. No one should walk into franchising without previous experience and having legal aid along is a surefire way to holding your own out in the business world. Your attorney will have the expertise to perform such tasks as:
- Administrate the process on necessary paperwork for new franchisees
- Assist in reaching compromises and agreements with the parent corporation
- Lend advice for potential business growth as well as negotiate with potential partners
- Act as a representative in any legal matters and handle litigation issues
An experienced franchise attorney can perform these services as well as countless more. The right attorney will be a key asset to your business from the very start.
When approaching any new endeavor, it is always smart to have the right people on-hand for advice and guidance. Ensure your new franchise will be the stepping stone for a prosperous career with a franchise law attorney.
Social media websites open up enormous opportunities for businesses to promote their products and services, and the sites allow companies to communicate with their customers in unprecedented ways. From a marketing standpoint, increasing their presence on the Web is an effective way for companies to appeal to a larger audience. From a legal standpoint, however, social media websites present potential intellectual property law violations – such as copyright infringement – according to a recent article on Law.com.
The article explains that social media websites, blogs, and other forms of online marketing produce editorial content without taking IP law into consideration. In fact, most businesses and their marketing people don’t even realize there are legal obligations associated with these outlets. The fact is that anyone can be a publisher in the digital age – more employees are producing content, Facebook users are taking articles and posting them on their personal pages, and the interactive nature of social media sites promotes public exchanges – so companies should be aware of intellectual property law issues in order to protect themselves and the content they publish online.
As attorneys experienced in IP law, we are dedicated to providing services that help businesses thrive. For information about copyright infringement, invasions of privacy, and other compliance issues, contact an intellectual property lawyer in Florida or Texas for legal counsel. We have attorneys who will work with you to protect your brand – by enforcing copyright, trademark, and publishing laws – so that you can enter the world of social media safely while using these outlets to their full potential.
Join our franchisee attorneys and franchisor attorneys at the 2011 West Coast Franchise Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center this November 4-6 for a fun filled, educational romp through the world of franchising.
Learn from our franchisor attorneys about what it takes to be a franchisor and the finances involved.
Find out from our franchisee attorneys what to look for when buying a franchise and reading the franchise disclosure document.
The best thing is that Shelton & Power is giving you a free ticket to attend the West Coast Franchise Expo. Click on the image below now to fill out your information for your FREE TICKET. Click on the “Register to Attend” buttom and enter promo code GPSP.
See you in Los Angeles in November.
