Distribution Agreements, Explained: Territory, Quotas, MAP Pricing, and Exit Terms
Exclusive territory, purchase quotas, MAP pricing, trademark control, and sell-off rights decide who bears the cost when a distribution relationship ends.
#antitrust
Antitrust
Antitrust and competition law compliance for small businesses, including algorithmic pricing, price-fixing risk, and regulatory enforcement
The $38 Billion Visa–Mastercard Swipe-Fee Settlement: What Small Businesses Can Now Surcharge, Decline, and Discount at the Register
In June 2026 a federal judge preliminarily approved the $38 billion Visa–Mastercard settlement, cutting average credit interchange by about 0.1 point for five years, capping standard consumer cards at 1.25% for eight years, and — with no sunset date — letting merchants surcharge by card type or decline premium card categories. Here is what the settlement permits, which states still ban or cap surcharging, and the network compliance checklist to follow before changing point-of-sale pricing.
The Agri Stats Consent Decree: New Antitrust Rules for Benchmarking and Industry Data Sharing
The DOJ's May 2026 consent decree with Agri Stats sets concrete rules for lawful benchmarking — pricing data must average 45+ days old, output data 90+ days, reports must be quartile-aggregated and equally available to all buyers. Here's what the settlement means for any small business in a trade-association survey or industry pricing dashboard.
The Egg Price-Fixing Settlement: What Small Food Businesses Should Learn From It
In June 2026, the DOJ and 17 states settled with Cal-Maine, Versova, and Hickman's for $3.3 million over alleged manipulation of the Urner Barry egg price index from 2022 to 2025 — a period when the three producers earned an estimated $1.22 billion. Here's what bakeries, diners, and grocers should do now, from pulling 2022–2025 purchase records to checking contracts for index-linked pricing clauses.
The FTC's Caremark Settlement: What Cost-Plus Reimbursement Means for Independent Pharmacy Books
The FTC's July 2026 settlement with CVS Caremark requires a cost-plus reimbursement option, point-of-sale rebate pass-through, and delinked PBM fees. Here is how independent pharmacies should model the switch, track DIR clawbacks, and keep reimbursement data auditable.
Stripe and Advent's $53.4 Billion Bid for PayPal: What It Means for Your Merchant Fees
Stripe and Advent International offered $60.50 a share — about $53.4 billion — to buy PayPal, a deal that would merge processors handling $3.7 trillion in annual volume. History shows consolidation like Global Payments-Worldpay raised merchant costs through padded fees, so here are four concrete steps to protect your processing costs now.
The FTC's Record $12 Million HSR Penalty: What Acquisitive Small Businesses Need to Know About Merger Filing Thresholds
On July 13, 2026, the FTC and DOJ obtained a record $12 million civil penalty from Edwards Lifesciences and Genesis MedTech for structuring a $115 million acquisition with a $25 million non-voting side investment to stay under the Hart-Scott-Rodino filing threshold. This guide explains the 2026 HSR thresholds — $133.9 million size-of-transaction and the size-of-person test — and why roll-ups, PE-backed platforms, and deals structured to "just miss" the line carry real filing risk.
The Robinson-Patman Act Is Back: What a Wine Distributor's Antitrust Fight Means for Every Small Retailer
The FTC's December 2024 Robinson-Patman suit against Southern Glazer's — the first in decades to survive a motion to dismiss — revives a 1936 law barring suppliers from charging small retailers more than big chains for identical goods. What the Act covers, its cost-justification defenses, and the purchase records independent retailers should keep now.
App Store External Purchase Links: The 2026 Accounting Guide for iOS Developers
US iOS developers can currently run external purchase links at 0% Apple commission while courts settle a replacement rate. This guide covers the bookkeeping fallout — the merchant-of-record shift, sales tax nexus, reconciling two 1099s, and Apple's 15-day transaction reporting rule.
Algorithmic Pricing and Antitrust Risk: A 2026 Compliance Guide for Small Businesses
DOJ's 2025 RealPage settlement and new 2026 laws in New York, Maryland, and California mean small businesses using algorithmic pricing tools — from Amazon repricers to short-term rental software — now face real antitrust and disclosure compliance risk, not just large landlords.