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Negotiating Business Deals/Questions Answered by Expert Christopher Flett
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Partner? | 7/10/2010 |
| Q: Should I take on a new partner? I have an upscale casual, 160 seat, (and 30+ seat patio, six months ... A: Difficult question to answer until you decide what the Chef is going to bring to the table. Aside ... | |
| Partnership | 7/7/2010 |
| Q: I'm starting up a small business actually a retail store. I am looking to partner with a friend of ... A: You would want a lawyer to draft a shareholders agreement if you are forming a corporation or a ... | |
| Partnership | 7/7/2010 |
| Q: I'm starting up a small business actually a retail store. I am looking to partner with a friend of ... A: I think you are giving up too much of your venture. If he isn't an entrepreneur, he shouldn't be a ... | |
| negotiating | 7/5/2010 |
| Q: I am starting a graphic t-shirt line. I've ordered a couple of t-shirts from a company that designs ... A: Figure out what you are going to sell them for, what you need to make them for and go with that ... | |
| Please give me advice for a business agrement / deal. | 7/5/2010 |
| Q: I am associated with a small software company in India and we need the service of other ... A: It is up to your discretion. Consider what each side is putting into the equation and portion it our ... | |
| offer to buy division of corporation | 5/26/2010 |
| Q: Chris! Love the website! I have 19 years experience in auto glass and have been employed by my ... A: What's the advantage of you buying it vs. starting your own thing from scratch? You'll want to have ... | |
| how much to pay in referral bonus | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: Chris, not sure you are the appropriate person to contact, but your background seems to match up ... A: I'd throw him a bone for putting your resume in the right place. The right time for him to negotiate ... | |
| business purchase | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: I have had an offer accepted to buy the leasehold of a business but today have been told by the ... A: I think you should go with your gut. If there isn't an 'assignable' lease, then there is no reason ... | |
| Confused about Partnering | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: I own a computer business that I started by myself 8 years ago. During this time I have had ... A: My gut tells me that he might not be the 'right' type of partner to get in business with. Don't ... | |
| Confused about Partnering | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: I own a computer business that I started by myself 8 years ago. During this time I have had ... A: I think at the least, you should do a 50/50 split on the new company (you getting 50%). Have a ... | |
| partnership | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: About a year ago I wanted to try to have my toy idea marketed to the public. I've got around ... A: You need to have a lawyer draw up an agreement before you receive any money. Because your project ... | |
| Business contracts | 2/13/2010 |
| Q: I currently work for a security company, but I am in the process of starting my own security ... A: If you have a non-competition agreement, then no. You can always go after your boss' clients AFTER ... | |
| FOREIGN PARTNERSHIP | 1/19/2010 |
| Q: We are currently in the initial stages of negotiating with a person in Pakistan to begin a web ... A: It's tough Suzanne. If you have a history of paying him fair market value (North America), then it ... | |
| FOREIGN PARTNERSHIP | 1/19/2010 |
| Q: We are currently in the initial stages of negotiating with a person in Pakistan to begin a web ... A: I've been in a similar situation. My question is, have you explored other vendors that might be able ... | |
| partnerships | 10/18/2009 |
| Q: We bought our first house a year ago. We went through 13 realtors, 3 attorneys, and 42 houses until ... A: Good time to ask these questions. You would sit down and discuss who is going to do what. You will ... | |
| Partnership outgrown | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: We have a successful interactive design firm. There are 3 founding partners and a new partner we ... A: The challenge with a situation like this is that where money is involved, partnerships get strained. ... | |
| Joint Venture | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: Good morning Christopher. We have a small construction company and most of our work is with the ... A: You should run this by your company lawyer, but if I were you, I would take my share of the project ... | |
| What to say | 9/5/2009 |
| Q: My name is Igor, and I'm a very recent university graduate with a degree in kinesiology. I am now ... A: There's a lot to the questions you are asking. A lot of clarity on your part first (what is going to ... | |
| BOOTH RENTAL SALON - RETAIL | 8/22/2009 |
| Q: I am considering opening a booth rental salon in the near future. From what I understand, it is ... A: Yes you can. As part of the agreement that you have your lawyer draw up, you can stipulate the terms ... | |
| Salon Booth Rental | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: I'm a hairstylist in VA and I've been booth renting for 15 years at the same salon. We have a verbal ... A: Are you prepared to leave the salon and move somewhere else? If so, I'd suggest you connect with the ... | |
| Partnership/Investors | 7/14/2009 |
| Q: I started working for a family member 7 years ago. Year by year, I gained shares in the company and ... A: It is legal, but the shareholders have to agree to it. It's called reclaiming owner's equity. It ... | |
| co-ownership | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: Christopher: If you are in an equal co-ownership of a company/project with a partner, and your ... A: The person who registers it won't have any extra pull. The leadership in a partnership is determined ... | |
| my "partners" | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: I consider myself an entrepreneur no successful yet but I am sure one day I will if I learn how to ... A: For question one, you need to put together a partnership agreement. This states the rules of how the ... | |
| How much to charge. | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: My wife has developed a class and is currently being paid a day rate of $1,000 for teaching this ... A: This cost of licensing your materials can vary depending on the deal. I suggest to the clients of ... | |
| Developing a plan | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: I have created a software product that is rather remarkable. It is fully functional. I would like to ... A: You can hire someone to review it and have them sign a non-disclosure, non-competition agreement so ... | |
| Mutual NDA | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: i am seeking to take on a product line and starting to contact certain manufacturer's of equipment ... A: Firstly, go see a lawyer. You need to have a lawyer draft an NDA that reflects what you are trying ... | |
| Corporate 'loan-out' | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: I work as a producer/writer through my C corp. I have an opportunity to form an LLC with one other ... A: Best bet is to talk to your accountant. There will be state regulations on how the money gets ... | |
| Establishing partnership split | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: I'm trying to decide how to split a partnership for a start-up restaurant. Here are the facts: -- ... A: What I would do is offer your friend a 25% stake in the company. Don't devalue the time you have ... | |
| Partnerships | 4/3/2009 |
| Q: Andrew, Bob, Charlie & David operate their building contractors as a partnership. The business also ... A: Too many times, businesses try to save money at the beginning (partnership agreement) and end up ... | |
| Starting a Business Partnership | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: Recently a relative approached me to start a partnership company specializing in sales and marketing ... A: What part of the country are you located in? You should have your meeting with David first and then ... | |
| Starting a Business Partnership | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: Recently a relative approached me to start a partnership company specializing in sales and marketing ... A: Without knowing the specifics of who will do what, it is difficult to nail down what a fair ... | |
| Starting a Business Partnership | 3/18/2009 |
| Q: Recently a relative approached me to start a partnership company specializing in sales and marketing ... A: What role will your business partner play in the new company? Partnership can be a great or ... | |
| Web design business and services contract | 2/20/2009 |
| Q: I am a young web designer (18 and still in university) and I am starting a freelance business. I ... A: I read through it and it all seems okay, but keep in mind, I'm not a lawyer. You should have someone ... | |
| selling my business | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: I'm not sure if you specialize in this kind of question but here goes; I'm thinking of selling my ... A: Get in touch with a business lawyer that can pilot you through this process. Selling a business is a ... | |
| Distribution Agr. | 1/4/2009 |
| Q: I’m interested in distributing a product in the US as a reseller and my concern in this scenario is ... A: Make sure you get an agreement with them (I'd suggest having a representative agreement drafted by ... | |
| Profit participation | 12/7/2008 |
| Q: Mr. Flett, I invited an associate as joint venture/independent contractor to create a product launch ... A: In that case you should. If you are still in a discussion phase of the deal, then bring this up to ... | |
| Profit participation | 12/7/2008 |
| Q: Mr. Flett, I invited an associate as joint venture/independent contractor to create a product launch ... A: If this was a piece you were bringing to the table when discussing the Joint Venture, than you ... | |
| getting paid placing product in store | 10/4/2008 |
| Q: We were asked to place our product in a store but they want to do it as a NET TERM with a 30 day ... A: I'm not sure what they are referring to with Net Term. What they could be referring to is that you ... | |
| how to value my new business | 9/28/2008 |
| Q: I have a new publication/directory. I mail it to residents per zipcode, once per year. If each ... A: Again, lots of factors at play here, but the very rough guide is 3.2 - 5x the net earnings for your ... | |
| how to value my new business | 9/26/2008 |
| Q: I have a new publication/directory. I mail it to residents per zipcode, once per year. If each ... A: When preparing to license (or francise) a company's intellectual property, it is important to ... | |
| IT Consulting/Agency | 7/9/2008 |
| Q: We're still new to this business thing and are having difficulty marketing ourselves to big ... A: The first part of this solution is to become 'very clear' on what you can do for companies, why they ... | |
| Silent Partner | 6/25/2008 |
| Q: I am very new in the event planning business. I have been contacting and emailing different ... A: Be careful on taking on investors just for money. Angel investors (those that don't formally do ... | |
Negotiating Business Deals
Answers by Expert:
Christopher Flett
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer all questions regarding negotiation with clients, vendors, partnership deals, co- venture opportunities, and the like. I can also comment on negotiating salaries, contract prices, and other financial considerations regarding business.
Experience
I have started 11 companies, have negotiated 100's of contracts, from commercial premises to book deals. I work with a clientele on the West Coast that is in negotiations on a weekly basis.
Publications
"What Men Don't Tell Women About Business"
Business Week
Entrepreneur Magazine
The New York Times
Chatelaine Magazine
The New York Post
The Washington Post
The Toronto Star
USA Today
The Vancouver Sun
Pink Magazine
Forbes Magazine
The Globe & Mail
The National Post
The Guardian (UK)
CIO Magazine
BC Business Magazine
Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Arts (History & Philosophy)
Advanced Marketing Diploma
Provincial Instructors Diploma
Certified International Trade Professional
Past/Present Clients
Bank of America
BC Hydro
Key Bank
Deloitte
KPMG
Duke Energy
RBC Dominion Securities
HSBC
TD CanadaTrust
Government of Canada
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