The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has shut down the last legal option for businesses to spin off their real estate holdings into separate Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) for the tax benefits. The REIT option carried tax-exempt status and thereby was often used as a tax avoidance vehicle by non-real estate companies. In fact, it…
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In our last issue of Independent Joe, we discussed some of the critical lease provisions contained in a franchisee’s lease which, if not identified and properly negotiated, could have a material impact on the viability of a business. The provisions addressed in that issue – exclusive use protection, landlord’s consent to assignment and continuing liability…
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Negotiating a retail lease is one of the most critical stages in the life of a quick service restaurant. Each lease presents is own distinct issues and challenges; failing to have significant attention to detail can inadvertently result in an unsuccessful business or impede your growth; one oversight can destroy your succession plan or exit…
Read More »Business Owners Seek to Cut Costs by Appealing Property Assessments. Raymund Flandez of the Wall Street Journal reports that the bad economy and the deteriorating commercial real-estate market have motivated some small-business owners to fight their tax assessments.
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