Holmes Business Law PC

Holmes Business Law PC Philadelphia Business Lawyer helps with contracts, trademarks, buying franchises and start ups. Philadelphia Small Business Lawyer Sarah E.

Holmes

Attorney Sarah Holmes is the Managing Attorney at Holmes Business Law, P.C., a Philadelphia-based law firm that helps new and existing business owners establish solid legal foundations for growth.

06/05/2026

Many businesses underestimate how quickly employee social media activity can create workplace issues.

Problems often arise involving:

• Harassment allegations
• Confidential business information
• Brand reputation concerns
• Workplace conflicts spilling online

Without clear social media and conduct policies, employers may struggle to respond consistently when issues arise.

The challenge is balancing workplace expectations with employee rights.

That balance should be addressed proactively — not after a public incident.

06/04/2026

Many people buy franchises expecting the freedom of business ownership.

But franchise agreements often give the franchisor significant control over how the business operates.

That can include:

• Pricing requirements
• Approved vendors
• Branding restrictions
• Operational rules
• Renewal conditions

Some owners only realize how restrictive these agreements are after they’ve already invested substantial money into the business.

A franchise purchase isn’t just buying a business.

It’s entering a long-term legal relationship with extensive contractual obligations.

06/03/2026

Many overtime disputes don’t start with intentional misconduct.

They start with employers misunderstanding how wage laws apply to certain employees.

Common issues include:

• Misclassifying salaried employees
• Failing to track hours properly
• Off-the-clock work
• Remote work expectations outside business hours

Just because an employee receives a salary does not automatically exempt the employer from overtime obligations.

Small payroll mistakes can become expensive quickly if they affect multiple employees over time.

That’s why wage compliance systems matter long before disputes arise.

06/02/2026

Many tenants assume security deposits function the same way in commercial leases as they do in residential leases.

They often don’t.

Commercial lease agreements frequently give landlords broader discretion regarding:

• Damage claims
• Default situations
• Unpaid rent
• Repair obligations

Some leases also allow landlords to apply deposits toward various costs before returning any remaining balance.

Understanding when deposits can be withheld — and under what conditions — is an important part of evaluating lease risk.

06/01/2026

Many tenants focus heavily on the initial lease terms.

But renewal clauses often determine whether the location remains financially workable long-term.

Some renewal clauses include:

• Automatic rent increases
• Short notice deadlines
• Market-rate adjustment provisions
• Conditions tied to tenant performance

Missing a renewal deadline can sometimes mean losing the right to extend the lease entirely.

For businesses dependent on location and customer traffic, that can create serious disruption.

The renewal language deserves just as much attention as the original rent negotiation.

05/30/2026

Many commercial leases contain assignment clauses restricting whether the tenant can transfer the lease to someone else.

That becomes extremely important when:

• Selling the business
• Bringing in partners
• Restructuring ownership
• Moving operations

Some leases require landlord approval before any assignment can occur.

Others give landlords broad discretion to reject transfers entirely.

For businesses tied closely to a physical location, lease assignment rights can directly impact the future saleability of the business.

05/29/2026

One of the biggest weaknesses in employment disputes is inconsistent documentation.

Employers often address performance concerns verbally for months — sometimes years — without creating any written record.

Then when termination becomes necessary, there’s little documentation supporting the decision.

Good documentation helps establish:

• Performance expectations
• Prior warnings
• Policy violations
• Consistency between employees

Documentation doesn’t just help during litigation.

It often helps prevent disputes from escalating in the first place.

05/28/2026

Some of the most complicated business disputes start with people who trusted each other too much.

When businesses are bought or sold between family members or friends, parties often skip:

• Proper due diligence
• Clear purchase terms
• Written obligations
• Risk allocation provisions

The assumption is usually:

“We trust each other.”

But problems tend to appear later — especially when expectations were never clearly documented.

Good legal agreements don’t destroy trust.

They protect relationships by reducing misunderstandings before problems arise.

05/27/2026

In some business sales, a portion of the purchase price is tied to future business performance.

This is called an earnout.

For example, the seller may receive additional payments if the business reaches:

• Revenue targets
• Profit goals
• Customer retention benchmarks

Earnouts can help bridge valuation disagreements between buyers and sellers.

But they also create ongoing risk if the agreement doesn’t clearly define:

• How performance is measured
• Who controls operations after closing
• What accounting methods apply

A vague earnout provision can easily become a future dispute.

05/26/2026

Forming a corporation or LLC can provide important liability protection.

But that protection is not unlimited.

Business owners can still face personal exposure in situations involving:

• Personal guarantees
• Fraud or misrepresentation
• Improper corporate formalities
• Mixing personal and business finances

Many owners assume incorporation alone fully separates them from business risk.

In reality, maintaining that protection requires proper legal and financial practices over time.

The entity structure matters.

But so does how the business is actually operated.

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1515 Market Street Suite 1200
Philadelphia, PA
19102

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Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

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