For the love of your business
For the love of your business
This week the Department of Labor issued an opinion letter signaling that it’s siding with business owners when it comes to determining whether gig workers like Uber drivers should be classified as employees or independent contractors. The DOL letter concluded these workers are contractors, not employees, and as such, they’re not entitled to federal protections […]
Read MoreQ: I need some basic contracts to use in my business. Do I need a lawyer to draw them up, or can I use templates I find online? -Buster Budget A: Dear Buster: Though it may be tempting to use generic legal agreements you find online, these do-it-yourself (DIY) documents are no substitute for the […]
Read MoreIt seems like every other week there’s another story of a multimillion-dollar family business that falls apart shortly after the current owner steps down or passes away. This sheds light on an ugly truth. Most family businesses are woefully unprepared for the existing owner to depart, especially if it’s unexpected, as is the case with […]
Read MoreWhether it’s your very first or your tenth, if you’re looking to start a new business venture, you have two options: 1) build your own from scratch or 2) buy an existing one. And while many entrepreneurs dream of building their own company from the ground up, the reality is, launching a brand-new business can […]
Read MoreWhen it comes to personal retaliation, you may think of acts such as giving a friend the silent treatment over a rude remark or not inviting someone to your party because they didn’t invite you to theirs. These vengeful acts may be petty and cruel, but they’re not illegal. Yet when it comes to workplace […]
Read MoreContent is king. If you’re business is involved with IT or digital media, you’ve undoubtedly heard this popular adage more than a few times. The phrase originally entered our lexicon when Bill Gates used it as the title of an essay he posted to the Microsoft website in 1996. In addition to the title, Gates […]
Read MoreQ: A customer is suing me in small-claims court for breach of contract. What should I do? -Court Questions A: Dear Questions: First and foremost, do not ignore this claim. Just because it’s small-claims court, does not mean that it’s not as “real” as regular court. What makes small-claims court different is that the court […]
Read MoreIf you haven’t yet heard about the legislative initiative sweeping across the country known as “Ban the Box,” you probably will soon. Indeed, if your company is located in one of the 33 states or more than 150 cities and counties that have adopted such laws, you risk legal penalties and lawsuits if you’re not […]
Read MoreWith the rise of the “gig economy” and so many people now working as independent contractors (ICs), as opposed to full-time employees, you should be well-familiar with the rules and requirements for the tax form known as a 1099. A 1099 is designed to document and track payments you make to ICs for services they […]
Read MoreWhen it comes to intellectual property (IP), you’re probably familiar with things like patents, trademarks, and copyrights. Yet, these are just terms describing how businesses can legally protect certain types of IP. Though such terms offer a general idea about what IP is, they don’t fully explain how it works. And whether you know it […]
Read MoreAs you’ve undoubtedly heard by now, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) is the most sweeping change to the U.S. Tax Code in more than 30 years. And while the legislation provides many of the biggest breaks to large corporations, it offers numerous benefits to smaller businesses as well. Due to the immense […]
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