Establishing respective rights early on can allow a business to operate smoothly. By entering into an agreement at the beginning, any issues that arise can be dealt with as prescribed in the agreement. Many shareholders make the mistake of waiting until there is a conflict to come to an agreement on rights and obligations. At this point, it may be too late.
Shareholders’ agreements are often tailored to address the specific needs of the business and the interests and concerns of the shareholders. Generally, this document can be used to:
- Set out how the affairs of a corporation will be managed
- Set out what rights the shareholders must share in the proceeds of the corporation, establish the respective contributions made by shareholders to the corporation, and any obligations to make future contributions
- Provide ways to resolve potential conflicts between shareholders
- Provide protection for minority shareholders
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More topics for start-ups to consider:
The Necessary First Steps
There are many necessary initial steps to take in order to successfully start or continue operations.
Business Structure
One of the very first steps of starting and running a business is choosing a legal structure for your business.
Leases
Starting a new business comes with many challenges, such as finding a space to operate.
Financing
At some point in your business’ lifecycle, you’ll probably need cash exceeding what your business is able to generate.
