Most people start the process of estate planning to deal with “What If”. What If you died and your children were still too young to care for themselves? What If you were no longer physically able to care for yourself? What If you had very specific instructions for how your property should be passed on? Every person on the planet has an individual list of things they worry about. And those worries are often what Read More
Thinking About Incorporating?
So you’re in the planning stages of your new business venture… Or maybe you’ve been operating for awhile but just hadn’t gotten around to doing the “business” paperwork... Chances are your CPA has reminded you that no job is finished until the paperwork is done and you know it’s time to make your business structure official. Depending on the nature of your business, you’ve probably been given the option of a Read More
Protecting You and Your Business
Paperwork can be a pain. You never want to let it distract you from running your business, but crossing the proverbial “T’s” and dotting those “I’s” is very important. The reason is that your business entity protects you. It shields your personal assets from any liabilities that may be incurred by your business entity, whether that entity is a corporation, a limited liability company, or a limited Read More
Hiring and Changes to The I-9 Process
April 15th is Tax Day (well, normally…this year we received a 3-day extension). But this year, it was also the day the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published their final ruling adopting changes to protect the integrity of the Form I-9 employment verification process for non-U.S. citizens seeking employment. While many of these changes were already in effect with an interim rule issued in Read More
Before You Hire Summer Help
Hiring kids for summer jobs is a long standing tradition, especially for small businesses. It’s a win for everyone involved – the kids get a little work experience and some extra money and the businesses get a somewhat less expensive and highly energetic work force for the summer months. Well, at least it’s less expensive as long as you follow the Department of Labor rules governing minors and how and when they Read More
Telecommuters and Lawsuits – A Growing Trend
The increase in gas prices… The high cost of commuting… Increased cost of providing office space… All of these factors have made telecommuting a very attractive option for employers and employees alike. The technology available has made it virtually seamless for employees to work from home. But what employers haven’t counted on is the growing trend in lawsuits filed by employees working from home. Farmers Insurance Read More
The Family Business Succession Plan – An Important Piece of the Estate Planning Puzzle
Do you own a family business? If so, you have plenty of company. More than 90% of U.S. businesses are family businesses. Out of the Fortune 500, 150 are family businesses. Now, would you like to hear some really startling statistics? Only 30% of family businesses will survive into the family’s second generation, 12% to the third generation and only 4% last to the fourth generation. Scary statistics, aren’t Read More
A Legal Advisor for Your Small Business – Like Money in the Bank
Starting and running your own business requires you to be something of a gambler. Regardless of how much you plan, nothing is certain except that at least some of the million and one things you think can go wrong, will. To balance your penchant for taking a few risks with the need to ensure the success of your business, you need to plan, get and follow good advice and, above all, don’t give up at the first sign of Read More
Retaliation – A Human Resources Nightmare
When you have an employee file a claim against you for any violation of legally required employment standards, it is vitally important that you refrain from any type of retaliation against that employee. Failure to do so can land you in court…again… As if that weren’t enough to contend with, a recent Supreme Court ruling just made your life more difficult. You could now be liable for retaliation against employees Read More
Cutting Salaries? Approach With Caution
Everyone is looking for ways to save these days. Your small business is no exception. You can’t afford to cut any more personnel so now you’re thinking of cutting salaries… Before you take out the red pen and start slashing employee wages, make sure you understand the legal issues you could be dealing with. You could end up spending more in legal fees than you saved in cutting pay. What To Do First Before you Read More
