Why
CorpNet
The Launch Blog: Expert Advice from the CorpNet Team
Why You Should Keep Business and Personal Finances Separate
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about keeping business and personal finances separate. Truthfully, most entrepreneurs tap into their personal savings to start their businesses, so opening separate bank accounts isn’t their top priority when there are so many other things to handle. However, not maintaining independent business and personal bank accounts can cause all sorts of bookkeeping confusion and tax hassles—and who has the time to deal with all that? So here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions about having separate bank accounts for personal and business use. What [...]
What Is a Biennial Report?
Most states require limited liability companies (LLCs) and corporations to submit some form of ongoing business entity filing. While many states require these filings annually (i.e., “annual reports”), several require these types of reports biennially (every two years) rather than every year. A biennial report allows the state’s Secretary of State office (or comparable government office) to keep up to date with a company’s vital information. States also require that businesses pay a fee when submitting the filing. States set the due dates by which businesses must file their biennial reports. The filing schedules [...]
Noncommercial vs. Commercial Registered Agent
If you've been considering forming a business (or already have started one), you've probably have heard the term registered agent. Alternate names include statutory agent, agent for service of process, or resident agent. A registered agent is a designated party located within the state that a business has authorized to accept "service of process" (notice of lawsuits) and essential correspondence from the state on its behalf. Essentially, there are two types of registered agents – commercial and noncommercial. So, what's the difference between a commercial and noncommercial registered agent? And which one should a [...]
What Are Like-Kind Exchanges?
If you’re a property owner, you probably know how a like-kind exchange works, but in case the term is new to you, here’s what you need to know. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), a like-kind exchange (also called a 1031 exchange) is: When you exchange real property used for business or held as an investment solely for other business or investment property that is the same type or like-kind. The 1031 exchange, named for Section 1031 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, permits a property seller to avoid paying capital gains taxes [...]
West Virginia Annual Report: Are You in Compliance?
Most types of businesses operating in West Virginia must file an annual report with the Secretary of State Office to keep their company records updated. The deadline for submitting the report, along with the associated filing fee, is July 1 each year after the initial registration of the business entity. Business owners in West Virginia (and those wishing to expand operations from another state to WV) can benefit from talking with an attorney and accountant or tax advisor about whether they need to submit an annual report. Moreover, consulting with trusted professionals can shed [...]
10 Ways to Take Care of Your Kids and Your Business This Summer
School’s out! Chances are your kids are celebrating right now because weeks of summer vacation beckon. But, if you’re starting a business or running a business, and you have school-aged children, you’re likely feeling a little conflicted. Entrepreneurs like you and me struggle a bit in the summer—trying to balance our desire to be great business owners—and great parents. While I love (and truthfully look forward to) having my kids at home during the summer months, I confess it’s getting increasingly harder to keep them occupied while I’m hard at work. I know this is a [...]
The Right Way to Terminate a Partnership Agreement
There are many reasons why you'd want to terminate a partnership agreement. The goals of one or both partners have changed, your working styles are incompatible, or there are fundamental disagreements about business operations and decisions. Whatever the reason, the partners must understand and follow the correct procedures and regulations for partnership termination, so all parties are legally separated from liability. What is a Partnership? A partnership is a legal entity where two (or more) people own and operate a business, and each partner owns a percentage of the assets and liabilities of the company. [...]
Professional Corporation Vs. Professional LLC
A professional corporation and a professional LLC are business entities that licensed professionals may wish, or be required, to form. Generally, professions that form professional LLCs or professional corporations include: Attorneys and law firms Accountants and CPAs Physicians Engineers Architects Psychologists Chiropractors Dentists Veterinarians Social workers Real estate agents In this article, I'll explain some of the characteristics of the professional LLC (PLLC) and professional corporation (PC) business structures, show how they are similar, and show how they differ from each other. I’ll also discuss some of the potential pros and cons of each. [...]
Fathers Know Best: Entrepreneurial Dads Share Their Business Wisdom
Some people are lucky enough to grow up in an entrepreneurial family. I am one of the lucky ones. I learned so much from working with my grandfather at his small businesses when I was younger. I mean, what could be better than working at an ice cream store? Inspired by that, my husband Phil and I make sure we share the lessons and joys of entrepreneurship with our children. With that in mind, and in honor of Father’s Day, we talked to several entrepreneurial fathers to find out what they learned from their dads [...]
How to Change from a Sole Proprietor to an LLC
It's estimated that over 70% of U.S. businesses operate as sole proprietors. That's not surprising, considering that doing so requires no formal business registration forms, few compliance requirements, and income tax reporting simplicity. But as businesses grow and evolve, their owners may decide to change from a sole proprietorship to an LLC. Many choose the limited liability company (LLC) structure because it offers nearly the same ease of administration as a sole proprietorship while providing some important advantages. In today's post, we'll review these advantages and walk through how to change from sole proprietor [...]
Kentucky Annual Reports: When They’re Due and How to File Them
In Kentucky, limited liability companies, C corporations, limited partnerships, and business trusts must file an "annual report" with the Kentucky Secretary of State office. Kentucky annual reports allow the State to provide accurate information to the public about the business entities registered there. Registered entities must file their annual report by June 30 each year—even if they had no business activity or income. Businesses operating as sole proprietors or general partnerships do not have to file annual reports in Kentucky. When Annual Reports Are Due in Kentucky The Kentucky annual report due date, regardless [...]
As a Business Owner, Can I Have Multiple LLCs?
Once entrepreneurs taste what it's like to be their own boss and carve their own career path, some decide to pursue starting multiple businesses. Depending on the situation, owning multiple Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) might make sense. Which leads to the question, how many LLCs can someone have? The short answer is there are no particular limits on how many LLCs someone may form, provided they meet all of the eligibility criteria to be an LLC member and comply with all of the federal, state, and local government rules and regulations for operating an [...]
What Is a Certificate of Authority?
You may have heard the term Certificate of Authority, but what is it? Well, it can refer to a few different things! I'll discuss the various types of Certificates of Authority in this article to give you some general information about what they are and when they are typically required. I encourage you to check with your attorney and accountant or tax advisor for legal and tax advice to determine if your business needs any of them. 1. Conducting Business in Another State Certificate of Authority is known as a foreign qualification when speaking of [...]
Michigan Annual Report Filing for LLCs and Corporations
The state of Michigan requires all business owners of limited liability companies (LLC) and corporations to file an annual report. An annual report is a filing that helps ensure the state's records about a business entity are accurate. Michigan has specific due dates for filing annual reports, so entrepreneurs need to stay on top of the deadlines and get their paperwork turned in on time. Submitting annual reports is one of the compliance tasks required to keep business entities in good standing with the state. In this post, we’ll cover general details about Michigan’s [...]
The Corporate Veil: What it is and Why You Don’t Want to Pierce it
What Is Piercing the Corporate Veil? Businesses that are registered as limited liability companies (LLCs) or corporations provide their owners with protection against being held personally liable for the company’s debts and claims. That legal shield of separation between a business and its owners is known as the “corporate veil.” Under that shield (under most circumstances) the owners’ personal assets (home, property, bank accounts, retirement savings, etc.) cannot be taken to settle debts and lawsuits brought against the business. However, personal liability protection is not guaranteed if entrepreneurs do something (or fail to do [...]