A Dissolutionary Tale

The afternoon sun was beaming through the front windows of Pretty Bird, illuminating the steam rising from Cherry’s chamomile tea. For thirty-five years, Cherry’s Beauty Supply had been a staple on the avenue—the place where three generations of local salon owners bought their shears, rollers, and custom dye mixes. But today, Cherry looked tired. She…

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Red, White, and Boomed

The air at Pretty Bird was thick with the scent of roasted beans. Marco, owner of Fix It in Post, was leaning over a bistro table, trying to sound like a founding father of the gig economy. “It’s about independence, Shawn! That’s why we’re signing this on the Fourth of July. You’re an independent contractor.…

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Proofing the Paperwork

The smell of burnt sugar and panic hung heavy in the air at Pretty Bird. Ani, the owner of Glendale’s “The Glendough” bakery, was staring at a thick stack of papers on the bistro table as if they were written in ancient hieroglyphs. Across from her sat a pristine, untouched croissant. “It’s just a bridge…

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The Big Stretch: A Franchise Fable

Lawna Yoga

Leo sat at a corner table at Pretty Bird, staring with intensity at a fifty-page document until the words started to look like abstract art. Was this all really necessary in order to open a yoga studio? “Just sign the thing so we can be neighbors!” Jeff said as he slid a fresh oat milk…

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The Entity Type Rabbit Hole

The Entity Type Rabbit Hole

The space that would become Pretty Bird currently smelled like wet drywall and Jeff’s flagging optimism. Jeff stood in the center of the dusty room, glaring at a cracked linoleum floor as if he could intimidate it into becoming a thriving espresso bar. “Step one: Buy a high-end espresso machine,” Jeff muttered, checking a crumpled…

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Lawna Tackles SB 988: The Freelance Worker Protection Act

Lawna

The sun was shining brightly in Echo Park. Or maybe it was just Julie’s sequined top. She was scattering sunshine through the drab interior of Pretty Bird like a red-hued disco ball, occasionally blinding the barista and the other customers.  “Okay,” Jeff said. “Let’s see what you’ve got.” The owner of Pretty Bird was gruff,…

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New Law Alert: California Consumers Legal Remedy Act

Effective July 1, 2024, California’s new “Honest Pricing Law” (SB 478) will significantly change how businesses disclose pricing to consumers. SB 478 aims to increase price transparency by prohibiting the practice of adding surprise fees to a transaction at checkout. Businesses will now be required to disclose all mandatory fees in the advertised price of…

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