BriefZero publishes The Brief — sharp, true stories from the business side of running a company: partnerships, investors, franchises, brands, and exits, and the lessons owners can actually use.https://briefzero.com/en-ushttps://briefzero.com/blog/cat-cora-vs-fatbird-when-the-celebrity-stops-getting-paid/https://briefzero.com/blog/cat-cora-vs-fatbird-when-the-celebrity-stops-getting-paid/An Iron Chef, a fried-chicken spot in the Meatpacking District, and a licensing fee that allegedly never arrived. What the Fatbird fight teaches every operator about putting a famous name on the door.Tue, 14 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTBrand & IPlicensingcelebrity chefsbrand dealsNew Yorkhttps://briefzero.com/blog/court-takes-ambiguity-off-the-menu/https://briefzero.com/blog/court-takes-ambiguity-off-the-menu/A downloaded LLC template, a few DIY edits, and years later a buy-sell nobody can read. How courts handle vague agreements, why "fair value" is a six-figure fight, and the clauses you can't afford to leave mushy.Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTPartnerships & Controloperating agreementsbuy-sell provisionsbusiness valuationcontract draftinghttps://briefzero.com/blog/bless-this-mess-when-your-partners-try-to-fire-you-from-your-own-restaurant/https://briefzero.com/blog/bless-this-mess-when-your-partners-try-to-fire-you-from-your-own-restaurant/The locks change, the POS logins die, and the payroll stops — but you still own a third of the place. What happens when your partners fire you from the restaurant you built, and why "owner" and "boss" are not the same word.Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTPartnerships & Controlmember removaloperating agreementsLLCNew Yorkhttps://briefzero.com/blog/the-800k-that-vanished-into-a-management-fee/https://briefzero.com/blog/the-800k-that-vanished-into-a-management-fee/A silent investor writes a big check, the restaurant thrives, and the distributions never come — because the money is leaving through a side door marked "management fee." What minority investors in New York can actually do about a freeze-out.Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTInvestors & Moneyminority investorsfiduciary dutyfreeze-outsNew Yorkhttps://briefzero.com/blog/two-guys-a-restaurant-and-no-operating-agreement/https://briefzero.com/blog/two-guys-a-restaurant-and-no-operating-agreement/A handshake partnership, a hot restaurant, and the four-word question that ends friendships: "who actually owns this?" Why the operating agreement is the most important document you'll ever sign.Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTPartnerships & Controloperating agreementsLLCpartnership disputesNew York