Mo Yang
Aug 2025
G
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
He wasn’t trying to sell me something I didn’t need, but instead gave advice that was truly in my best interest.
Business Partner Buyouts at a Flat Fee
When a partner wants out, know the price up front. Buyout documents and negotiation for Iowa and Texas LLCs, partnerships and corporations, from $950 to $3,490.
Separating From a Partner Does Not Have to Cost an Open-Ended Bill
Partnerships end for ordinary reasons: one owner wants to retire, move on, or stop working in the business. The hard part is rarely the idea of separating. It is the unknowns, including what the buyout will look like, how long it will take, and what the lawyer will bill.
We price partner buyouts as a flat fee, matched to how much work your situation needs. You will know the cost before the work starts.
Common Partner Buyout Situations
Most of the owners who call us are in one of these spots. If you want the background first, start with our guide on how to buy out a business partner. If your partner has stopped talking, disappeared, or may be doing something wrong, see our help with a business partner dispute first.
- A partner wants to retire or move on, and the remaining owners want to keep the business running.
- An LLC member has stopped showing up or contributing. See legal options when an LLC member goes absent.
- You need to remove a member from your LLC, and the answer starts with what your operating agreement says about a partner leaving.
- Two 50/50 owners can no longer agree, and one wants to buy the other out rather than close.
- A shareholder in a small corporation wants to sell their shares back to the company or the other owners.
- The owners are deciding between a buyout and dissolving the partnership altogether.
Three Levels, Matched to Where You Are
Which level fits depends on how much you and your partner already agree on. We will confirm the right one in your free consultation, before you pay anything.
Papers Only
You have agreed on terms and just need the papers
- You and your partner agree on the price and terms
- Attorney-drafted buyout or transfer documents
- Ownership change documented correctly
- Best when there is nothing left to negotiate
Work Through the Details
You are close, but need help with the details
- Help settling the open terms
- Handled as an M&A-style buyout or transfer
- Price, payment terms, and transition addressed in the documents
- Best when you agree on the direction but not every term
$1,800
Book Free Consultation Attorney-to-Attorney Negotiation
It takes negotiation between attorneys
- Silver-level negotiation on your behalf
- Your partner's side is negotiated through counsel
- Resolution documented in a signed agreement
- Best when direct conversations have stalled
$3,490
Book Free Consultation How a Partner Buyout Works
- Free consultation and conflict check. We confirm we can represent you, learn what has been agreed, and recommend a tier.
- Review your agreement. We read your operating, partnership, or shareholder agreement for buyout, withdrawal, and valuation terms that control how a partner leaves.
- Settle the price and terms. The owners agree on the price, often with a CPA or appraiser, plus how and when it is paid. At the negotiation tier, we handle this with your partner’s attorney.
- Draft the documents. The buyout or redemption agreement, amended operating agreement, resignations, and releases, as your situation needs.
- Sign and close. Ownership changes on paper, and any required state filings are updated.
Who We Represent
We represent one side: either one partner, or the company. We never represent both. A buyout puts the two owners on opposite sides of the price, so one lawyer cannot fairly advise both.
Your free consultation includes a conflict check, the same as for our demand letters. If we have already worked with your partner or the company in a way that prevents us from helping you, we will tell you at the start.
What Is Included
- A review of your operating agreement, shareholder agreement, or partnership agreement, if you have one
- Drafting of the buyout, redemption, or transfer documents for your tier
- Resignation and ownership-change paperwork where needed
- Negotiation support at the level you choose
- Coordination with your CPA on structure and timing
What Is Not Included
- Court work or litigation of any kind, including a lawsuit to dissolve the company
- Tax advice or tax return preparation
- Valuation or appraisal of the business
If your situation turns out to need something outside these tiers, we will say so and quote it separately before any additional work starts.
How Long Does It Take?
Timing depends on how much you and your partner agree on and how quickly each side responds. As a general guide:
- When terms are already agreed, drafting is usually quick, often within a couple of weeks.
- When we are working through the details, plan on a few weeks.
- Attorney-to-attorney negotiation typically runs two to three weeks once it starts, and can take longer if the other side is slow to respond.
We will give you a realistic timeline in your consultation. We cannot promise a particular result, because the other owner has a say in the outcome.
Partner Buyout FAQ
Can you represent both of us?
No. We represent one side only, either one partner or the company. A buyout has two sides with different interests, so each owner should have their own lawyer. Your free consultation includes a conflict check, so we confirm we can act for you before you share details.
How do I remove a partner from an LLC?
Start with your operating agreement. Many include withdrawal or buyout terms that say how a member leaves and how their interest is valued. If both members agree, a buyout agreement and an amended operating agreement usually handle it. If the agreement is silent or the member will not agree, your options depend on state law and can be limited, so review them with an attorney before you act.
Do we have to dissolve the business?
Usually not. In a buyout, one owner buys the other's interest and the business keeps operating. Dissolution ends the company and winds down its affairs. If no owner wants to continue, dissolving may be the better fit, and we can talk through both paths in your consultation.
How is the buyout price set?
Check your agreement first, because some set a valuation method or formula. Otherwise the owners agree on a price, often with help from a CPA or business appraiser. We draft the payment terms, such as a lump sum or installments over time. Valuation itself is not part of our flat fee.
What if my partner will not respond?
Tell us in your consultation. Often a letter from an attorney gets a response when direct messages did not, and that is where the attorney-to-attorney tier fits. We will review your agreement for any buy-sell or exit terms that apply. If your partner never engages, the remaining options depend on your agreement and state law, and some of them involve court, which is outside these flat-fee tiers.
What about taxes?
How a buyout is structured can change the tax result for both owners. We are not a tax firm and we do not give tax advice. We coordinate with your CPA so the documents match the structure your CPA recommends. If you do not have a CPA, we can talk through when to bring one in.
Does the flat fee cover the buyout price?
No. The flat fee is our legal fee. The price one partner pays the other is between the owners, and is set by your agreement or by negotiation.
Do you handle businesses in both Iowa and Texas?
Yes. We serve business owners in Iowa and Texas. Each state has its own default rules for LLCs and corporations, which we review for your situation.
Small Businesses Trust Surge Business Law
Google Reviews
Other Dispute Options
In an active dispute with your partner, start with partner dispute help. If you need to put a position in writing first, see our demand letter service. For the full range of flat-fee dispute help, visit business dispute resolution.