| I've gotten several questions recently
| |
| | can, if handled correctly. You may have
|
| about the legalities of starting a
| |
| | heard about the "corporate veil," which
|
| business. So, this week I thought I would
| |
| | means that you can't be sued personally
|
| address a few of the more common legal
| |
| | for anything that happens in the
|
| issues most new businesses face. But
| |
| | corporation and your personal assets
|
| first, let's get the mandatory legal
| |
| | can't be attacked by creditors or a
|
| disclaimer out of the way: the advice
| |
| | lawsuit on the corporation. But in order
|
| dispensed by this columnist is probably
| |
| | to have this protection, you must act
|
| no better or worse than the advice
| |
| | like a corporation. This means conducting
|
| dispensed by other columnists. Do not
| |
| | board meetings, taking notes and
|
| take the following advice as gospel or
| |
| | publishing minutes in your corporate
|
| bet the future of your business on any
| |
| | book.In addition, be sure to have a
|
| advice given herein by said
| |
| | separate corporate checking account and,
|
| columnist.Agreed? Good, let's proceed.To
| |
| | if you need them, corporate credit cards.
|
| begin, here's the best legal advice I can
| |
| | Don't use corporate money for personal
|
| give you as a new business person: find
| |
| | purchases, and vice versa (unless you
|
| yourself a good lawyer and make him or
| |
| | file an expense report). Many people
|
| her your very best friend. Granted, your
| |
| | think they don't need to go to all this
|
| new best friend will charge you an hourly
| |
| | trouble if there is just one or two
|
| fee for chatting on the phone or talking
| |
| | people in the company, but in order to be
|
| business over lunch, but you'll find it
| |
| | treated like a corporation, you must act
|
| to be money well spent. A good attorney
| |
| | like one. Your attorney can give you more
|
| can save you far more than the cost of
| |
| | details.How do I register my company
|
| his services. I rarely make any decision
| |
| | name? To register your company name
|
| that has the potential to impact my
| |
| | simply contact the office of the
|
| business without first consulting my
| |
| | Secretary of State. This is easily done
|
| attorney.You can locate an attorney
| |
| | by phone. The registrar will tell you if
|
| through legal referral services or just
| |
| | the name you have in mind is available as
|
| by opening the phone book, but the best
| |
| | a corporate name and will reserve the
|
| way to find a really good attorney is to
| |
| | name for you if it is available. You will
|
| ask other business owners for
| |
| | be sent a form to complete and submit
|
| references.You want an attorney who
| |
| | with a nominal fee. For more information
|
| specializes in business matters. A few of
| |
| | you can also visit the Secretary of
|
| the things you may need legal help with
| |
| | State's website.Do I need a business
|
| are: legal business formation, articles
| |
| | license? Nearly every business will
|
| of incorporation, trademarks and
| |
| | require a county or city license.
|
| copyrights, investment documents,
| |
| | Luckily, such licenses are relatively
|
| employee policies, etc. You may find that
| |
| | easy to obtain and are not expensive. For
|
| a single attorney can't meet all your
| |
| | local licensing requirements, contact
|
| needs, but if you use a larger firm they
| |
| | your city or county government
|
| will have attorneys on staff that can
| |
| | offices.Some businesses might also
|
| provide the specialized services you
| |
| | require a state license. For example,
|
| require.Now, let's take a brief look at a
| |
| | hair stylists, contractors and most
|
| few questions I've received regarding the
| |
| | businesses serving food fall under the
|
| legalities of starting a new
| |
| | purview of the state licensing board.
|
| business.What's a DBA? "DBA" stands for
| |
| | Each state has an agency that deals with
|
| "doing business as." A DBA is another
| |
| | these types of businesses. Contact your
|
| name that you use in the operation of
| |
| | local government offices to see if your
|
| your business other than the legal name.
| |
| | particular business requires a state
|
| For example, "Jones, Inc." might be the
| |
| | license.Some businesses will even require
|
| legal corporate name of your business,
| |
| | federal licensing. Examples of such
|
| but you might use "Bob Jones Landscaping"
| |
| | businesses would be those that provide
|
| as the everyday business name. In this
| |
| | investment advice or that deal with
|
| case, you would see the business
| |
| | firearms. Federal licensing is typically
|
| described in legal context as "Jones,
| |
| | required for businesses that are highly
|
| Inc. Doing Business As Bob Jones
| |
| | regulated by the government.I operate my
|
| Landscaping."Here's an example of using a
| |
| | business out of my home. Do I still need
|
| DBA to launch a new venture within an
| |
| | a license? Operating a business out of
|
| existing business. A reader asked: "My
| |
| | your home does not get you off the hook
|
| wife incorporated a multimedia business
| |
| | when it comes to licensing. You should
|
| three years ago, and I am starting a
| |
| | check local zoning requirements and
|
| voice-over business. Is it more
| |
| | property covenants. You can find this
|
| beneficial for me to open as a sole
| |
| | information at the court house or by
|
| proprietorship or to operate within her
| |
| | calling your local license department.
|
| multimedia business?"My answer was that
| |
| | Home businesses are also subject to
|
| he should open his company as a division
| |
| | zoning laws that regulate how property
|
| of his wife's business, operating as a
| |
| | can be used and may restrict various
|
| DBA. Even though he is using his own
| |
| | activities.This is just a sampling of the
|
| business name (the DBA), technically his
| |
| | legal issues that must be addressed by
|
| wife's corporation is launching the
| |
| | every new business owner. To learn more,
|
| service and therefore will give him some
| |
| | take your favorite lawyer to lunch.Just
|
| liability protection. Doing so would also
| |
| | be prepared to pick up the tab.Here's to
|
| help him save on start-up costs (such as
| |
| | your success.Tim KnoxTim's latest book is
|
| having to pay for a separate
| |
| | "The 30 Day Blueprint For Success!" We
|
| incorporation). It's relatively simple to
| |
| | asked 58 Top Internet Money Makers: If
|
| keep a separate set of books, and when
| |
| | you lost is all tomorrow and had to start
|
| the new business takes off, he can spin
| |
| | from scratch, what would you do to be
|
| it off into a separate entity.Will a
| |
| | back on top in the 30 days? Their answers
|
| corporation protect me from liability? It
| |
| | just might make you rich!
|
