Jaran R. Blessing
Attorney
Business Law
Guidance on business formation, LLC and corporate structure, day-to-day business representation, and succession planning for closely held companies.
Small businesses are the lifeblood of the America that exists outside of major metropolitan centers. Choosing the right structure can help protect personal assets, support the way the business actually operates, and make it easier to pass something lasting on to children or loved ones.
Our attorneys can help at each stage of a business's life. That may include selecting the right entity, handling the legal formalities of formation, advising on day-to-day business matters, and integrating the business into an estate plan so that its operation is not disrupted by death or a change in ownership.
That work also overlaps at times with nonprofit law, particularly where an organization needs help with formation, governance, or maintaining an orderly structure as leadership changes over time.
LLC
For many small business owners, an LLC provides a useful combination of flexibility and protection for personal assets. The structure works best when it is set up and maintained carefully from the beginning.
Corporation
So-called "S-Corporations" are another popular option in the right situation. Incorporation involves legal formalities that should be handled correctly from the outset.
Non-profits
Looking to establish a nonprofit? There are critical steps to securing and maintaining tax-exempt status with the IRS and the State of New Hampshire. You can read more about that work on our Nonprofit Law page.
Miscellaneous Business Matters
The issues a small business owner faces do not always fit into neat boxes. We can help identify the legal issue, the practical options, and the next sensible step.
In the Monadnock Region, business work is often closely tied to family, property, and succession concerns. That makes coordination with estate planning especially important. From Peterborough, our office regularly assists business clients from Hancock, Jaffrey, Rindge, Wilton, Dublin, Marlborough, Harrisville, Keene, Milford, Greenfield, Greenville, and nearby communities.
Work with the attorneys who handle this area
L. Phillips Runyon III
Principal Attorney
Related services
Estate Planning
We help clients in Peterborough and the Monadnock Region put wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives in place with an eye toward both lifetime planning and what comes later.
Nonprofit Law
We help charitable and community organizations with nonprofit formation, governance documents, tax-exempt status questions, and the day-to-day legal structure that helps an organization keep operating smoothly.
Real Estate Transactions
Legal help with real estate transactions, deeds, purchase and sale agreements, title questions, and trust or estate-related property transfers.
Related guidance from Food for Thought
August 20, 2012
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Common questions
Helpful answers in plain English
When should a business owner start succession planning?
Usually earlier than expected. Succession planning is easier when the owner can still think deliberately about authority, ownership transfer, key documents, and how the business should coordinate with the owner's estate plan.
Peterborough office
Need help thinking through the next steps?
The Peterborough office can help you review the facts, the documents involved, and the practical options available in your situation.