The Launch Blog: Expert Advice from the CorpNet Team
Will Your Business Need Financing in the New Year?
As you plan and set goals for your small business in 2023, one area to look at is financing. Will you need additional funding at some point in the New Year? If the answer is yes, how will you raise the money? Take a closer look at the two primary means of raising...
Your Complete Starting a Business in California Checklist
Ready, set, launch! Here’s your starting a business in California checklist. This handy guide will help make sure you don’t miss a thing.
Does an S Corporation Need to File Articles of Organization?
If you’ve spent any time on this blog or researching how to incorporate your business online, you’ve probably found some terms you weren’t really clear on and had questions. What’s the difference between an LLC and a corporation? What paperwork do I need to file...
14 Steps for Starting a Business in Nevada
You have a phenomenal business idea, you’ve done some homework to verify your idea is viable, and now you’re ready to take the necessary steps to make your dream of starting a business in Nevada come true. Starting a business in Nevada offers the opportunity to...
6 Tips for Naming Your Business
I can’t tell you how many entrepreneurs I’ve met that didn’t do the research before naming their business. You may think the name you’ve come up for in starting a new business is unique, but what happens if you find out someone else is already using it? If the name...
Your Guide to Starting a Business in Delaware
Thinking about starting a business in Delaware and wondering what you need to do? This 17-step guide will give you valuable insight.
Should You Convert Your Business Structure to an S Corp?
You’ve been chugging along as a Sole Proprietorship for a while now, but you’re beginning to realize that might not be the best idea to protect your business. So you’re considering converting your Sole Proprietorship to another structure, specifically the S...
Breaking Down Business Entity Types
One of the most important steps you’ll need to make when starting your business is reviewing business entity types and deciding which one you should choose for your company. The structure you pick will affect your business from legal and tax obligation standpoints....
Why Your Inactive Business is Probably Costing You Money
Someone once told me that a true sign of a successful entrepreneur is the ability to know when it’s time to throw in the towel and move on. One failed business doesn’t define an entrepreneur. Plus, when one door closes, another usually opens. Closing a business...
5 Reasons to Fall in Love With the LLC
If you’re starting a new business or revisiting your decision to operate as a Sole Proprietorship, you may want to give the Limited Liability Company (LLC) some attention. The LLC legal structure offers advantages that attract entrepreneurs running small businesses...
How to Start a Small Business on Etsy
Etsy has given artists, crafters, and collectors a highly visible online marketplace for selling their own-made arts and crafts, vintage items, and crafting supplies. Are you a talented, hands-on individual with a vision of offering your creations to customers...
How to Start a Vending Machine Business
The vending machine industry is one that has evolved and steadily grown over the last decade. As consumers' lives get busier and people seek convenience and time-saving options while on the go, vending machine operators have many opportunities. According to...
What is a Statutory Close Corporation?
A Statutory Close Corporation (also known as “Close Corporation”) is a corporation that does not publicly trade stock and is formed under a special statute. This type of corporation is held by a limited number of shareholders. In some states, Close Corporations may...
20 Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs
There's a neverending debate on whether entrepreneurs are born or made. I don't claim to be able to make the call one way or another, but I have noticed several characteristics that the most successful small business owners seem to share. Here they are. Whether entrepreneurs are made or born, they all share similar characteristics. How many of these do you possess?
Is a Multi-Member LLC Right For You?
The multi-member LLC is a Limited Liability Company with more than one owner. It is a separate legal entity from its owners, but not a separate tax entity. A business with multiple owners operates as a general partnership, by default, unless registered with the...
Is Your Business in Compliance? Seven Questions To Ask Yourself
Maintaining a C Corporation or Limited Liability Company (LLC) is an ongoing process that requires constant attention. Unfortunately, most small business owners don’t know what they don’t know and busy entrepreneurs often find it tough to carve out time to research...
How to Choose and Legally Use Your Business Name
The name you choose for your business will be one of your most powerful and valuable assets. As one of the primary ways customers distinguish you from your competitors, your business name wields a lot of power. The right name can help propel you to success; the...
LLC vs. Partnership
When deciding between an LLC vs. partnership as your company's business structure, you'll have many considerations to address. There are ramifications legally, administratively, and financially when choosing a business entity type. Rushing to a decision can have...
What is a Certificate of Incorporation?
When forming a C Corporation, business owners need to file for a Certificate of Incorporation (sometimes referred to as Articles of Incorporation) to register their company with the state. What is a Certificate of Incorporation exactly? It is a legal document...
Maintain Business Compliance to End the Year in Good Standing
As we move into the winter months it's time to begin thinking of year-end business compliance responsibilities and business activities. Business compliance matters to businesses regardless of industry or size and it is something that needs attention every year....
S Corporation vs. LLC
Limited liability companies (LLCs) and S Corporations are business structures that provide liability protection for business owners and allow for pass-through tax treatment. While they have those things (and some others) in common, they differ in several ways, too....
How to Add a DBA to an LLC
Some companies, such as Limited Liability Companies (LLC), choose to do business under a different name than the one they have registered in their formation documents. Like other businesses, before an LLC may use an alternate name in its contracts, advertising, and...
Setting Up Payroll for an LLC or Corporation
Payroll involves far more than just cutting a paycheck to employees. It entails calculating work hours, wages, salaries, benefits, wage garnishments, and withholding and paying employment-related taxes. So, what do business owners need to know about setting up...
What Is a Registered Agent?
Many business owners will ask themselves what is a registered agent and then question if they really need one. The answer to both questions is yes! A registered agent is a person or company with the authority to accept service of process (legal documents and...
Annual Report List by State for LLCs and Corporations
Wondering if you need to submit a Secretary of State Annual Report and when it’s due? This state-by-state list will help you prepare and stay in compliance.
How Do I Maintain a Business?
After a business is up and running, it's critical to maintain it by fulfilling all of the required business compliance tasks on time. Of course, businesses grow and evolve over time, and therefore, the actions they must take to maintain a business entity also may...
Incorporating a Business 101
As a business owner, the day will come when you inevitably will have to address the legal aspects of your business – and the sooner the better. And, fortunately, the process can be relatively painless and hassle-free. I talk to countless small business owners and freelancers who consider themselves too small to worry about incorporation. After all, you don't have mazes of cubicles…you may not even have any employees. However, incorporation can still be a smart idea even for the self-employed graphic designer or wedding planner and in this post we discuss the benefits of incorporating your small business.
Checklist for a Home-Based Business
Many entrepreneurs start their small businesses in their homes. Without the costs associated with renting or buying office space, it helps keep startup expenses down. Still, business owners running their companies out of their houses must pay attention to many...
How to Change from a Sole Proprietor to an LLC
It's estimated that over 70% of U.S. businesses operate as sole proprietors. That's not surprising, considering that doing so requires no formal business registration forms, few compliance requirements, and income tax reporting simplicity. But as businesses grow...
7 Tips to Help Your Business Survive Through a Recession
Is there a recession on the way? The best and most honest answer is maybe. Some economic signs point to a coming economic downturn, while others, like the nation operating at nearly full employment, suggest otherwise. It may be a cliché, but only time will tell. In...