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Articles to LIFT Your Life and Business

How to Create a Bulletproof Independent Contractor Agreement

One of the most common issues facing small businesses is how to govern relationships with independent contractors (ICs). Which is not really surprising, since many small businesses use ICs to perform critical work functions like website development, marketing, bookkeeping and other important functions that keep your business functioning and growing. To protect your company’s future, […]

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How to Keep Suppliers From Putting Your Business at Risk for a Data Breach

Two major retailers that suffered a major data breach affecting millions of customers – and their bottom lines – have one thing in common: both got hacked through their vendors. Home Depot’s security system was breached by a hacker that stole credit card details and emails for over 56 million customers. The hacker gained access […]

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How to Avoid a Trademark Infringement Dogfight

A New Jersey entrepreneur who sells organic dog treats under the label, “Snaks 5th Avenchew” has prevailed in her fight to keep the name after a short scrap with fashion retailer Saks Fifth Avenue. Carrie Sarabella, who sells her organic dog treats online and direct to retailers, received a cease-and-desist letter from Saks threatening litigation […]

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Did You Just Hire an Employee or an Independent Contractor? Be Sure You Know!

UPDATE SINCE ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN: In a March 3, 2017 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected the NLRB’s finding mentioned below that FedEx Home Delivery drivers were employees. The court agreed with FedEx that the drivers were independent contractors and therefore did not have the right to union […]

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The Best Time to Update Your Employee Handbook is Right Now

If business owners realized the role a good employee handbook can play in protecting their company from employee litigation, keeping it up to date would be a bigger priority. Alas, many employers neglect these documents until a glaring error decides a case in an employee’s favor. Historically, employee handbooks were used primarily to educate employees […]

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Asset Protection Strategies for Female Business Owners

Female-owned businesses are one of the fastest growing sectors of the U.S. economy, with the number of women-owned businesses doubling over the past 17 years, according to a recent Forbes article. Many women who run their own companies often do double-duty as CEOs of their families as well. The tendency for many is to leave […]

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A Simple Way for Business Owners to Document Their Legal Agreements

Sometimes you just want to document your own agreements without consulting with a lawyer. Written agreements are binding documents that define the obligations of all parties involved in a specific project or for the sale of a good or service. Written agreements are necessary to provide a clear record of agreed upon terms. That way, […]

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NLRB Lays Down the Law for Employee Discipline Based on Facebook Preferences

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has ruled that an employee who “likes” a comment on Facebook that disparages his or her employer is protected under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act. In its Triple Play Sports Bar & Grille ruling, the NLRB extended Section 7 protection to an employee who “liked” another […]

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Entrepreneurs: Are You Making Promises You Can’t – or Don’t Want to – Keep?

When you’re starting or building a business, things can move very quickly. Entrepreneurs typically starting new ventures reach out to dozens of people who may or may not become part of the final company, to ascertain interest or recruit talent. Often, an entrepreneur will take part in a discussion about equity allocation in the new […]

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How to Choose a Trademark That Will Stand the Test of Time and Trial

The purpose of a trademark is to differentiate a company’s goods or services in the marketplace. A trademark also represents an intangible asset in the form of consumer goodwill that has been assigned to the company through its history. In the legal realm, the words or symbols chosen to represent goods (trademark) or services (service […]

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When a Handshake Can Be the Kiss of Death for Your Company

Many business deals get done on the proverbial handshake — an email exchange, a discussion on the golf course — but those types of deals could be the kiss of death for your company if they go bad and there is little documentation to back up what you thought were the terms of the deal. […]

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