Small Business
Introduction
Buying an Existing Business
Buying a Franchise
Selecting a Legal Structure for Your Business
Naming Your Business and Products
Registration Licenses and Permits
Local Regulations: City and County
State Regulations
Federal Regulations
Financing Your Business
Leasing or Buying Your Business Your Location
Business Insurance
Advertising and Marketing
Internet and E-mail Marketing
Bookkeeping and Accounting
Taxes
Collections
Resolving Disputes
Mediation
Arbitration
Small Claims Court
Environmental Issues
Selling Your Business
Independent Contractors
Home-Based Business
Retails: E-commerce, Catalog, and Brinks and Mortar
International Trade
Resolving Disputes
Mediation, arbitration and small claims courts are three ways small businesses can resolve disputes without resorting to the expense and time of a lawsuit.
Because an agreement arrived at through mediation does not have to be binding to the disputing parties, it is a more informal process that offers more potential for the parties to work together in the future. Arbitration does result in a legally binding decision; the arbitrator functions like a judge and the proceeding is more like a traditional court case. However, like mediation, it does not involve the time and expense of a court case.
A third option is small claims court. Each state operates its own small claims court and sets its own limit on the dollar amount that can be awarded.