The Launch Blog: Expert Advice from the CorpNet Team
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 structures have...
How to Formally Close Your Sole Proprietorship or Partnership
Deciding to close a business that you’ve put your blood, sweat, and tears into can be an emotional experience. That’s especially true of entrepreneurs who have operated as sole proprietorships or partnerships. Essentially, they become “one” with their companies,...
How to Retire When You Own Your Own Business
How many small business owners think about retirement when starting their businesses? Not many, which is understandable since all efforts are generally focused on growing the business, not leaving the company. However, at some point, all entrepreneurs want to know...
12 Steps for Closing an LLC Before Year End
If you’re thinking of closing your LLC before the year ends, you may be feeling overwhelmed. And you are probably wondering what you must do to exit the business without leaving any loose ends behind. Indeed, there is more to shutting down a business than merely...
Get Your Office Into the Holiday Spirit
I love the holidays. Celebrating with family and friends is very important to me and my husband, Phil. And we strongly believe in sharing that holiday spirit with our employees and contractors. Unfortunately, last year, like many of you, we couldn’t celebrate in...
How to File Taxes as a Limited Liability Partnership
As a startup with more than one business owner, you have your choice on how you want to legally structure your company. The decision isn’t to be taken lightly since a business’s structure affects how you organize your company, registration requirements, compliance...
What You Need to Know About the Qualified Business Income Deduction
Tax considerations are a significant factor in how entrepreneurs structure their businesses. The qualified business income deduction (or QBI tax deduction) is an important tax deduction that allows eligible businesses to deduct up to 20% of their qualified business...
What You Need to Know About Work From Home Tax Deductions
According to Global Workplace Analytics, 25-30% of the workforce will be working from home multiple days a week by the end of 2021. Already a trend before the pandemic, remote working became the “new normal” for businesses of all sizes struggling to stay afloat...
12 Steps for Closing a Corporation by Year End
As difficult it may be to make the decision to close a business, things can become even more challenging if a business’s owners don’t tie up all the loose ends. If you’re thinking of closing your corporation by year-end, realize that there’s more to the process...
Filing Annual Meeting Minutes Before Year End
Depending on a business’s entity type and the state it’s registered in, its owners may be required to hold annual meetings and record minutes from those meetings. But how do you know if that requirement applies to your company? In this article, I'm going to explain...
Business Closures, Dissolutions, and Withdrawals
It has been a rough few years for businesses across the country, but especially so for small businesses. According to Yelp data, an estimated 60% of business closures due to the coronavirus pandemic are permanent. Companies of all sizes have had to close some or...
Where to Form an LLC for an Online Business
When a limited liability company (LLC) has a physical location, owners usually register their business in their home state because that’s typically where they conduct most of their business. But what about forming an LLC for an online business? Having an online...
How to Proactively Manage Small Business Compliance
Besides going through all the proper steps to set up a business, understanding and following through with ongoing compliance requirements is immensely important. I regularly address small business compliance considerations in my writings on the CorpNet blog and...
Independent Contractor vs. Employee
Before the pandemic (and all the havoc it created), small business owners were in an ongoing pursuit of sourcing the best workers for their company. Deciding between independent contractors and employees was a frequent question and this debate grew as some states...
How to Remove a Member from an LLC
Some limited liability companies undergo ownership changes as their businesses evolve. Members may come or go — either voluntarily or involuntarily — for a variety of reasons. So how do you remove a member of an LLC? Well, that depends! Different circumstances can...
Hiring Family Members in a Small Business
I'm often asked if it is advantageous for a small business to hire family members. Some entrepreneurs have asked if hiring relatives presents legal issues, while others have asked if it is ethical. Whether you believe this practice is good business or nepotism,...
How to Reinstate a Revoked 501(c)(3) Status
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, an organization does not have to pay federal income tax on its profits related to its business purpose. That’s an important advantage as it allows organizations to keep more of their profits and use them to further their causes. However,...
CorpNet Named to Inc. 5000 List for 2021
CorpNet is proud to announce that it has made Inc. Magazine’s prestigious “Inc. 5000” list for 2021. As an Inc. 5000 honoree, we have been recognized as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America. During a stretch when the economy experienced limited...
What Is an Annual Franchise Tax Report?
Not all, but some states require business entities to file an annual report and pay a franchise tax each year. While the name suggests that a franchise tax report might only apply to businesses that are franchises, that’s not the case! A franchise tax is a fee that...
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...
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...
Which LLC Is Right for Me?
Just as there are flavors of ice cream, different varieties of the LLC business structure exist, too. The ideal option for a company may depend on a business's industry, type of commercial activities, number of owners, and even an owners' professional credentials....
Tax Registration: What Your Business Needs to Know
Whether you’re a business accountant serving entrepreneurs or you’re a business owner, it’s critical to understand sales and employment tax registration and ongoing requirements. Federal payroll taxes are the same no matter where a business is located, but state...
Why You Should Keep Business and Personal Finances Separate
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about keeping business and personal finances separate. Truthfully, most entrepreneurs tap into their personal savings to start their businesses, so opening separate bank accounts isn’t their top priority when there are so...
What Is a Biennial Report?
Most states require limited liability companies (LLCs) and corporations to submit some form of ongoing business entity filing. While many states require these filings annually (i.e., “annual reports”), several require these types of reports biennially (every two...
Noncommercial vs. Commercial Registered Agent
If you've been considering forming a business (or already have started one), you've probably have heard the term registered agent. Alternate names include statutory agent, agent for service of process, or resident agent. A registered agent is a designated party...
What Are Like-Kind Exchanges?
If you’re a property owner, you probably know how a like-kind exchange works, but in case the term is new to you, here’s what you need to know. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), a like-kind exchange (also called a 1031 exchange) is: When you exchange...
West Virginia Annual Report: Are You in Compliance?
Most types of businesses operating in West Virginia must file an annual report with the Secretary of State Office to keep their company records updated. The deadline for submitting the report, along with the associated filing fee, is July 1 each year after the...
The Right Way to Terminate a Partnership Agreement
There are many reasons why you'd want to terminate a partnership agreement. The goals of one or both partners have changed, your working styles are incompatible, or there are fundamental disagreements about business operations and decisions. Whatever the reason,...
Professional Corporation vs. Professional LLC
A professional corporation and a professional LLC are business entities that licensed professionals may wish, or be required, to form. Generally, professions that form professional LLCs or professional corporations include: Attorneys and law firms Accountants and...
