Working remotely or running an online business has become more commonplace than ever since the pandemic left many of us stuck indoors for over a year. While the lockdowns are ending, many have discovered that they like the autonomy of working from home. If you are thinking of starting your own online business, here are […]
When you are forming a new startup, one of the considerations is whether you should incorporate. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons you may decide this is a smart move for your small business. Tax savings – A sole proprietor will pay 15% in self-employment tax on all taxable income. Therefore, you […]
Intellectual Property (IP) is essential for a small business that needs to maintain a competitive advantage in the modern business world. One of the greatest threats to maintaining your IP is internal theft. How can you keep employees from stealing, leaking, or even selling your brand’s secrets? Here are a few tips. Control access – […]
California has some unique contract regulations that can allow you to contest even verbal contracts in a court of law. However, if you really want evidence on your side, a professionally drafted and signed contract is going to provide you with a leg to stand on for getting the compensation you deserve. Additionally, there are […]
If you are a small business owner, you are probably familiar with the importance of intellectual property when it comes to maintaining a competitive advantage in your industry. Here are a few things you should know about IP so that you can hang onto that advantage. Your patents have to be filed country by country […]
From business formation to contracts and agreements to intellectual property protection, there are many reasons for small business owners to have an attorney. How can you hire the right firm? Here are a few things to look for: A focus on small businesses – Law firms have varying specialties. You want a firm that specializes […]
When someone is starting a small business, this is one of the questions that always comes up. What is an EIN? It stands for Employer Identification Number. The name makes it seem pretty simple. If you are an employer (i.e., your company has employees), then you need it. However, there are also other situations in […]
State and federal regulations are often designed to protect employees. An employment contract helps to protect your business. Here are a few reasons that you should use employment contracts, even if you just have a few people working for you. Eligibility – Before signing the employment contract, you may want require someone to fill out […]
If you want to protect your small business, you can’t just shake hands on agreements. Here are some business contracts that all small business owners should know about. NDA – Non-Disclosure Agreements allow you to maintain company secrets. Sometimes an employee or independent contractor will get to know privileged information while performing work for the […]
As a small business owner, you understand the need to protect your intellectual property (IP) in order to retain a competitive advantage. A patent is one way to protect your IP. However, you may be wondering what types of patents are available to your business. Today, we will compare two: design patents vs. utility patents. […]
