Business Structure
Since we are well-versed in all manner of business entity structures, we readily provide expert business structure advice to C and S Corporations, Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies, and Sole Proprietorships. We assist our clients with their often overlapping roles as business owner, board member, and key employee, helping to diagnose issues preemptively in order to avoid pitfalls and maintain efficiencies. Langdon & Company LLP professionals consider the various initial business structuring options within the context of longer-term impact on planning for expansion, succession transition, and retirement. By focusing on the long-term opportunities while providing near-term recommendations, Langdon & Company LLP holistic approach to client service provides business owners an optimum solution.
Langdon & Company LLP professionals coordinate with client executives to provide insight into tax planning strategies, business governance, merger & acquisitions, capital improvements, drawing upon our education, prior experience and industry familiarity. Whether we assist with a key transaction or actually accompany them to the negotiating table, our clients know that partnering with Langdon & Company LLP provides them the edge they need to succeed in today’s business marketplace.
Succession Planning
The closely held business owner dedicates many years to drive the success of his or her business. The culmination of the business life cycle involves reaping the rewards of the business’ appreciated value upon transition of ownership. Often the cashing out the value of the enterprise represents the key component of the owner’s pension or retirement assets. In addition, the transition of an operating business amongst family or friends inherently involves a variety of tax and non-tax issues. A properly designed succession plan will better ensure the business owner will maximize the realizable value while efficiently managing the transition of the business.
We typically discuss Succession Planning with our business owners early in the life cycle of the business even though the owner’s target date may be years to come. It’s important to craft the start-up and expansion strategies for the business with sufficient flexibility for the long-term business succession plan. Our succession planners will share insights as to tax advantages of various strategies, including: establishing a time frame for executing steps in the plan, addressing the cash flow requirements for subsidizing the payout and how to best ensure the requisite liquidity will be available. Plan design may range from:
- Buy/Sell Agreements
- Qualified and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
- Stock Appreciation Rights and Phantom Equity Arrangements
- Annuities (Secured and Unsecured)
- Owner/Officer Life Insurance
- Non-competition and Professional Service Agreements
Transaction Planning
Langdon & Company LLP understands and appreciates the fast paced environment in which businesses today operate. Opportunities come and go quickly and business owners must be prepared to make informed decisions timely. Our transaction planning professionals have experience in a broad range of business transactions. Langdon & Company LLP can assist in risk assessments associated with potential business transactions. Oftentimes, these transactions are further complicated by taxation issues. Our advice during the planning stage may help avoid burdensome tax consequences from such transactions while also providing opportunity for implementing tax saving strategies.
We understand that timing is critical and offer prompt response times. We often assist clients with valuations, projections, due diligence, risk analysis, in addition to evaluating potential tax effects. Because we are businesspeople as well as accountants, our clients look to us for an objective, unbiased consultation. Types of transactions we often see include, but are not limited to:
- Business/Real Estate acquisitions
- Business expansion
- Mergers
- Sale of a business/Bankruptcy
- Divorce settlements
Langdon & Company LLP will work alongside the business owners and their legal representatives to ensure your overall objectives are met during deal negotiations as well as a smooth transition once the deal closes