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Business Owners: Do you want your business to be still around in 5 years time and making money? How to stop your business being sunk by legal disaster

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Between 33%-43% of businesses fail during the first 7 years of trading

Depending upon which statistics you believe, between 33-43% of businesses do not survive their first seven years of trading. Often these businesses haven't failed for lack of a good idea - simply that they weren't robust enough to handle the cut and thrust of the business world.

The business world is like the ocean

In the ocean there are friendly fish and there are predators. Survival requires knowing where to find food and making sure you are not someone else's dinner.

In business it is much the same. It is not just about getting as many customers or clients as you can: you can have a great turnover and still be vulnerable to attack. You must also protect your business from predators so that you aren't just another statistic.

Unfortunately, the sharks are not obvious and each shark requires a different strategy to keep it at bay. Many business owners learn these strategies by having lucky escapes. So, why not learn those mistakes before you end up making them - you may not be so lucky...

Introducing Sharkproof Your Business: How to Stop Your Business Being Sunk By Legal Disaster

Sharkproof Your Business: How to Stop Your Business Being Sunk by Legal Disaster is a 6 part seminar series being run in Auckland during the second half of 2006. It is designed to teach you how to keep your business safe from business predators so that in the years to come your business will still be profitable and making you money.

But my business is already making money

If you are making money in your business now, why would you want to come to this seminar series? Simply because there is no guarantee that trend will continue unless your business is sharkproof. In the same way that one good break can make a business, one legal disaster can break a business. Acting now to safeguard the future of your business allows you to:
  1. Build a business that guarantees you an income into your retirement; or
  2. Create a saleable commodity which will be attractive to a buyer or suitable for franchising; or
  3. Pass on an asset, not a liability, to your children.

So, whatever your motives for going into business this seminar series is for you.

How exactly will the seminar series help me?

The seminar series will teach you legal strategies which you can apply in your business today to ensure you can achieve your long term objectives. These strategies will:
  1. Help you identify the sharks in business;
  2. Keep the sharks at bay;
  3. Assist you to grow your business so you can fight back if necessary.

Each seminar focuses on a different type of shark and I will show you how you can use the law to ensure that the shark doesn't eat your profits (or worse still eat your business).

Aren't legal seminars boring?

They sure can be boring - believe me, I have sat through my fair share bored to tears! That's because lawyers are taught to present seminars with reference to legal theory, cases and legislation - just as if they were in court. But, I have thrown out the rule book.

In this seminar series there won't be any cases, statutes, or legal theory - just down to earth practical advice which you can apply in your business. I will present each seminar in a way to educate you whilst keeping you entertained. Don't believe me? Then use one of the play buttons in the right hand column to listen to me present. If you are still not convinced then there is my guarantee.

My 40 winks guarantee

Each seminar in the series comes with my 40 winks guarantee. That is, if at any time during one of my seminars you feel the urge to have 40 winks and nod off, I will refund you the cost of that seminar - no questions asked. It is because of my 40 winks guarantee that event organisers engage me as a speaker for their conferences.

 

This won't be you at the seminar series....

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"A lawyer would not normally have been my first port of call"
We hadn’t had speakers before I became a committee member so I needed to find someone who would not only reflect well on me as the organiser of the event but who would also be informative and interesting. A lawyer wouldn’t normally be my first port of call - you typically think of lawyers as dry and poor speakers. However, I had heard Michael speak before and I liked the way he could "hold" an audience with his presence. I wasn't disappointed. He opened with an entertaining case study which immediately captured the room. He managed to keep the audience with him whilst providing information relevant to our industry. The audience went away with information which highlighted issues which they hadn’t previously been aware of. Michael was very accommodating in the run up to the event and everything went smoothly on the night - I would definitely use Michael again. Yolanda Alba - Committee Member Landscape Industry Association of New Zealand.

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What will the seminars cover?

The seminars will cover the following topics:

  • How to save lawyer's fees by knowing when you need to see a lawyer to draft an agreement and when you don't

  • My 8 step sytem for writing legal agreements

  • How to ensure your customers pay on time

  • What to do if your customers don't pay

  • How to grow your business without damaging your profits

  • How to dismiss employees without being sued

  • The alternatives to employing staff

  • Strategies for managing your employees

  • How to decipher the small print in legal agreements

  • Pitfalls in commercial leases / loan agreements and other legal documents

  • Why you must choose your professional advisors carefully

  • The truth behind lawyers and accountants fees

  • How to challenge your lawyer's or accountant's fees

  • How to protect your intellectual property

  • What types of IP can you protect?

  • How to expand your empire without it costing you a fortune

  • The difference between distributors and agents and which to choose

  • The pros and cons of franchising and what you need to franchise your business.

What makes this seminar series different?

We all know that lawyers like to specialise in one subject. That means few have the ability to see a business as a whole and advise on every aspect of the business cycle.

When I started in practice in London I had a very general commercial practice and was asked to advise on everything from commercial agreements to employment law to intellectual property to defamation. Since being in New Zealand I have set up my own business (well 3 actually). I therefore have the ability to develop a seminar series that takes you from woe to go in the business building cycle. Try and find another seminar series like it.

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My clients are always ringing me up for the type of advice this seminar series covers. I am definitely going to be there and I will be bringing some of my clients as well. Steve Furlong. Furlong and Associates, Chartered Accountants.

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Will this be a quick fix for my business?

If your business is struggling and you are looking for a quick fix, this seminar series may not be for you. It will however point you in the right direction for putting your business back on track. You won't be able to implement the strategies you learn over night. Instead, think of the seminar series like the plans for building a solid legal framework in which you business can grow and become more profitable.

When, where, cost?

Here are the complete details of the seminar series:
  1. Location: Where is it? Is there free parking?
  2. When: what are the dates for the seminar series
  3. Cost: how much does it cost? What if I want to come to one but not all of the seminars?
  4. Special offers: do you have any special offers?
  5. Registration: how do I register?
  6. Materials: do I get materials?

1. Location

The seminar series will be held at the St Columba Centre on Vermont Street, Ponsonby, Auckland. And yes, there is plenty of free parking outside.

Click on the map to enlarge in a separate window

2. When

There will be 6 seminars in total. Each seminar will start at 6.02p.m. sharp and won't go on past 8pm. It won't all be me talking and there will be plenty of time to ask questions. The seminars will be on the following dates:

Seminar 1

 18 July

Seminar 2

 8 August

Seminar 3

 12 September

Seminar 4

 26 September

Seminar 5

 17 October

Seminar 6

 14 November

 

3. Cost

The total series is between 10-14 hours of legal advice. Based conservatively on a lawyer's normal charge out rate it works out to over $3000. However, each seminar is priced individually at $175 + GST but if you buy the series you pay a fraction of this cost, namely $420 + GST or $497 + GST depending on whether you buy the basic or executive versions. However, these packages are only available to purchase until midnight on 17 July 2006. After that each seminar is charged at $175 + GST.

4. Do you have any special offers?

Yes I have three:
  1. I held an introductory seminar on 27 June which taught you how to save money on lawyer's fees by knowing when you need to see a lawyer to draft a written agreement and when you don't. I also shared with the audience my 8 step system for writing legal agreements which you can use for those times when going to a lawyer is not cost effective. Although you may have missed that seminar you can watch the video for free by clicking here.
  2. If you are a member of my Legal Hotline service you are entitled to come to the first seminar for free and a special price is available to you. If you haven't received an email from me about this already, then email me.
  3. If you introduce a friend to the seminar series you get to come for half price.

Payment for the series can be made by credit card (VISA, Mastercard and American Express).

5. Registration

To register straight away simply click here. Due to the size of the venue places are limited so do not leave it too late to register.

6. Materials

Each seminar comes with its own materials which will be given to everyone regardless of whether you buy the basic or executive version. The seminar series will also be recorded. Video presentations of the seminar series will be made available to those who buy the Executive version to download from this website.

And there are the bonuses...

When you buy either the basic or executive versions of the seminar series you get the following bonuses:

How to choose the right employment agreement for your employees

This Special Report is worth $84.38. Did you know that there are 4 choices when it comes to choosing the right employment agreement for your business? This special report explains all.

How to get the best from your employees

This special audio report is an interview with Lynlee Wilson of the People Group - an HR consultancy based in Auckland. The interview gives top strategies for getting the best from your employees. This Special Audio Report is normally priced at $84.38

 

With the Executive version...

With the Executive version, in addition to the above bonuses you also get the following:

Confidentiality agreement

You never know when you might need a confidentiality agreement. This confidentiality agreement worth $393.75 will suit most purposes and comes free when you register for the seminar series.

One hour of Free consultancy advice

If you have any specific legal issues which arise out of the seminar series or anywhere else for that matter, this is your opportunity to get a free one on one session with me. My normal charge out rate is $225 so this represents great value for the small difference between the Basic and Executive versions.

Conditions of Attendance: please read carefully

To attend the series you must:

  1. Have read the Shark Report available to download for FREE from this page. Simply click here to download.
  2. Have watched the video of the introductory seminar or attended in person.
  3. Understand that I cannot give a refund if you cannot turn up for a seminar for any reason. Payment for the seminars are made in advance of attendance and you cannot pay on the door.

 

Basic Version

Executive Version
  1. 7 seminars (WORTH $3000+)
  2. Materials for each seminar
  3. Special Report: How to Choose the Right Employment Agreement for your Staff (WORTH $84.37)
  4. How to Get the Best from Your Employees (Worth $84.37)
  1. 7 Seminars (WORTH $3000+)
  2. Materials for each seminar
  3. Special Report: How to Choose the Right Employment Agreement for your Staff (WORTH $84.37)
  4. How to Get the Best from Your Employees (Worth $84.37)
  5. MP3 files of the seminars
  6. Confidentiality agreement (WORTH $393.75)
  7. One hour of consultancy (WORTH $225.00)

$420 + GST

$497 + GST

 

Do you have any questions?

If there is anything you need to know about the seminar series which I haven't covered on this page then please feel free to ask. Simply submit your question using the form below and I will answer it for you.
Email:
Name:
Question:
Feedback:

Regards,

Michael Smyth LLb. (Hons.), Dip, Cert
The Approachable Lawyer

PS. If you are still undecided whether to come to this seminar series consider for one minute the value you place on your business. Is it worth more than $497 + GST?

    

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Click on the Shark to watch a video of the first seminar and download your FREE copy of the Shark Report

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To register straight away click here

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Listen to me speak

Using analogies to make a point  
Using case studies  

 

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Some testimonials

My clients are always ringing me up for the type of advice this seminar series covers. I am definitely going to be there and I will be bringing some of my clients as well. Steve Furlong. Furlong and Associates, Chartered Accountants.

We hadn’t had speakers before I became a committee member so I needed to find someone who would not only reflect well on me as the organiser of the event but who would also be informative and interesting. A lawyer wouldn’t normally be my first port of call - you typically think of lawyers as dry and poor speakers. However, I had heard Michael speak before and I liked the way he could "hold" an audience with his presence. I wasn't disappointed. He opened with an entertaining case study which immediately captured the room. He managed to keep the audience with him whilst providing information relevant to our industry. The audience went away with information which highlighted issues which they hadn’t previously been aware of. Michael was very accommodating in the run up to the event and everything went smoothly on the night - I would definitely use Michael again. Yolanda Alba - Committee Member Landscape Industry Association of New Zealand.

I find it invaluable to have Michael Smyth available at the end of my finger tips to run questions by. His services and passing of information are well worth the membership fee we pay annually and the monthly newsletters are definitely a must read everytime. Thank you oh great fountain of legal information & assurance! You rock!! Nita Heard, NeoGine Communication Design Limited, Wellington

Throughout the period that Michael has been associated with New Zealand Gymnastics he has impressed us with his professional approach to client service. In relation to both legal and sporting issues we have found him to be a very knowledgeable person who undertakes thorough research of the topic and its application to the business of New Zealand Gymnastics. New Zealand Gymnastics consider that both the level and standard of services that Michael provides far exceeds our original expectations. His 'after hours' accessibility is an additional benefit that befits his knowledge and passion for sport. It is of great assistance to us that he is available to follow through and provide additional assistance as and when required. This may be in dispute resolution, members meetings or topical presentations to the Board of Directors or the Annual General Meeting. Marie Stechman - Executive Director, New Zealand Gymnastics

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Contact Michael Smyth
PO Box 91053 AMSC
Auckland 1030
New Zealand
P: +64 9 358 2725
F: +64 9 358 2715
M: +64 21 320 171
E: michael@approachablelawyer.com

In the UK:
P: +44 709 204 5664
F: +44 709 204 5664

  
     
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