Owners’ Academy

Governor Ned Lamont recently announced that, commencing on January 1, 2024, Connecticut’s minimum wage of $15.00 will increase to $15.69 an hour. This marks the state’s inaugural economic indicator-driven minimum wage increase. This adjustment is mandated by state law, Public Act 19-4.  Public Act 19-4 introduced a series of five incremental minimum wage hikes spanning…

One of the most common concerns I hear about retirement is the fear of being bored.  Given the weeks, months, and years ahead that need to be filled with something other than your job, it’s understandable.  To make matters worse, many of us know a relative or friend who was aimless and miserable in retirement….

Defining the role of a coach on your exit planning team doesn’t just happen. Like any other aspect of working with consultants, you need to set expectations upfront. Many advisors like to characterize themselves as the “quarterback” of a transition planning team. I’ve always objected to that. We regard the business owner as the quarterback…

Link to register.  Please indicate that Mark Gross invited you. https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_M3HItgtJRS2sCTy_bUWBvw Tuesday, December 5, 2023. 10-11:30 AM Central. Multiple attendees from one firm can attend but in order to receive CPE credits, each one needs to register separately and join on their own separate devices. Take a deep dive into the following topics. PADs. Partial…

  In Rev. Proc. 2023-29, recently issued by the Internal Revenue Service, the affordability percentage for Affordable Care Act plans has been set at 8.39% beginning in 2024. This marks a significant decrease from the previous 9.12% applicable for 2023. This is the lowest percentage since the inception of the employer mandate which means these…

I get this question a lot in M&A. The purchase price of a business can have a number elements: 1. down payment (cash equity from the buyer) 2. bank financing 3. seller’s note 4. installment sale 5. earn-out 6. commissions on future sales 7. consulting agreement for the seller, post-acquisition Earn-out’s, commissions and consulting agreements…

We have been asked to explain our product and services on multiple occasions.  For those interested, you may find this episode to be a good listen, as it fully explores our services and how our involvement can significantly benefit your client. While this particular episode deals with land sales, the concept is universal to the…

Delegation and depth are critical when presenting your business as a buying opportunity. For many business owners, exit planning means getting the company ready for sale to a third party. There are a number of approaches to enhancing preparedness for a third-party sale. Assessing Readiness Some planning software products begin with a comprehensive survey of…

Your best competitive advantage is your people. But are you truly empowering your team to drive sustainable growth? As a strategic workforce planning and onboarding expert, I’ve seen firsthand how critical it is to align your employees’ strengths and passions with well-defined roles. This not only boosts employee ROI and retention but also unlocks innovation…

  The 2023 Sales Dilemma Susan Powers, Peak Sales/Sandler   Salespeople have never had a greater advantage and opportunity than they do today. They can secure even greater advantages and opportunities with each passing day. That’s because artificial intelligence, machine learning, and technology continue to make advancements that help salespeople develop closer and stronger relationships…

Business owners are increasingly considering their timelines and options for a business transition. Consistent with prior years, that transition event is frequently a sale due to supply and demand factors. The majority of businesses are owned by baby boomers who are rapidly approaching the age of retirement. A financial crisis and pandemic in the last…

In a recent case, a marijuana dispensary was forced to bargain with the Union even though the Union was not elected by the employees. The case demonstrates the consequences of unfair labor practices and the government’s new, lower threshold for giving unions the right to represent workers. Background The case involves allegations that the Company,…

  Earlier this month, New York became the latest state to ban mandatory captive audience meetings when Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law Senate Bill 4982 and Assembly Bill 6604, amending New York Labor Law Section 201-d (“NYLL 201-d”). The new law prohibits New York employers from requiring employees to attend any company meeting having the…

When preparing for the transfer of a business, there are many stakeholders who can impact your plan. Some have direct authority or decision-making capability over the transaction, but others may have substantial influence. In general, it’s best to presume that anyone who has a relationship with the owner or the business will have some impact…

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“I should demote myself!” joked the head of sales. “It looks like I am better at selling than at managing a sales team.” We were looking at his team’s individual sales numbers. He was selling more when he was a regular salesperson than his whole team today. We too often promote the wrong person into…

Effective March 12, 2024, New York Labor Law prohibits employers from requiring employees and job applicants to provide information about their personal accounts. If you think this sounds familiar, you are right. This idea has been in place in various states for years; now New York is joining in! Under the new legislation, “personal accounts”…

Unlocking Retirement Savings to Fund a New Business Many people have dreams of starting a business but lack the capital or funding needed to launch their new business ideas. It’s true: It costs money to start a business. The US Small Business Administration (SBA) says that how to fund a business is one of the…

In order for your family business to outlive its founder, careful succession planning is a must. That means finding the most frictionless way to pass both leadership and ownership from one generation to the next. While some family business dynamics lend themselves to smooth and simple succession, others hit bumps in the road. One of…

Accurate Asset Assessment for Fair Distribution: When planning an estate, one of the primary concerns is ensuring a fair and equitable distribution of assets among beneficiaries. A professional valuation provides an accurate and unbiased assessment of the true value of all assets, including real estate, investments, businesses, and personal property. This is essential to avoid disputes…

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