A quick-service restaurant transaction can look simple from the outside: agree on a price, sign an asset purchase agreement, and plan the handoff. In practice, buying or selling a California QSR often depends on several third parties, approvals, and legal documents moving in the right order. A missed lease requirement, delayed franchisor approval, or unresolved…

A 2026 Structure and Governance Checkup Many businesses begin with a quick LLC filing, a standard operating agreement, and an informal understanding among the owners. That may be enough to open the doors. It may not be enough when the company adds investors, purchases real estate, admits a new partner, opens another location, signs a…

California employers have another mid-year wage compliance deadline approaching. On July 1, 2026, several local minimum wage increases take effect across the state, along with new or increased wage obligations for covered hotel, hospitality, event center, and healthcare employees. For business owners and managers, the key issue is not just knowing the new numbers. It…

California hotel operators should take a fresh look at their policies for renting rooms to unaccompanied minors. Recent demand letters aimed at California hotels have raised concerns about blanket age-based rental restrictions, especially where those policies appear on hotel websites, third-party booking platforms, or brand-controlled reservation pages. For hotel owners, general managers, and hospitality operators,…

If you have been thinking about buying a business, or preparing to sell one, there is an important SBA development worth watching closely. Effective July 4, 2026, eligible borrowers will be able to combine an SBA 7(a) loan and an SBA 504 loan for up to $10 million in total SBA-backed financing. That is double…

Purchasing commercial real estate in California is one of the largest financial commitments a business owner or investor can make. Whether you are acquiring a retail center in San Diego, repositioning an office building for conversion, or purchasing a hospitality asset along the coast, the due diligence period is your best opportunity to uncover risks,…

On April 1, 2026, the Ninth Circuit issued an important decision for California employers in O’Dell v. Aya Healthcare Services, Inc. The court ruled that plaintiffs cannot use a few mixed decisions about arbitration agreements to knock out arbitration for an entire class of employees. In other words, just because an employer loses on arbitration with some…

Operating a hotel in California means managing risk in one of the most plaintiff-friendly legal environments in the country. From slip-and-fall accidents near pools to assaults in dimly lit parking structures, hotel owners and managers face a higher duty of care than many other businesses. For California hotel operators, understanding where liability exposure exists and…

Protecting Your Investment Before You Sign Entering into a franchise agreement is one of the most significant business decisions you will ever make. It’s not just a contract—it’s a long-term relationship, often lasting 15 to 20 years, that will shape your financial future and operational freedom. At DPA Attorneys at Law, we represent franchisees with one…