Up until now, you alone have been running your small business. Now you need help. The moment when a small business owner decides to hire his or her first employee is one of triumph. Conversely, knowing how to start the hiring process can be a moment of confusion. If you’re ready to hire your first […]
Read MoreOpening a small business brings excitement as well as uncertainty. As a small business owner you face many risks, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself against them. Obtaining insurance coverage is one big way you can protect your small business and help minimize many of the risks you face. The kinds […]
Read MoreAs a business owner, you’ve taken on a big responsibility to your family, your clients/customers, your team and your partners. Most businesses are not sufficiently liquid to keep the company going and the owner’s family thriving, in the event of death. But with the right plan in place, you can ensure the people you care […]
Read MoreThe Affordable Care Act encourages employers to provide health insurance to their employees. This encouragement comes in the form of mandated payments to the government when affordable insurance at a certain minimum level of coverage is not provided. This feature of the ACA is known as “Employer Shared Responsibility” or the “Employer Mandate.” Employers with […]
Read MoreThe good news about healthcare costs in the United States is that they have decreased from 6-7% per year to just around 4%. The bad news is that health care costs continue to rise faster than workers’ incomes. For small businesses, this is a recipe for disaster. They are caught between increased costs for employer-sponsored […]
Read MoreOne facet of the Affordable Care Act is specific benefit requirements that have to be offered by small businesses (those with 50 or fewer employees). These requirements were scheduled to begin applying to employers with up to 100 employees on January 1, 2016. Business leaders were concerned, however, this change would result in substantially increased […]
Read MoreAccording to the U.S. Small Business Association, small businesses create almost two of every three jobs in the U.S. every year, and half of working Americans are either owners or employees of a small business. The SBA advises entrepreneurs to seek counsel while in the initial phases of getting a business off the ground. As […]
Read MoreOne of the biggest risks small business owners take is not properly protecting their personal assets from business liabilities or judgments. In a recent Entrepreneur.com article, Mark Kohler, author of The Tax & Legal Playbook, offered these 8 asset protection strategies for business owners: Choose the right business structure. Operating as a sole proprietorship offers […]
Read MoreEntrepreneurs often make up in enthusiasm what they lack in business experience, but passion alone is not enough to ensure the success of a startup. If you’re starting a new business, you need to watch for the following six legal snares that could potentially sink your startup: Lease agreements. A commercial lease is much different […]
Read MoreAs lenders ease credit conditions following the Great Recession, new business formation in the U.S. is on the rise. If you are starting a business in 2015, be sure you pay attention to the following prerequisites: Discuss with legal counsel which corporate structure is best for your business: sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation (C or S), […]
Read MoreProtecting Your New Business From Trademark Infringement Liability Exposure Choosing a name for your new business is an important decision that could have a major impact on your company’s profitability. Before choosing a name for your business (not necessarily your corporate name, the name of your limited liability company or partnership because those could be […]
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