Your Complete Starting a Business in California Checklist
Ready, set, launch! Here’s your starting a business in California checklist. This handy guide will help make sure you don’t miss a thing.
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How Do LLC Owners Get Paid?
As a small business owner, how you pay yourself depends on your business’s legal structure and how you elect to pay taxes. The Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a popular legal entity offering liability protection to its owners (called members), simple compliance...
What Is the LLC Tax Rate?
Before forming an LLC, many entrepreneurs ask about the standard LLC tax rate to see if this form of entity is a solid option for their new business. This is an excellent question and one that can be best answered by exploring what an LLC is and how it is taxed....
How to Revoke an S Corp Election
Many limited liability companies (LLCs) and C Corporations choose to be taxed as S Corporations to lower their tax burden. It’s relatively easy to do as long as the business entity meets IRS requirements and files Form 2553. But what happens if a business owner...
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...
What Business Owners Need to Know About Filing Taxes in 2022
Tax season is right around the corner. A lot has changed, tax-wise, in the past year due to new legislation. Here’s a quick look at what business owners need to know about filing their taxes in 2022. Sole Proprietorship Sole proprietors are unincorporated...
Stats, Tips, and Steps for Starting a Freelancing Business
If you have marketable skills and knowledge as a self-employed independent contractor, you may wonder if you should freelance, and if so, how you’d go about starting a freelance business. And with the current economic climate of the great resignation and...
Your Guide to Starting a Business in Delaware
Thinking about starting a business in Delaware and wondering what you need to do? This 17-step guide will give you valuable insight.
14 Steps for Starting a Business in Nevada
You have a phenomenal business idea, you’ve done some homework to verify your idea is viable, and now you’re ready to take the necessary steps to make your dream of starting a business in Nevada come true. Starting a business in Nevada offers the opportunity to...
What Is a Statutory Close Corporation?
A Statutory Close Corporation (also known as “Close Corporation”) is a corporation that does not publicly trade stock and is formed under a special statute. This type of corporation is held by a limited number of shareholders. In some states, Close Corporations may...
10 Mistakes to Avoid When It Comes to the CARES Act Funding Relief
With tons of misinformation swirling out there, you may be afraid of making a crucial mistake when it comes to applying for and receiving CARES Act relief funding. Here are 10 mistakes to avoid. Application Mistakes 1. Not Being Prepared Any delay in your...
How to Get Certified as a Women or Minority-Owned Small Business
Small business certification comes in many forms and offers incredible opportunities for business owners to work with and compete with larger businesses for contracts. Federal government agencies and many state and local governments must set aside a percentage of...
7 Tips to Help Your Business Survive Through a Recession
Is there a recession on the way? The best and most honest answer is maybe. Some economic signs point to a coming economic downturn, while others, like the nation operating at nearly full employment, suggest otherwise. It may be a cliché, but only time will tell. In...
How to Start a Business With a Partner
You’ve heard the phrase “two heads are better than one” and that often rings true for entrepreneurs. Along with the pooled knowledge from multiple brains, having a business partner brings the perks of additional funds, a wider breadth of skills, a built-in...
How to Start a Tax Preparation Business From Home
Do you already have experience in preparing tax returns as an employee or temp for a tax agency and wish you had more control over your schedule? Or are you looking to capitalize on your math abilities and attention to detail on your own terms? Either way, you may...
What Is the Owner of an LLC Called?
The Limited Liability Company (LLC) business structure is a popular choice for entrepreneurs in nearly all industries because of its simplicity, personal liability protection, and tax and management flexibility. An owner of an LLC is called a member, and an LLC may...
5 Ways to Lower Your Risk When Starting a Business
It’s important to understand when starting a business: there is no 100% guaranteed way to eliminate the risk that entrepreneurship brings. You can’t be sure your customers will pay you on time. Your employees can quit without notice. Your vendors might deliver damaged products. All of these, among other risks, make it difficult for you to know what’s going to happen tomorrow, much less next year.
5 Steps to Start a Business By Year End
If you’ve been thinking about launching a company this year but haven’t taken the necessary steps to start a business, don’t put it off any longer. Time is of the essence! To help you in your efforts, I’ll share some of the most important to-dos to put on...
Outsourcing to Get Back to Business
Making plans to get your business back on track post-coronavirus pandemic? Here are five responsibilities you should consider outsourcing so you can devote more of your time and energy to the areas where you are most needed. 1. Website Updates and Maintenance Your...
How To Safely Reopen Your Small Business to the Public
As the country makes plans to reopen restaurants, retail, public buildings, and schools, your topmost concern should be the safety and well-being of workers and customers alike. Your reopened business will be scrutinized and the measures you take to reopen safely...
Time to Declare Your Independence
For many, the American dream is all about entrepreneurship. Business ownership is a way to declare personal independence and even though the economy has been a roller coaster lately, it hasn’t quieted America’s entrepreneurial spirit. As a matter of fact, despite...
10 Ways to Create a Successful Brand for Your Small Business
One of the key steps to starting a new company is creating a strong brand. Do it right, and you’ll have a memorable brand that customers line up to do business with. If you are a new business owner, you might not know where to even start. I’ve been there and...
The Startup Business Plan: Why It’s Important and How You Can Create One
I think it’s safe to say that nearly all business experts agree that all entrepreneurs can benefit from having a business plan. Why is a business plan important for your startup? According to a study by Palo Alto Software, entrepreneurs who have a business plan...
Did You Overlook Trademarking Your Brand?
You probably didn’t come up with the perfect business or product name overnight. Most likely, you brainstormed. You sought the advice of colleagues and friends. You tested out a few options, and checked what domain names were available. In short, you’ve invested a...
Back To Basics: The Difference Between Copyright and Trademark
As the kids are back to school and studying new things, it’s also a wonderful time to revisit some basic elements of business. Whether you’re starting a business or are already running your company, knowing the difference between a copyright and a trademark is one...
Trademark vs. Service Mark
Trademark vs. service mark? What’s the difference? Both are issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office to distinguish a brand’s products and services from those of other businesses. Trademarks distinguish a company’s products, whereas...
What Does It Mean to Have Multiple Trademark Owners?
One of the many risks business owners face is one that rarely comes to mind—but could put your business in a dangerous position. We’re talking about trademark protection for your intellectual property. A trademark is a word, phrase, name, or symbol that identifies...
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...
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...
How to Protect Your Brand with Trademarks
If you’ve incorporated your business or formed a limited liability company, you’ve taken critical first steps toward building a successful business. When registering your business, you’ve protected your company name from being used by competitors in the state the...
