Nellie Akalp

A pioneer in the online legal document filing space since 1997, Nellie has helped more than half a million small businesses and licensed professionals start and maintain companies across the United States, most recently through her Inc.5000 recognized company, CorpNet. She closely follows trends in the industry and shares her wealth of knowledge across various CPA and small business communities, establishing Nellie as one of the most prominent influential experts on business startup and compliance matters.

Can a Minor Own an LLC?

There are stories all over the internet about kids and teenagers who have started businesses and are operating successfully as entrepreneurs. Sisters Caroline and Isabel Bercaw started making bath bombs in their basement in Minneapolis when they were 11 and 12...

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The Best States to Form a Foreign LLC

While most entrepreneurs choose to register a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in the state where they live and plan to operate, some take a different path and form their LLCs in a state other than their own. This entity is referred to as a foreign LLC. Certain...

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Should My LLC Be My Name?

If you’re starting a business and planning to operate it as a Limited Liability Company (LLC), you may be struggling to decide what to name your company. Should you include your personal name, or would it be better to register a more conceptual or catchy name as...

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Nonprofit Corporation vs. 501(c)(3)

People often use the terms “nonprofit corporation” and “501(c)(3)” synonymously. However, they don’t necessarily mean the same thing, and it’s important to know the distinction if you plan to operate as a nonprofit organization. A Nonprofit Corporation is a...

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What Happens if You Fail to Submit Your Annual Report?

Nearly every U.S. state requires Limited Liability Companies, C Corporations, and other registered business entities to complete and file some form of an Annual Report. Annual Reports are intended to keep state officials up to date with contact information for your...

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Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirements Are Back In Effect

After a temporary halt in the requirement to submit beneficial ownership information reports (BOIR) to the federal government, FinCEN has announced that the reporting obligations under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) are again mandatory. What Does This Mean...

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12 Examples of Sole Proprietorships

A large range of businesses operate as Sole Proprietorships – a type of business entity that has one person, or a married couple, as its owner and operator. In fact, there are more Sole Proprietorships in the United States than any other type of business structure,...

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How to Start Your Own Business

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that more than 5.5 million new business applications were filed in the United States in 2023. This record number has continued to grow since the surged started in 2020. If you’re one of the millions of Americans with a dream of...

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Forming a Sole Proprietorship

If you’re looking to start your own business, a Sole Proprietorship is an easy way to get started. A Sole Proprietorship is a simple business entity in which one person, or a married couple, acts as the sole owner and operator. Unlike a C Corporation or Limited...

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Business License vs. Permit

You might hear the terms “business license” and “business permit” used interchangeably. Although they are similar in that a company may need them to conduct business in a particular area, they aren’t exactly the same. Business licenses and permits help ensure that...

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When Do You Need to Start Paying Sales Tax on Online Sales?

Understanding sales tax responsibilities can be confusing. For businesses with a brick-and-mortar storefront, it’s relatively straightforward. However, the rules get hazy when selling online to customers in other states. Let's review what you need to know about...

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Business Filings for Growing Your Company

Are you aspiring to elevate your business to the next level? Are you expanding your products and services, bringing in new partners, entering into new markets, or adding employees? You might want to complete some important business filings before you take those...

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How to Change Your LLC Address

If your Limited Liability Company (LLC) has outgrown its space or you’ve been operating from your home and are ready to move the business to another location, you’ll need to notify certain parties of your address change and update your operating agreement. Changing...

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Delaware LLC Franchise Tax

Delaware is known as a business-friendly state for such reasons including its lack of residency requirements, favorable tax structures, legal flexibility, privacy protections, and other advantages. A less friendly aspect of having your LLC based in Delaware is its...

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State of Colorado Periodic Report

All Corporations, Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), Non-Profit Corporations, and foreign entities registered to conduct business in the State of Colorado must file a periodic report each year with the Colorado Secretary of State’s Business Division. The intent of...

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FinCEN Announces that BOI Reporting Is Voluntary (For Now Anyway)

If you’re feeling a bit of whiplash from the wild ride that is the federal court activity related to the Corporate Transparency Act’s Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting (BOIR) Rule, we understand! Just days after FinCEN announced on December 23, 2024 that...

Breaking New: BOI Reporting Changes

The S Corporation Election Deadline is Right Around the Corner

The S Corporation election deadline for LLCs and C Corporations is March 17, 2025. So, if you’re considering changing your limited liability company or C Corporation tax treatment from its default status to an S Corporation, time is of the essence! To be considered...

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Can a Single-Member LLC Add Members?

If you’re wondering if you can bring additional members into your single-member LLC, the answer if yes. There are steps you can take to add members, at which point your business would become a multi-member LLC. There’s more to that question than you might think,...

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