Ongoing Management and Protection

A DBA, also referred to as Doing Business As, a fictitious name, or a trade name, is a name a business uses that’s different from the legal name of the company. It’s common for an individual who wants to start a business as a Sole Proprietor to register a DBA...

Whether you’re a Sole Proprietor with only a handful of workers or a corporation with hundreds of 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...

If you’ve been operating a business as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) and you’re thinking about converting to a nonprofit, there are certain steps you’ll need to take to accomplish that. It varies depending on your state, but in many cases, you won’t be allowed...

The S Corporation election deadline for LLCs and C Corporations is March 16, 2026. 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...

If you are considering electing S Corporation status you might wonder how this will impact your existing LLC or C Corporation. One question that comes to mind quickly is the continued ability to use LLC or Inc with a business name. S Corporation election is a tax...

A reseller license certifies a company doesn't have to pay sales tax when buying products on a wholesale basis for the purpose of reselling them to customers. In this scenario, the final sale customer pays sales tax when they purchase those products from the...

The owner of a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or Corporation might consider being their own registered agent since it eliminates the cost of contracting another party to accept service of process and other official notifications on the business’s behalf. However,...

Every small business is expected to remain in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and standards. Not doing so can be highly detrimental to your business, resulting in penalties and costly fines, damaged reputation, disrupted business performance,...

As we move into the fall and winter months it's time to begin thinking of year-end compliance responsibilities and business activities. We'd like to help you prepare for the year-end and we want to help you get all your legal ducks in a row. To assist in these...

Many state governments require LLCs, Corporations, and other registered business entities to file annual reports each year. And some Secretary of State (or comparable agency) offices may require these types of reports to be filed according to different timeframes...

Although most of the year has already passed and we’re now into the autumn season, don’t panic if your business has fallen a little bit behind on its goals. It’s not too late to make changes that can help lead to a strong finish in 2025. Whether you’ve just started...

Do you know if your DBA needs to be renewed? If so, do you know the date it will expire if you don’t take action? Whether you need to renew your DBA depends on where you live. Rules pertaining to DBAs vary from state to state and among some local governments, so...

If your business is set up and registered as a Corporation, you’re required by law to hold an annual shareholder meeting and to document the meeting with minutes. Annual shareholder meetings, sometimes referred to as annual general meetings, are intended to give...

Many Washington businesses will be affected by new retail sales taxes on previously untaxed services, including sales of custom software, some advertising services, temporary staffing services, and live presentations. Officials say the changes will generate more...

When entrepreneurs want to expand their businesses, they face the important decision of how to structure that growth. One approach is to form a separate company under another registered business entity. Some restrictions exist and small business owners may be...

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA, or more formally known as Public Law 119-21) implements some tax code changes that could have a significant impact on businesses and their owners. Signed into law on July 4, 2025, the OBBBA contains a combination of new tax...

What business owners should know about annual meeting minutes for corporations. What are they, who must have them, and how do you create them?

Payroll refers to the various tasks and responsibilities businesses must perform to pay their employees accurately and on time. It encompasses calculating wages and salaries; preparing checks or paying employees via direct deposit; withholding taxes and other...

Most entrepreneurs realize the importance of choosing a great name for their business, but many are less aware of how important it is to protect that name. Your business name is important, as it identifies your brand. It helps you build a business reputation and...

Apostille and authentication certificates serve the similar purpose of authenticating official government-issued documents (such as a business’s Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization). They certify the origin of documents and the authenticity of the...

Among an employer’s obligations are payroll taxes and other employment related details, such as FICA and income tax withholdings, federal and state unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation insurance. But is every business with employees responsible for...

Now that we’re at the mid-way point of 2025, it’s an ideal time to revisit the compliance deadlines you need to keep an eye on and assess your business to determine if you should make some changes to fuel its success. Here’s a checklist to help you stay on track...

The State of Delaware will require all Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) and Corporations to re-register their trade names, also known as DBAs. The move is aimed at making the registration process easier and eliminating a backlog of trade names that were not...

A corporation has three main categories of stakeholders involved in the financial and management aspects of the company. While all play a crucial role, officers work more closely with a corporation’s managers and supervisors, arguably having a more direct impact on...

With any investment property, liabilities come with the territory. Faulty electrical wiring, broken stairway railings, black mold, and other possible flaws are all inherent threats. It’s no wonder savvy real estate investors decide to form LLCs (Limited Liability...

If you’re operating your business as a Partnership, you may be wondering if it’s possible to change to an S Corporation. While converting directly from a Partnership to an S Corporation for tax purposes isn’t allowed, there is a way to get there—if the owners of a...

Tax season is over (for most of us). So, what’s next for business owners and professional advisors with business clients? With so much disruption and distraction this year, you may have fallen behind keeping up with compliance for business licenses, permits, and...