If you are going to hire an associate, it is vital that you have a non-compete agreement in place to protect yourself and your business. In regards to a future sale of your business, NO buyer is going to purchase your practice if your associates in there are working with no contracts. Getting a non-compete agreement after an associate is already in place is no easy task, cover yourself on the front end. Lastly, this non-compete needs to be assignable or transferable. Unless specified, it may not ‘transfer’ over to a potential buyer.