Quarterly Compass 10/1/25
Welcome back to “The Quarterly Compass,” the email newsletter of True North Legal Group. This resource is designed for entrepreneurs, small business owners, executives, and business-minded professionals in Northern Michigan.
Every quarter, we’ll head in four directions. First, the “East” section (directly below) will be dedicated to legal updates from TNLG that may be relevant to your venture. Then head “South,” where we’ll highlight a local business or entrepreneur doing great things in Northern Michigan. Out “West,” you’ll find information about future events or developments that may soon impact you, your business, or your employees. Finally, True “North” will include a short, actionable insight for personal or business growth.
No matter your bearing, we hope you’ll find “The Quarterly Compass” to be a helpful resource along the way.
A New Legal Reality
In the wake of national litigation, small businesses cannot rely on others to create legal precedence.
Trump v. CASA
This summer, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Trump v. CASA that changes how businesses interact with the courts. For years, when a regulation or executive order was challenged and blocked, the resulting injunction often applied nationwide. That meant a small business in Traverse City could benefit from relief secured by a large corporation or trade association hundreds of miles away.
Those days are over. The Court effectively ruled that injunctions must now be limited to the parties actually involved in the case. Unless you are a named party in the litigation or directly tied to it through your association, you will still be bound by the rule — even if it has been blocked for someone else.
For small businesses, this has two clear implications. First, the old “wait and see” approach is riskier than ever. If a regulation threatens your operations, you cannot assume someone else will fight it and win protection on your behalf. You may need to act — and act early — to protect your interests. Second, this decision elevates the importance of joining the right associations and coalitions. Trade groups, chambers of commerce, and professional networks can provide a collective voice in litigation and policy challenges. For many small companies, that is the most practical way to ensure your concerns are represented when it matters most.
The Changing Burden
Consider a few concrete scenarios. If the Department of Labor raises the salary threshold for overtime exemptions, small businesses relying on salaried managers may suddenly face higher payroll costs. If the EPA changes construction permitting standards, contractors and builders in Northern Michigan could see delays and compliance expenses spike. Under the old rules, you might wait to see whether a national case secured relief. Now, you may be left carrying the full weight unless you are part of the legal challenge.
Action Steps for Small Businesses
What should you do today? Three steps stand out.
-
One: audit your exposure. Look at the agencies most likely to regulate your business and identify which pending rules could affect you.
-
Two: strengthen your affiliations. Make sure you are an active member of associations that litigate or advocate on your behalf.
-
And three: build a relationship with counsel who can respond quickly if a new rule lands on your desk.
At True North Legal Group, we often remind clients that being small is not the same as being unprepared. In this new legal environment, preparedness means staying plugged in, choosing your allies wisely, and refusing to leave your fate in someone else’s hands.
Immaculate Home: Managing Space for What Matters Most
On the first Friday of every month, a small, motivated, and pioneering group of entrepreneurs meets to share stories, make connections, and collectively navigate business hurdles. This gathering—sponsored by the Michigan Founders Fund and now hosted at ELEV8 Climbing Gym—is where I first met Emily Dodds, Founder of Immaculate Home. I was immediately drawn to her high-energy and action-oriented personality, and we’re excited to be working with her as she continues to grow Immaculate Home into Northern Michigan’s premier luxury home and lifestyle management firm.
Learn more about Emily and her growing business in the following Q&A:
Q: What inspired you to build your life and your business in Northern Michigan?
I didn’t plan to uproot my life and land here. My sister had moved from Aspen, and after a few visits with my son, I felt something shifting. I asked for a sign, and that Sunday at church, the new series was called Move. That was that. At first, I thought this place would be temporary — nursing school, my son off to college, maybe a sabbatical in Spain. But the side gig I started to ‘buy back my time’ turned into something much bigger. The more I leaned into helping people in their homes, the more I realized this was the work I was meant to do.
Q: What are the key characteristics of our community that have helped you launch and grow?
Traverse City is its own kind of place — a little idealist, a little underground. Change doesn’t happen until the community accepts you, and that doesn’t really happen until you accept it. Once you do, the support is relational and lasting. People notice how you show up — not just what you do, but how you do it. Word of mouth isn’t just marketing here; it’s trust being passed from one family to another. That spirit shaped Immaculate Home from the beginning. Our model rests on a simple idea: focus on what lights you up, and let us take care of the rest.
Q: What excites you about the next twelve months for Immaculate Home?
Expansion isn’t about growth for the sake of growth — it’s about helping more households live with fewer burdens and more presence. We’re building an educational infrastructure to reframe the estate management industry and show that in-home work is skilled work. We’ve even caught the attention of the EPA as we develop safe-air protocols for post-construction spaces. At the end of the day, though, it always comes back to people. The families who open their doors to us, the trust that builds, the quiet satisfaction of knowing their lives feel lighter because we’re there. That’s what keeps us moving.
Could you use a little more space in your life, while trusting others to care for the space you call home? Learn more about Emily and Immaculate Home at www.myimmaculatehome.com.
Licensing and Year-End Shifts Ahead
The final quarter of the year will bring regulatory shifts worth watching. In Lansing, lawmakers are weighing updates to occupational licensing — including proposals to reduce the training hours required for cosmetology and barbering, modernize contractor and electrician renewals, and expand recognition of out-of-state licenses in fields like nursing and HVAC. For small businesses, these changes could mean faster hiring pipelines but also fresh competition as more workers enter the Michigan market.
Nationally, the Supreme Court begins a term packed with cases that may reshape the landscape for business. At issue are Trump-era tariffs, the independence of federal agencies, and EPA permitting standards that could affect construction and development across Northern Michigan. Together, these decisions could alter compliance costs, workforce availability, and the timing of major projects. For small businesses, the close of 2025 isn’t just about year-end books — it’s about preparing for a policy environment that’s moving quickly underfoot.
The Book That Keeps Pulling Me Back
Most weekends start the same way for me — a strong cup of coffee and a nonfiction book that sharpens how I think about business and life. One I keep coming back to is Paul Jarvis’ Company of One. Its central message is simple but powerful: growth is not an obligation. Bigger isn’t always better. Jarvis argues that a business can thrive by staying small, intentional, and deeply connected to the people it serves. Each time I revisit it, I’m reminded that the most strategic move isn’t always to scale, but to protect focus, margins, and relationships. As we close out 2025, that reminder feels especially timely — our True North is less about chasing size and more about preserving what makes our work and our lives meaningful.
Thank you for reading “The Quarterly Compass,” the email newsletter of True North Legal Group designed to help small business owners, entrepreneurs, executives, and business-minded professionals in Northern Michigan.