More than a Fluffy Tail: Celebrating and Commemorating National Service Dog Month

September is National Service Dog Month!  As we celebrate and commemorate these incredible animals and their teams this month, it is important to think beyond the fluffy-tailed cuteness to have a discussion regarding some of the everyday realities that service animal teams experience, and how this impacts your alcoholic beverage business. What Do Service Animals…

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BLC Group

New Attorney Alert!

Please welcome our newest team member and attorney, Elizabeth “Brooks” Savage!  Brooks practices intellectual property, business, and administrative law, with a focus on vice industries.  Particularly in the alcoholic beverage industry, she represents small and independent alcohol producers and retailers (such as breweries, wineries, distilleries, bars, and restaurants) with brand development and protection, business formation…

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Why does your LLC need an Operating Agreement?

What is an Operating Agreement? An Operating Agreement is a contract between the members of an LLC which serves as the LLC’s governing document. The Operating Agreement outlines voting and ownership percentages, delegates authority to specific managers or members, and determines how distributions of profits and losses, and transfers of interest may occur, among other…

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Starting a Brewery: Forming Your Business

Business formation Before you start your new brewery, you should consider the different types of business structures under which your brewery could operate. There are several different forms of businesses such as Sole Proprietorships, Partnerships, Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), and Corporations. Before you start your brewery you should determine which structure is best for your…

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Utilizing Temporary Premise Extensions

We know that COVID has really taken its toll on a lot of small businesses in North Carolina, especially the craft beverage industry. Unfortunately, COVID and the government restrictions have closed a lot of our local bars. While it saddens us to see our favorite 80’s bar or the little dive place around the corner…

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How to Select the Right Trademark for Your Brand

Choosing a trademark can be one of the most exciting parts about building your business. Your trademark should represent your brand and identify your company as the source of your brand’s goods or services. It is important to choose a strong trademark which will offer greater protectability and less risk to potential infringements and challenges.…

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Private Bars and Private Clubs in NC

We’re getting a lot of questions about the differences between Private Bars and Private Clubs in NC. That means it’s time to blog about it! Background NC has had the Private Club designation for Retail alcohol sales permits for a long time. But, the NC Legislature recently made a change. The 2019 legislative session saw…

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Coronas During the Corona

Some people hoard toilet paper and some people buy a crap ton of beer. With alcohol and ABC stores having been declared “essential” during this time of chaos and Coronavirus, many people have truly taken advantage of alcohol being considered an essential item, which recent stats have shown. I guess it makes sense, there’s nothing…

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Are you kidding me?

COVID-19: What the HELL do I do now?

Managing your business during a crisis is never easy. The difficulty is compounded when the crisis is in your business AND all around you. Right now, as business owners and managers, you’re facing tough decisions about your staff and your business while staring down the barrel of uncertainty.

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