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Nellie Akalp

About Nellie Akalp

Nellie Akalp is an entrepreneur, small business expert, speaker, and mother of four amazing kids. As CEO of CorpNet.com, she has helped more than half a million entrepreneurs launch their businesses. Akalp is nationally recognized as one of the most prominent experts on small business legal matters, contributing frequently to outlets like Entrepreneur, Forbes, Huffington Post, Mashable, and Fox Small Business. A passionate entrepreneur herself, Akalp is committed to helping others take the reigns and dive into small business ownership. Through her public speaking, media appearances, and frequent blogging, she has developed a strong following within the small business community and has been honored as a Small Business Influencer Champion three years in a row.

Business Closures, Dissolutions, and Withdrawals

It has been a rough year for businesses across the country, but especially so for small businesses. According to recent Yelp data, 60% of business closures due to the coronavirus pandemic are permanent. Companies of all sizes have had to close some or many of their locations. Has your business suffered losses this year?

Whether you’ve had to close down entirely or shutter locations in other states, it’s crucial you legally close your business so there are no repercussions down the road. Here’s what you need to know about business dissolutions and withdrawals […]

2020-11-09T06:16:51-08:00October 20th, 2020|Categories: Maturity and Exit|

Business Name Vs. Trademark

What’s the Difference Between a Registered Business Name and a Trademark?

One of the first decisions new entrepreneurs make is what they will call their business. A lot, including brand recognition, rides on a business name, so naturally, it’s something business owners want to consider carefully.

On occasion, people have asked me how a business name and trademark are different. Generally speaking:

  • A business name is just that, a name a company calls itself and by which the public recognizes it.
  • A trademark, as defined by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO),  is […]
2020-10-19T06:42:14-07:00October 19th, 2020|Categories: Ongoing Management and Protection|

The What, Why, and How of Incorporating Out of State

A lot of entrepreneurs wonder what state should be used to incorporate a new business. Is it their own state or maybe another state like Delaware or Nevada? There is no easy answer to that question, however, there are definite benefits for some businesses to incorporate in states other than where they conduct business.

Some existing businesses may also consider registering out of state due to compliance considerations that arise from multistate business activities or employees.

These two different situations result in what is called foreign qualification. Foreign qualification is simply the process of […]

2020-11-09T06:17:33-08:00October 7th, 2020|Categories: Startup and Launch|

What You Need to Know About Collecting Sales Tax

Before a retailer or service provider can open for business, they first must get approval from the state for sales tax registration. Not all states charge sales tax, and not all products and services are taxable, so it’s essential to learn the facts before you find yourself in compliance hot water. Here’s what to know about your business’s responsibilities regarding the collection of sales taxes.

Sales Tax Vary by State and Sometimes by County

Currently, forty-five states and the District of Columbia collect statewide sales taxes, while five states do not have a statewide […]

2020-10-07T05:55:44-07:00October 7th, 2020|Categories: Ongoing Management and Protection|

Payroll Taxes 101

Whether you’re a sole proprietor and your company’s only employee, or a corporation with 40 employees, you are responsible for collecting and paying employment taxes to federal and state tax agencies. However, while federal payroll taxes are the same no matter where your business is located, state employment taxes differ according to income tax rates in the various states.

Payroll taxes can be a bit confusing and overwhelming to new business owners. In today’s article, I’ll break down payroll taxes so you know all the ins and outs of keeping your business in […]

2021-02-08T07:17:23-08:00October 6th, 2020|Categories: Ongoing Management and Protection|

Seven Steps to Creating a Business Emergency Preparedness Checklist

It’s an understatement to say that 2020 has been a tumultuous year. Nearly every business has felt the pandemic’s economic effects, and many have faced natural disasters (such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires).

With CorpNet’s location in southern California, I relate first-hand to the challenges that entrepreneurs have faced. Our office had to temporarily close last year because of a wildfire. Then this year, COVID-19 hit, and we again had to shut down work at our business location and pivot to operating remotely. Currently, I, my husband, and our 20+ employees are still […]

2020-09-15T10:57:41-07:00September 15th, 2020|Categories: Ongoing Management and Protection|

How to Legally Start a Food Truck Business

According to IBISWorld, the food truck industry has 25,476 businesses in 2020. Growth in the industry from 2015 to 2020 averaged 8.7 percent. With the COVID-19 crisis a reality now, arguably, the food truck industry may be better suited than brick and mortar restaurants to navigate the challenges. With more people consuming take-out food and spending less time in sit-down establishments, food trucks may appeal to customers’ desires for getting good food fast and with less person-to-person contact.

In this article, I’ll share insight to get you headed down the right road on […]

2020-09-28T11:43:30-07:00September 1st, 2020|Categories: Startup and Launch|

7 Ways Your Business Can Crush It During COVID-19

Every business owner hopes to reach the peak of business success. You know, when you’re just crushing it—when smooth operations and growing profits allow you to breathe a satisfied sigh of contentment and pride. This year that feeling may seem farther from your reach than ever. A slower economy and a world trapped in daily self-distance protocols may leave you feeling directionless and disconnected.

But, remember what Albert Einstein once said, “In the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity.”

Here are seven ways to ride out the pandemic and come out on top.

1. […]

2020-09-01T10:04:39-07:00September 1st, 2020|Categories: Growth and Expansion|

Back to School, Back to Your Business

For most of the country, school is back in session or at least just a few weeks away. In some cities, students may be returning to a hybrid model, which is some in-class time combined with online learning. Others may remain completely virtual until 2021. For entrepreneurial parents, that means performing a balancing act of running your own business and making sure sales are on the rebound, while also ensuring your child is engaged online, following new protocols, and keeping up with assignments.

When COVID-19 shut down most schools last March, teachers and […]

2020-09-01T09:36:19-07:00September 1st, 2020|Categories: Ongoing Management and Protection|
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