The Launch Blog: Expert Advice from the CorpNet Team

Registered Business Name vs. Trademark

One of the first decisions new entrepreneurs make is “What should I name my business?” A lot of brand equity gets built around a business name, so it’s essential to protect that valuable marketing asset. During a presentation to accounting professionals, I...

Woman With Two Thought Bubbles, One With Business Name and One With Trademark

Expanding a Small Business to Another State: What You Need to Know

Extending your small business’s presence across state lines can help your company reach new markets, grow revenue, and boost profits. But how do you expand a small business into another state? And what’s involved in operating a business in multiple states? There...

US Map of States With Connecting Dots

Meet the Driver and Doer Behind CorpNet: Nellie Akalp, Founder and CEO

Every person on the CorpNet team has contributed to our continued success. Our recently created series of videos features several of our team members to give you a glimpse of “who’s who” and their take on what they do and why they do it. In this post, we’re...

Nellie Akalp Video Cover

Should I Incorporate or Form an LLC for My MLM Business?

Also sometimes called network marketing companies, a multilevel marketing company (MLM), offers income opportunities to folks who want to set their own schedule and work at their own pace—without having to build a business from the ground up. Many people who want...

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10 Legal Documents You Must Have to Start a Small Business

If starting a new business is on your 2022 New Year’s resolution list, we’re here to help you begin on the right (and legal) path. Here are 10 must-have legal documents you need to start a new business. 1. Business Plan Technically, a business plan is not a “legal”...

Legal Document

Meet the Visionary Behind CorpNet: Phil Akalp, Founder and CTO

CorpNet could never have achieved what we have without our exceptional team members! We’ve recently created several videos to give you a glimpse behind the scenes of our company and allow you to get to know some of the people responsible for guiding our business...

Phil Akalp Video Cover

How to Draft Meeting Minutes in the New Year

Along with other annual business compliance responsibilities, corporations (and sometimes LLCs) must hold various meetings and record minutes from those meetings. With the new year ahead, new entrepreneurs and existing business owners need to make sure they...

Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors

How Often Does an LLC Pay Taxes?

If you’re considering starting a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or restructuring your business as an LLC, it’s important to know how often an LLC pays taxes and how to file business taxes for an LLC. As an LLC, your company benefits from receiving personal...

Cartoon of Financial Reports and Calculator on Desk

Is an LLC a Corporation?

Many entrepreneurs wonder if an LLC is a corporation. An LLC is not the same thing as a corporation, but it's easy to get the two business entity types confused. In this article, I’ll explain the difference and highlight some of the advantages these structures have...

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How to Formally Close Your Sole Proprietorship or Partnership

Deciding to close a business that you’ve put your blood, sweat, and tears into can be an emotional experience. That’s especially true of entrepreneurs who have operated as sole proprietorships or partnerships. Essentially, they become “one” with their companies,...

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How to Retire When You Own Your Own Business

How many small business owners think about retirement when starting their businesses? Not many, which is understandable since all efforts are generally focused on growing the business, not leaving the company. However, at some point, all entrepreneurs want to know...

Retired Couple Walking on Beach

12 Steps for Closing an LLC Before Year End

If you’re thinking of closing your LLC before the year ends, you may be feeling overwhelmed. And you are probably wondering what you must do to exit the business without leaving any loose ends behind. Indeed, there is more to shutting down a business than merely...

Shop Door With Closed Sign

Get Your Office Into the Holiday Spirit

I love the holidays. Celebrating with family and friends is very important to me and my husband, Phil. And we strongly believe in sharing that holiday spirit with our employees and contractors. Unfortunately, last year, like many of you, we couldn’t celebrate in...

Photos of CorpNet's 2015 Holiday Party

How to File Taxes as a Limited Liability Partnership

As a startup with more than one business owner, you have your choice on how you want to legally structure your company. The decision isn’t to be taken lightly since a business’s structure affects how you organize your company, registration requirements, compliance...

Bullhorn with Tax Tips

What You Need to Know About the Qualified Business Income Deduction

Tax considerations are a significant factor in how entrepreneurs structure their businesses. The qualified business income deduction (or QBI tax deduction) is an important tax deduction that allows eligible businesses to deduct up to 20% of their qualified business...

Man Cutting Tax With Scissors

What You Need to Know About Work From Home Tax Deductions

According to Global Workplace Analytics, 25-30% of the workforce will be working from home multiple days a week by the end of 2021. Already a trend before the pandemic, remote working became the “new normal” for businesses of all sizes struggling to stay afloat...

Tax Form iPad Calculator

12 Steps for Closing a Corporation by Year End

As difficult it may be to make the decision to close a business, things can become even more challenging if a business’s owners don’t tie up all the loose ends. If you’re thinking of closing your corporation by year-end, realize that there’s more to the process...

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Filing Annual Meeting Minutes Before Year End

Depending on a business’s entity type and the state it’s registered in, its owners may be required to hold annual meetings and record minutes from those meetings. But how do you know if that requirement applies to your company? In this article, I'm going to explain...

Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors

Business Closures, Dissolutions, and Withdrawals

It has been a rough few years for businesses across the country, but especially so for small businesses. According to Yelp data, an estimated 60% of business closures due to the coronavirus pandemic are permanent. Companies of all sizes have had to close some or...

Closed Sign on Business Window

Where to Form an LLC for an Online Business

When a limited liability company (LLC) has a physical location, owners usually register their business in their home state because that’s typically where they conduct most of their business. But what about forming an LLC for an online business? Having an online...

Woman Shipping Product for Online Store

How to Proactively Manage Small Business Compliance

Besides going through all the proper steps to set up a business, understanding and following through with ongoing compliance requirements is immensely important. I regularly address small business compliance considerations in my writings on the CorpNet blog and...

Woman With Clock and Flying Paperwork

Independent Contractor vs. Employee

Before the pandemic (and all the havoc it created), small business owners were in an ongoing pursuit of sourcing the best workers for their company. Deciding between independent contractors and employees was a frequent question and this debate grew as some states...

Businesspeople Having Meeting In Modern Open Plan Office

How to Remove a Member from an LLC

Some limited liability companies undergo ownership changes as their businesses evolve. Members may come or go — either voluntarily or involuntarily — for a variety of reasons. So how do you remove a member of an LLC? Well, that depends! Different circumstances can...

Businessman Getting Kicked Out of a Door

Hiring Family Members in a Small Business

I'm often asked if it is advantageous for a small business to hire family members. Some entrepreneurs have asked if hiring relatives presents legal issues, while others have asked if it is ethical. Whether you believe this practice is good business or nepotism,...

Father and Daughter Working in Bakery

How to Reinstate a Revoked 501(c)(3) Status

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, an organization does not have to pay federal income tax on its profits related to its business purpose. That’s an important advantage as it allows organizations to keep more of their profits and use them to further their causes. However,...

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CorpNet Named to Inc. 5000 List for 2021

CorpNet is proud to announce that it has made Inc. Magazine’s prestigious “Inc. 5000” list for 2021. As an Inc. 5000 honoree, we have been recognized as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America. During a stretch when the economy experienced limited...

CorpNet Inc 5000 Award Logo for 2021

What Is an Annual Franchise Tax Report?

Not all, but some states require business entities to file an annual report and pay a franchise tax each year. While the name suggests that a franchise tax report might only apply to businesses that are franchises, that’s not the case! A franchise tax is a fee that...

Money Bag and Calendar

Filing an Intent to Use Trademark Application

Choosing the perfect business or brand name is only half the battle when starting a new venture. You need to protect that name from getting stolen or misused. But what if you haven’t started using the brand name yet? The good news is even if your website is still...

Trademark Application Process on Laptop

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