Startup and Launch

A DBA - or Doing Business As is a name different from a company's legal name. It is also referred to as a trade name, assumed business name, or a fictitious business name. Typically, businesses use a DBA name when they want to market their products or services...

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...

A single-member LLC can be taxed as an S Corporation if it meets the IRS’s eligibility criteria. In fact, both single-member and multi-member Limited Liability Companies can elect to be treated by the IRS as either an S Corporation or a C Corporation if they meet...

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...

A pass-through entity refers to a business that does not pay income tax of its own. Its income, losses, credits, and deductions “pass-through” to each business owner’s personal tax return, where its profits are taxed according to each owner’s individual income tax rate. Sole proprietorships, general partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, limited liability companies, and S Corporations are all pass-through entities. Corporations, and limited liability companies that elect to be taxed as a corporation, are not pass-through entities.

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,...

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...

If you’ve spent any time on this blog or researching how to incorporate your business online, you’ve probably found some terms that were a bit confusing. What’s the difference between an LLC and a C Corporation? What paperwork do I need to file annually? What are...

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...

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...

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...

If you’re gearing up to incorporate and get your business off the ground at the start of 2025, you might wonder when to file your business formation paperwork. Can you submit your incorporation forms now and request an effective date that is delayed? After all, the...

If you’ve been operating your business as a Sole Proprietorship, you may be wondering when’s the right time to incorporate your startup as a bona fide business entity. There are various reasons to consider incorporation and its important to know your timing can...

A franchise tax is a fee that some states charge businesses for the right to conduct business within the state. Less than half of all U.S. states levy a franchise tax on businesses like C Corporations and Limited Liability Companies. States that do impose this...

Think you’re the only business owner who wants to incorporate or form an LLC before the end of the year with your Secretary of State? Think again. Registering a business at the end of a calendar year can take longer than any other time of the year. Because everyone...

If you registered your Limited Liability Company in the state where you live and you are conducting most of your business in this state, your company is known as a Domestic LLC. It is licensed by the state to do business there and expected to uphold all the laws...

A Close LLC and a traditional LLC are essentially the same regarding how they’re formed, the personal liability protection they provide to business owners, and the tax flexibility they provide. A traditional LLC and a Close LLC have the following similarities: Both...

The Limited Liability Company (LLC) business structure is a popular choice for entrepreneurs who want to protect their personal assets, enjoy tax and management flexibility, and keep corporate formalities to a minimum. In this article, I’ll discuss the main...

While you are familiar with the Limited Liability Company business entity, you may not realize there are different types of LLC business structures. In a recent live presentation to accounting and tax professionals, our own Amanda Beren walked through what an LLC...

If you aspire to start a business but are hesitant because of the risks, you’re wise to be cautious. According to recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, nearly one in four new businesses fail within their first year of operation. But fear of failure doesn’t...

Many entrepreneurs assume that after going through all the steps of setting up and filing a Limited Liability Company (LLC) with the state, they’re free to begin doing business. While that assumption is understandable, it’s not correct. Before you can hang out your...

With all the decisions your clients are expected to make when starting a business, which legal structure to choose might not get as much consideration as it should. Most business owners choose to form a sole proprietorship in the beginning, since it’s less...

As a business owner, the day will come when you inevitably will have to address the legal aspects of your business – and the sooner the better. And, fortunately, the process can be relatively painless and hassle-free. I talk to countless small business owners and freelancers who consider themselves too small to worry about incorporation. After all, you don't have mazes of cubicles…you may not even have any employees. However, incorporation can still be a smart idea even for the self-employed graphic designer or wedding planner and in this post we discuss the benefits of incorporating your small business.

Limited liability companies (LLCs) and S Corporations are business structures that provide liability protection for business owners and allow for pass-through tax treatment. While they have those things (and some others) in common, they differ in several ways, too....

The Lone Star state attracts entrepreneurs because of its business-friendly environment, minimal tax burden, reasonable cost of living, robust infrastructure, and other factors. If you’ve been wondering how to start a small business in Texas, this article will walk...

Using a home address to register an LLC or incorporate a business is something many entrepreneurs think about doing. That’s understandable because many new businesses start their journey in the entrepreneur's home or garage, which allows the business to avoid...

Payroll involves far more than just cutting a paycheck to employees. It entails calculating work hours, wages, salaries, benefits, wage garnishments, and withholding and paying employment-related taxes. So, what do business owners need to know about setting up...

With many people struggling to keep up with inflation and insufficient wage growth, side hustles are becoming increasingly common. In fact, MarketWatch, a website that provides business news, financial information, and stock market data, reported in May 2024 that...

Sole Proprietorships are the most popular business structure in the U.S., accounting for 76.2% of all businesses, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Many entrepreneurs love Sole Proprietorships because they’re simple to start and compliance requirements are...

A Doing Business As (DBA) name—sometimes called a fictitious business name, assumed name, or trade name—is necessary when conducting business under a name other than a company’s legal name. DBA laws help protect consumers by ensuring the public has a way of knowing...