WHICH RESOURCE SHOULD I START WITH?

If you’re buying, start with the LOI Masterclass and Timeline of Buying a Business. If you’re selling, start with Optimize Your Exit and the Timeline of Selling a Business. If you’re operating, start with Legal Masterclass and Avoid Piercing the Corporate Veil.

DO I NEED AN ATTORNEY IF I USE THESE RESOURCES?

Resources can help you understand concepts and prepare, but most transactions and higher-stakes decisions benefit from counsel—especially where LOI terms, diligence findings, financing requirements, or regulatory issues affect risk and timeline.

HOW DO THESE RESOURCES FIT INTO THE LOI → DUE DILIGENCE → CLOSING TIMELINE?

Use masterclasses and timelines to understand sequencing. Then use articles and guides as “just-in-time” references as diligence and drafting move forward.

IF I’M BUYING VS. SELLING, WHAT CHANGES?

Buyers typically focus on diligence scope, liability perimeter, and post-closing protection. Sellers focus on readiness, disclosure management, and bounding post-closing exposure through clear terms.

WHEN SHOULD I ENGAGE AN ATTORNEY?

Ideally before you sign or send an LOI. If the LOI is already signed, engage counsel early in exclusivity so diligence and documentation can run on a realistic closing plan.

DEAN STREET LAW

Legal Resources for Business Owners & Entrepreneurs

Clear, practical guidance for buyers, sellers, and operators—built from real transactions and the questions we hear on consultation calls.

BUYING A BUSINESS (ETA + STRATEGIC BUYERS) | SELLING A BUSINESS (EXIT PLANNING) | RUNNING A BUSINESS (CORPORATE LAW + CONTRACTS)

Start Here

Use these resources to acquire, build, sell, and protect a business with more clarity and less guesswork.

ETA BOOK

A buyer-focused legal roadmap for entrepreneurship through acquisition.

BEST FOR: Buyers • ESTIMATED TIME: Multiple days

EXPLORE THE BOOK

DEALMAKING WITH LAURA DIFRANCESCO PODCAST

Practical episodes on LOIs, diligence, deal terms, and what tends to matter in real transactions.

BEST FOR: Buyer + Seller • ESTIMATED TIME: 15–45 minutes

BROWSE THE EPISODES

ACQUISITION INSIGHTS

A deeper program for serious buyers, including structured learning and optional access to battle-tested templates.

BEST FOR: Buyer • ESTIMATED TIME: Multiple weeks

EXPLORE ACQUISITION INSIGHTS

LOI MASTERCLASS

A guided walkthrough of LOI terms and negotiation strategy—so you can align on material terms early and avoid preventable friction later.

BEST FOR: Buyer • ESTIMATED TIME: 60-120 minutes

WATCH THE MASTERCLASS

OPTIMIZE YOUR EXIT MASTERCLASS

A practical readiness framework for sellers preparing for diligence, negotiation, and closing.

BEST FOR: Seller • ESTIMATED TIME: 15–45 minutes

WATCH THE MASTERCLASS

ARTICLES + GUIDES

Short, focused resources you can reference as questions come up—organized by buy-side, sell-side, and operator topics.

BEST FOR: Buyer + Seller + Operator • ESTIMATED TIME: 15–30 minutes

EXPLORE THE LIBRARY

Buy-Side Resources

INCREASE YOUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

Whether you’re a first-time searcher or a strategic buyer, the buy-side process rewards disciplined sequencing: LOI terms that set leverage, diligence that stays proportionate, and documentation that allocates risk in a way that fits the business.

FREE & FOUNDATIONAL

LOI MASTERCLASS — Align on material terms early and create a practical path from LOI to closing.
TIMELINE OF BUYING A BUSINESS — A plain-English roadmap from LOI → diligence → purchase agreement → closing.
CURATED PODCAST EPISODES (BUY-SIDE) — LOI strategy, purchase price negotiation, seller notes, earnouts, diligence, and SBA realities.

PAID & IN-DEPTH

ACQUISITION INSIGHTS & TEMPLATES — Structured education and tools for serious buyers who want to move faster with clearer terms.
ETA BOOK — A deeper legal guide for buyers building a long-term acquisition strategy.

EXPLORE NEXT:

BUY-SIDE M&A COUNSEL
BUY-SIDE TRANSACTIONS

Sell-Side Resources

OPTIMIZE YOUR EXIT VALUE.

Selling a business is rarely “just paperwork.” The best outcomes are usually driven by sale readiness, thoughtful LOI terms, and a diligence process that stays organized and protects relationships while the deal progresses.

FREE & FOUNDATIONAL

OPTIMIZE YOUR EXIT MASTERCLASS — How to prepare for diligence and negotiate terms that reflect the business reality.
TIMELINE OF SELLING A BUSINESS — What to expect from LOI to closing, including common friction points.
CURATED PODCAST EPISODES (SELL-SIDE) — Working capital concepts, indemnities, escrow/holdback, transition planning, and closing mechanics.

PAID AND IN-DEPTH

COMING SOON — Expanded seller resources designed for founders preparing for an exit.

EXPLORE NEXT:

SELL-SIDE M&A COUNSEL
SELL-SIDE TRANSACTIONS

Operator Resources

SCALE WITH SUCCESS

If you’re running a business, legal work should reduce friction and protect what you’re building—entity structure, contracts, governance, and practical risk mitigation that supports growth.

FREE & FOUNDATIONAL

LEGAL MASTERCLASS — A practical overview of core legal building blocks for business owners. (link)
AVOID PIERCING THE CORPORATE VEIL — Governance habits and documentation that help protect owners from personal exposure.
CURATED PODCAST EPISODES (OPERATORS) — Contracts, governance, founder decision-making, and risk allocation in plain English.

PAID AND IN-DEPTH

LEGAL FOUNDATIONS — A structured program for building durable legal infrastructure.
WEBSITE BUNDLE — Templates and tools to support modern business operations and client-facing compliance basics.

EXPLORE NEXT:

CORPORATE LEGAL SERVICES
WHY DEAN STREET LAW

Articles

Browse our on-site library for practical guidance across M&A and corporate law topics. Use filters to match your stage and intent.

Guides & Downloadable Checklists

Short, focused downloads designed to help you execute—whether you’re preparing for a transaction or tightening up business operations.

Each guide includes: title + one-sentence outcome + Best for (Buyer/Seller/Operator) + Download CTA

Course, Templates & Tools

Looking for deeper education or implementation tools? Explore our external library of legal, business, and lifestyle design resources.

Legal + Business + Lifestyle Design — EXPLORE MORE
Custom Legal Services — SERVICES | PRICING | SEND AN INQUIRY

How to Use Our Resources

Ready for a counsel?

If you’re ready to discuss a transaction or corporate project, we can help you map the next steps and propose a defined scope.

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