The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce held its monthly breakfast meeting on July 22 at Southern Hills Plantation Club in Brooksville, where local business leaders gathered to hear legal advice from a practicing attorney. George Angeliadis, Esq., of Lucas, Macyszyn and Dyer Injury Lawyers, sponsored the event and led a presentation titled “What Business Structure Is Right for You?”
Angeliadis walked attendees through the most common business structures, including sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations. He noted that most small businesses opt for a Limited Liability Company, or LLC, because it offers liability protection with relatively simple administration. He also urged business owners to research any federal, state, county, and local permits and requirements specific to their industry before launching or expanding operations.
Perhaps the most pointed advice Angeliadis delivered involved contract signing, a seemingly basic practice that he said causes serious problems for many of his clients. “A lot of times people come to see me when it is too late and they get into a situation where they have signed something without reading it, and that is the worst thing that you can do,” Angeliadis told the group. He stressed that contracts come in many forms, including customer agreements, vendor contracts, service agreements, nondisclosure agreements, lease agreements, and noncompete clauses, and that each deserves careful review before signing.
Noncompete agreements drew particular attention during the presentation. Angeliadis said these contracts have become increasingly common across a wide range of industries, including hair salons. He described cases where stylists early in their careers signed noncompete agreements restricting them from cutting hair within a certain geographic distance of their employer’s salon. For young workers just starting out and eager to secure a chair and begin building a clientele, those agreements can create significant career obstacles down the road. The attorney encouraged business owners and employees alike to consult legal counsel before agreeing to such terms. More information about business legal resources is available through the Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce.
Originally reported by Hernando Sun
Sources: Hernando Sun
