The Five Lease Clauses That Decide Your Rent for the Next Decade
Renewal caps, CPI escalators, holdover penalties, co-tenancy and exclusive-use terms set your real rent for a decade — negotiate them before you sign.
#contracts
Contracts
Client contracts, scope of work agreements, and legal documentation for service businesses
Liquidated Damages in Construction Contracts: Daily Rates, Caps, and Negotiation
Liquidated damages = daily rate × days late. Cap them at 5–10% of contract price, define excusable delays, and book them under ASC 606, not as expenses.
Radon Mitigation Contractor Bookkeeping: Warranty Reserves, Retest Rules, and Job Costing That Survives an Audit
A radon contractor's pCi/L guarantee is a warranty liability — accrue it per install, split testing from mitigation revenue, and amortize licenses monthly.
California's AB 692 Just Banned Most "Stay-or-Pay" Employment Contracts: What Small Employers Must Fix Now
California AB 692 voids stay-or-pay clauses signed on or after January 1, 2026 — audit your offer letters now or risk $5,000 per affected worker.
Illinois Freelance Worker Protection Act: What Hiring Businesses Must Put in Writing
Illinois FWPA: freelance deals of $500+ (aggregated over 120 days) need a written contract and payment within 30 days — or owe double damages plus fees.
The Kill Fee Clause Every Freelancer Contract Needs
A fair kill fee is 25% before kickoff or completed work plus 25–50% of the rest mid-project — and every retained dollar is Schedule C income.
South Dakota Caps Sale-of-Business Non-Competes at Three Years: What Buyers and Sellers Must Rewrite Before Closing
South Dakota HB 1180 voids ownership-transfer non-competes past three years from July 1, 2026 — rewrite duration, scope and geography before closing.
Guaranteed Maximum Price Contracts: The Cost-Plus Deal With a Ceiling (and Who Pays Past It)
A GMP contract caps a cost-plus job: the owner pays actual costs plus fee up to the ceiling, and the contractor absorbs overruns unless a change order moves it.
A Certificate of Insurance Isn't Coverage: What Additional Insured Status Actually Gives Your Business
A certificate of insurance confers no rights — only the endorsement does. What additional insured status covers, the CG 20 10/20 37 forms, and what it costs.
Mobile Coffee Cart Bookkeeping: Catering Contracts, Event Minimums, and Per-Drink Costing
A $5.50 latte costs $0.95–$1.40 to pour, but event fees, commissary rent, and unpaid setup eat the margin — cost every drink and set a contract minimum.
Your Customer List Is Worthless in Court Unless You Protected It: Trade Secrets 101 for Small Employers
Your client list is only a trade secret if you protected it first — inventory secrets, sign NDAs with the DTSA notice, and lock down access.
Mutual NDAs for Small Businesses: Define It, Mark It, and Sign Before You Share
A mutual NDA binds both sides — and the residuals clause, the marking rules, and two separate clocks decide whether yours survives a dispute.