Fred S. Steingold

Fred S. Steingold

Attorney

Attorney Fred Steingold practiced law for over 40 years in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he was well-known and highly regarded by the local legal community. Fred wrote and updated several best-selling titles for Nolo, including Legal Guide for Starting & Running a Small Business and The Employer's Legal Handbook. Fred died in 2017. The folks at Nolo will miss working with him.

Articles By Fred S. Steingold

Selling Your Business: Eight Steps
The three most important things you can do to sell your business successfully are to determine a realistic price range for your business, understand the tax consequences of the sale and how to structure the sale best to benefit you, and to prepare your company for sale in a way that makes the business financially attractive. If you are thinking of selling, consider the practical steps in this article for making the process go smoothly.
Why You Need to Write a Business Plan
Just as a builder uses a blueprint to ensure that a building will be structurally sound, the process of creating and writing a "blueprint" for your business -- called a business plan -- will help you determine whether your business will be strong from the start. Without a business plan, you leave far too many things to chance. Even if you won't seek outside financing, creating financial forecasts for your business is indispensable.
Due Diligence: What to Investigate Before You Buy a Business
Before you buy a business, do some due diligence.
Understanding Promissory Notes for Small Businesses
A promissory note sets out the repayment terms when you borrow money. If you borrow start-up cash for your business from a commercial lender, the lender will require you to sign a promissory note. You should also use a promissory note when borrowing money from a friend or relative. There are several different ways to structure repayment. Learn about them all so you can choose the one that's right for your business.
Structuring Payments in a Business Purchase
Learn about the business buyer's payment options, such as installment or lump-sum payments.