Small-to-midsize businesses (SMBs) are not immune to compliance risks.
To manage those risks, businesses must develop compliance programs that are specific and effective. That can be done by analyzing the five Ws (and one H).
What: ?? A business must first address the purpose of a compliance program. This includes the business history, its assets, and the compliance risks affecting the business.
Why: ??? Utilizing resources for compliance instead of sales and marketing is frequently a concern. But this is the wrong focus. Compliance programs can strengthen culture, reduce risk, and increase market share.
Who: ??? A compliance program for a SMB must have employee buy-in to be effective. Business leadership must provide the proper tone and reiterate the value provided by compliance programming.
When: ? There is no time like the present, particularly when a compliance program can provide immediate value to a company’s culture and bottom-line.
Where:Compliance risk is determined by location, industry, customers and vendors. It is helpful to partner with counsel to address the risks associated with a geographic profile.
How:????? An effective compliance program should include a risk assessment, formal policies, employee training, and regular auditing and enforcement. These elements can often be integrated into existing structures with minimal costs.
Bryan Feldhaus is a shareholder at Lommen Abdo. He represents clients in commercial litigation, professional liability litigation, and business litigation. Mr. Feldhaus also recently obtained his LL.M. degree in Corporate Compliance and Organizational Ethics from the University of St. Thomas School of Law. He assists clients in compliance, regulatory and ethics matters, which includes litigating compliance disputes, representing clients in data privacy matters, and advising clients about mitigating compliance and ethical risks.
Lommen Abdo tackles the challenges entrepreneurs, closely held and family businesses face today. If compliance and cyber security issues keep you awake at night, Lommen Abdo can help.? We combine legal expertise, practical business sense and a client-centric focus. One client states: “Lommen Abdo provides valuable services at cost-effective rates to their clients. Their knowledge and experience is outstanding and only eclipsed by their compassion and desire to exceed the expectations of their clients.”
Bryan Feldhaus
Attorney/Shareholder
612-336-4389