5 Things to Take into Consideration Before Choosing an Attorney for Your Business
Just like you conduct thorough research before contracting vendors and business partners, the same rules should apply when choosing the right person to represent your company’s legal interests. Fortunately, the pool of legal talents is deep and promising. But precisely because you have so many options to choose from, it makes it even harder to decide on the right one.
When choosing a lawyer, you need to take into consideration various aspects, such as their expertise in the field your business activates, their reliability and trustworthiness, as well as how well they are referred by past or current clients. Below is a list of aspects to focus on, before hiring a new lawyer for your company.
Firm Size
The first thing you should take into consideration is the size of the firm your lawyer is part of. Both small firms and big ones have advantages and disadvantages, so weigh them carefully before making a decision.
On one hand, lawyers from small firms often have more time on their hands, which means you receive more attention for your issues, as they do have a smaller portfolio of clients. This will, most of the time, result in you establishing a much closer relationship with your lawyer. Small firms also focus more on retaining their clients and get more involved in the cases. As they are working towards growing their firm, they know how important it is to dedicate as much time as they can to their existing clients. Plus, if you stay with them from the beginning, chances are you will become one of their most important clients over time.
On the other hand, big firms do have more expertise and, although they have more clients, they can sometimes give you valuable advice based on years of practice. Because they are in the field for many years, big firms tend to be more respected and feared by opponents, in case you need to negotiate something.
Budget
Part of finding an attorney that best fist your needs is finding one whose services won’t burn a hole in your company’s pocket. Legal services can be expensive, but that depends on the needs of your business and how often you are going to use the lawyer’s services.
Before making a decision, present the attorney with the case, discuss your needs and ask for an estimate price, to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Chances are, they are not going to be able to tell you an exact price, but at least they can let you know what approximate costs you should be looking at.
Typically, attorneys work on an hourly rate, but there are some that work on fixed amounts as well. However, the preferred approach nowadays seems to be a combination of both, depending on the work you are asking for. If, for example, you need some type of filing they are used to, they know how much to charge from the start and they will ask for a fixed amount. On the other hands, if your requests are more peculiar and they may end up spending many hours working on a complex contract, they may charge hourly.
Reliability and Reputation
Finding an attorney that you can trust is extremely important, as you will be putting your company in their hands. An attorney with a bad reputation can affect the reputation of your company as well, and the last thing you want is to find yourself facing other legal issues, while trying to solve some basic ones.
When having your first discussion, pay attention to what they say and ask yourself if they are treating you with consideration, or they are simply trying to get your money. While it is common for lawyers to keep an optimistic tone when talking to their clients, if they sound too optimistic and don’t present you with the potential risks in regards to your case, this can be a massive red flag.
Another way to see if your lawyer is as reputable as they say they are is to do a free background check on them. This way, you can find more information that would, otherwise, require huge amounts of time to gather and make your decision faster.
Valid Referrals
When talking with your attorney, ask for referrals from their past or current clients. They should be able to provide you with enough information about cases they have worked, that are similar to yours. This way, you can see if they are on the level they claim to be.
At the same time, go to your friends or business partners for recommendations as well. There is no better marketing than word of mouth and, if they are pleased with a lawyer they have worked with, you already have some sort of a guarantee. Ask about their issues and how the lawyer managed to handle the situation, as well as if they have encountered any problems throughout the case.
If you have connections in your field of industry, chances are can connect you with a good lawyer that has expertise in the field and can provide much better service.
Expertise
Expertise is just as important as trustworthiness, when it comes to finding the right lawyer. Look for someone who has won at least one case that is similar to yours and knows how to handle the situation. Try to keep away from general practitioners, as even though they are good for basic situations, they may not have in-depth knowledge about more complex matters. In a difficult case, this can really lower your chances of winning.
If you can’t find someone with enough experience, at least try to find someone who is willing to learn and gives their best to gain as much knowledge as they can. Sometimes, an attorney that has less experience, but goes out of their way to gather documentation and do research has a much bigger chance of winning, as they can give a fresh and new perspective to the case.
3 Things Business Owners Need to Know About Digital Accessibility Laws
People with disabilities have the right to access websites, mobile sites, and other forms of information technology, according to Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Unfortunately, not every business or organization complies with the accessibility standards outlined in Section 508. Many entities don’t include the support features needed to eliminate the bottlenecks that individuals with disability experience when using technology.
But, failure to adhere to Section 508 guidelines can have dire consequences; both financially and legally. And organizations outside the United States aren’t off the hook, either.
The World Wide Web Consortium’s implementation of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0 & 2.1), have also been adopted by many countries and international organizations around the globe.
Bearing this in mind, business owners, website owners and government funded organizations need to get on board with accessibility; not only because accessibility lawsuits are on the rise, but also because it’s the right thing to do.
Overview of Section 508
Places of public accommodation must consider people with disabilities when developing, procuring, maintaining, and using ICT. The resources should be accessible to every citizen, whether employees of such entities or not.
Employees with disabilities should be able to work on devices such as computers, telephones, and office equipment. Public entities should ease access to online resources such as courses and other information to people with disabilities.
There must also be fairness when citizens apply for jobs and competitive opportunities. Whether with a disability or not, a person looking for information about a program should access it like everybody else. The same applies when filling online forms.
Section 508 defines ICT as any system or equipment used to create, access, duplicate, or convert information and data. Some of them include computers, phones, televisions, DVD players, copiers, intranet sites, PDFs, webinars, and many more.
Key Takeaways
- ICT resources in commercial and public entities must be available to people with disabilities conveniently
- ICT includes systems that create, access, duplicate, or convert information and data
- Online platforms such as websites are part of places of public accommodation
If you are in charge of a public or commercial organization, Section 508 compliance standards are your business. Here are some accessibility issues you should know.
1. Rules of Section 508 Compliance Standards
Public entities and commercial establishments must avail information and programs available electronically to users with disabilities. Employees should be able to perform technological functions without feeling disadvantaged.
Job applicants with disabilities should also compete with other candidates for opportunities equitably. Therefore, places of public accommodation should ease access to programs and the application process for all.
Section 508 also insists on fairness for all employees, and people with disabilities should enjoy equal privileges and benefits as other workers. Public agencies, therefore, should provide the necessary electronic devices and software for people of all abilities to access information.
2. Content for Public Websites
Owners of sites that offer services and information to the public must keep accessibility to people with disabilities in mind.
The Bureau of Internet Accessibility offers this advice, “Accessibility is not an optional requirement for your websites, apps and kiosks. It is a federal law. Non-compliance to ADA’s regulations leaves your company liable to user driven lawsuits.
But, more than the need to reduce liability, it is the right thing to do. More than 1 Billion persons with disabilities are not your customers because they cannot consume the content on your website. These include, but are not limited to those with physical, vision and hearing challenges, and military veterans.”
The United States Access Board released the Revised 508 Standards in 2018. The roadmap enhances ICT accessibility and usability to individuals with disabilities.
Content in websites must be:
Perceivable
Website users should perceive all information, content, and interfaces without difficulty. These include people with hearing and vision impairment as well as cognitive disorders.
Understandable
Users of all abilities should understand the content offered on the site. You must present the information in a user-readable format.
Operable
User interfaces must be easy to operate for everyone, regardless of their abilities. For this reason, incorporating support features like assistive technology and keyboard-only navigation is essential.
Robust
Electronic material presented to website users must meet the current standards. It should be adaptable to keep pace with accessibility developments like innovations in assistive technologies.
The 2018 refresh shifts the focus from products to functions. The standards for devices like laptops and smartphones that serve similar purposes are now combined. In this case you expect the regulations for a task like browsing the internet to be comparable.
3. Testing for Section 508 Compliance
A full audit by an experienced internet accessibility agency can detect most of the compliance issues within a website. It involves an in-depth examination of the site by an expert as well as with automatic scans.
In this process it is essential to invite an individual with a disability to interact with the website using assistive tools. Their experience should inform if you’ve met the accessibility requirements or you need to work on the site further. Learn more about accessibility testing here.
Final Word
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act is a sophisticated part of the law that affects website management. It provides some of the most prevalent accessibility regulations in the United States, and website owners should take note.
Managers of business and public websites should implement Section 508 standards to avoid user-driven lawsuits, and more importantly, to enhance fairness in access to information.
Failure to conform to accessibility requirements can land your business in legal hot water, and cost your business precious time and money.
Legal Items to Include in a Paystub
There are a million details in running a business, some of which can have devastating legal ramifications if done wrong.
Paying your employees can end up feeling like walking a tight rope, but with the right organization, it doesn’t have to be.
Understanding a good pay stub example allows you to organize your employee expenses.
Below we will go over the details of a proper pay stub and what you need to understand when using them.
The Pay Stub Example
A pay stub is a simple thing. It can, and in some cases must contain a lot of important information.
Here is a rundown of the usual pay stub example. If you can cover all this information in an efficient and succinct manner, you got yourself a pay stub winner!
1. The Employee’s Information
The biggest bulk of information will be all of your employee’s information.
The list of what information is good and what is required are both long.
The basic list for employee’s information is the employee’s name, social security number, address, birthdate if a minor, sex, and occupation.
2. Hours Worked and When
Keeping track of your employee’s time is very vital. If an employee works overtime, there must be a record of it. As well, if there is a discrepancy in what an employee worked versus what is on the pay stub, that can be a major issue.
Note the total number of clocked employee hours, as well as the dates that they worked in. Keeping a record of the when and how much will keep you on track.
3. Taxes, Deductions, and Employer Benefits
There are a great number of potential items that you should deduct from an employee’s pay.
The biggest one is State and Federal income tax. You must show the exact amount of taxes deducted from the employee’s income to ensure that they have all the needed information when tax season hits.
Other deductions may differ from employer to employer. If the employee has insurance through you, then you must record the payments for that.
As well, note other things like pension funds and retirement plans.
4. Pay Rate and Pay Stub Total
The last major component of a full pay stub is to have the pay rate and pay total listed.
This seems like an obvious addition, as the entire point of a pay stub is to mark the income of your employee for both them and your own records.
The importance here is ensuring that there is a clear understanding of their pay rate, including any raises. This keeps communication between employer and employee clear and honest.
A Little Helping Hand
Making sure each and every pay stub is accurate, delivered on time, and consistent can be a big task. It only gets bigger as your company grows.
There are a few options that can be worth investing in for the future. Linking up with an expert in the pay stub field can go a long way towards keeping everything perfect.
There is no one better than ThePayStubs. Their support and expertise will guide you to a better and more fluid system.
Paying It Forward
With this pay stub example and a bit of guidance, you are well on your way to ensuring that your business runs in a smooth and efficient manner.
Don’t skip out on the little details! Things as simple as pay stubs can add up to be a big deal.
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Getting Legal: How to Know When You Need to Hire a Business Lawyer
You already know calling a business lawyer is the first thing to do if your company is being sued, but what about less severe situations?
Unfortunately, there are a lot of areas where it’s not clear if you need legal advice or not. In many cases, it would be helpful but doesn’t seem absolutely necessary.
We’ve come up with a list of circumstances in which you should call an attorney and several that you can navigate yourself.
Keep reading to learn more to help you save money when you don’t need a lawyer and keep you out of trouble when you do need one.
When to Call a Business Lawyer
First, let’s jump into a few situations which may seem like you can take care of them yourself but you’ll actually want to call in a legal expert.
Environmental Issues
When you’re purchasing new land for your business or even an existing business, pay close attention to any potential environmental issues. This includes contamination and endangerment to wildlife.
If a property is causing either of these things, it carries some heavy penalties, even if your business didn’t cause the initial problem. For this reason, you’ll want a lawyer to help you clear things up before it gets too far.
Special Allocations
Sometimes, you and/or your business partners may want to make special allocations when it comes to profits or losses within your business agreement.
Again, this situation may seem simple but you’ll actually want a business lawyer to make sure everything is being done according to the law. A tax attorney will be particularly helpful in this situation.
Sexual Harassment or Discrimination Cases
At some point in your business, you will probably have to deal with a current or former employee threatening to sue your company or a manager for sexual harassment or discrimination.
While there are a number of things you should be doing to prevent this, these things may happen regardless. If they do, even threats should be taken seriously and responded to with an immediate call to a business attorney.
When to Do It Yourself
Now let’s get into a couple of things you can do yourself without needing the help of a lawyer.
Starting Your Business
There are a lot of things that go into starting a business, but you can do all of them on your own. These include:
- Reserving a name for your business
- Filing a fictitious business name statement
- Forming an LLC or corporation
- Applying for a business employer identification number (EIN)
- Leasing a commercial space
- Interviewing and hiring employees
As you can see, starting a business may take a lot of work, but you don’t have to include attorney fees in your budget if you don’t want to.
Setting Up Payroll
It may seem intimidating to set up a payroll system that complies with US tax laws, but the truth is it’s easier than you think. The most important aspect is ensuring all pay is recorded.
Using a website like paystubcreator.net is a great way to easily track payments to employees so both they and you can properly report everything to the IRS during tax time.
Need More Legal Advice?
Now you have several instances in which you’ll want help from an experienced business lawyer as well as a few things you can handle yourself. Hopefully, this gives you an idea of when you should get legal advice.
If you’re looking for more legal information to help you keep your business on track, check out more of our blog. All we have are legal articles to help you know your rights in every situation.
Why Hiring a Business Lawyer Is Crucial for Your Success (And When to Do It)
When it comes to hiring a business lawyer, you may just think you need one if your company runs into legal trouble.
However, you should actually hire a lawyer much earlier than that. You should have a lawyer on your side right from the planning stages of your operation, even before you start selling a product or service.
Here are some reasons you should hire a lawyer that specializes in business law right from the start…
Registering Your Business
If you are a sole proprietorship, meaning you’re going to run the business on your own, then there are some considerations for hiring a lawyer. While this is usually the least complicated business model, you may still want a lawyer to sort out leasing agreements for example.
However, you may be starting a partnership or incorporating your business, in which case you will want someone well-versed in business corporate law.
There are a number of legal documents to sign in this scenario, especially when incorporating. You want to ensure everything is done right from the start, rather than putting out fires down the road.
Securing Investments
When you’re starting small, you may want to consider getting some investors on board early to give you a boost. One reason to hire a lawyer is to help secure agreements with investors to protect you down the road.
Another benefit is that some business attorneys may already have an established network of investors to tap into. That can save you some time finding suitable ones that are reliable.
Trademarking Your Name and Logo
The name you choose for your business and the logo are important elements unique to your business, and they should be protected. However, unless you’re an expert in trademark law, you will want to find a business attorney that has experience in this field.
A lawyer will help make sure your trademarks are properly registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. They can also help you sort out what exactly you want to apply the trademark to when it comes to products and services. In other words, a good lawyer can help protect your intellectual property.
You might also want a lawyer to help you to create non-disclosure agreements with employees to prevent them from sharing your business practices.
Assisting in Employee Procedures
If your business has a staff (or will have one), then you’ll want to have a lawyer on board early to help with hiring employees. That also applies if you’re letting one go, and want the least hassle.
You also might need help with things like securing an employer identification number with the IRS. You may also consider a non-compete clause, which ensures an employee won’t leave and start a competing business in the area.
It Pays To Hire a Business Lawyer
You may be trying to save some money when you first start out, and that’s understandable. However, by not having a business lawyer in place that can help you run smoothly, then it could end up costing you more in the future.
There are many things you possibly haven’t considered when starting a business, such as what happens to your business in the case of a divorce, or how to handle a lawsuit. Having an expert on your side from the start will help you navigate bumps in the road a lot more easily.
How to Use Business Intelligence to Improve Your Law Firms Profitability
Do you have your own law firm? Perhaps you are a partner at a law firm? Maybe you are thinking of branching out and starting up your own firm? Or, you could be in charge of your law firms bottom line. If any of these are the case then you’ll want to learn more about business intelligence and power bi for law firms to figure out the ways it can help you.
Improving your business intelligence or BI system regarding your law firm can help in many ways. It can increase profits, provide billing solutions while streamlining communications. BI can also help you to predict upcoming trends and put you ahead of the game.
Increase Profitability
Let’s face it, increasing profits is important to any business and your law firm will definitely always want to be looking at ways to increase them. There are basically three ways business intelligence can help increase profits.
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Cutting Costs
Business intelligence can tell you where expense cuts need to be made. Maybe you’re not offering the right law services or there is a service that people don’t need. With BI you can figure out which of your services are working best and which are not worth the time and effort.
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Marketing
When you have a more focused marketing campaign for your law firm you will gain more clients and therefore increase profits. With BI you can learn more about client behaviors and be able to customize your services to their exact needs. You can figure out what times of the day are best to put out an online ad. This may seem like a small change or even insignificant however this little trick can really boost your profits.
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Become More Efficient
By using business intelligence you can eliminate inefficiencies. You’ll have access to every piece of your company’s data in one place with BI. This will allow your employees to focus on the most important tasks throughout the day. This is key, especially for bigger firms. You’ll also eliminate excess time searching for data since it’s all right there together in one place. Your profits will be optimized after taking this step.
Customer Billing
These days clients are looking for an alternative to traditional hourly billing by law firms. Clients want fixed pricing as well as some adjustments that are able to be made during a case or project. But the problem is making money with these new billing structures can be more complicated. Staffing and pricing can become more complicated and therefore clog up your system and daily routines. However, with BI you can spread each employees time out over several projects then you can also balance resources and needs to each specific case. You can spend time on the more expensive cases first and use the remaining resources on cases with fewer fees.
Predicting the Future
Predicting the future would be beneficial for all business lawyers, and with business intelligence your firm will be able to see trends and figure out clients needs faster which will make you more efficient and your clients happier.
What are break notices in a commercial lease
If you’re renting out a commercial property or intend to acquire a lease to use the property then it’s likely that you’ll come across the term ‘break notice’ at some point. But what are break notices and what should you be aware of if you’re intending to exercise it or just want to understand the notice before you sign on the dotted line?
A break clause is often negotiated between two parts before entering a lease. It’s an agreement that means either the landlord, tenant or both parties have the right to end the lease prematurely by issuing a break notice on the other party. For example, if a business wishes to end their lease early then they must serve a break notice to their landlord, as long as certain conditions are met.
When can I serve a break notice as a tenant?
Be sure to read all the conditions set out in the break clause that you signed when you initially began renting out the property. If you don’t meet the conditions, the landlord is entitled to prevent the tenant from ending the lease early. This is where a solicitor will normally enter the picture, as disputes can arise from the landlord contesting the break clause.
The conditions you must meet will differ depending on what the landlord has included, but there are a number of common conditions that landlords usually insert. You will likely have an obligation to pay all rent owed, any other payments owed and ensure that repair obligations have been met.
It is essential that a break notice is carefully drafted to ensure it meets all the conditions of the lease and the law. If the notice is incorrect in any way, the tenant is usually obligated with seeing out the remainder of the lease. This is why it’s incredibly important that you contact a break clause solicitor to ensure everything occurs smoothly.
What do I do as a landlord if a tenant serves a break notice?
Your job of ensuring that a break notice is carried out correctly begins when you have inserted a break clause in a lease that a tenant is about to sign. You must make sure the tenant understands all the conditions of the break clause and how to serve a break notice.
Before you accept a break notice from a tenant, you need to ensure that all the conditions of the lease have been met and all monies owed are paid.
If you have inserted an unconditional break clause in your lease, you simply need to ensure that the tenant leaves the property on the break date. For the tenant, they need to ensure that all their goods and fixtures are removed, keys are returned and the property isn’t occupied on the break date.
To sum up, all parties should be 100% aware of what is required in a break notice and all obligations are met.
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Follow If Someone Falls Over in Your Business Premises
According to the CDC, approximately ten million individuals visited emergency centers in the hospitals to receive medical treatments for falls between 2009 and 2010. Slips and falls have been reported to be the leading cause of accidents in the workplaces. A slip and fall incident can be extremely serious since a business may be sued for allowing the hazardous condition to exist. To be well-prepared for these kinds of cases, here is a step-by-step guide to follow if an individual falls over in your business premises.
1. Medical Assistance
If an individual falls and is injured in your business premises, your first step should be calling for medical assistance. Try to keep the victim in a comfortable situation and do not move them around to avoid aggravating their injuries. You should also try to control bleeding if any, and check their airways to ensure there are no obstructions in their breathing.
2. Inspect the Fall Section
Once first aid has been given and the victim attended to by the medical professionals, inspect the site of the fall to determine whether dangerous conditions still exist. The carpeting or flooring should be checked to ascertain if they are in their right condition so as to avoid similar incidents of slip and fall from occurring. You also need to remember that not all hazardous conditions can be attributed to the premises owner being held liable for a fall. For example, on a snowy or rainy day, building floors usually get wet and are usually slippery. In such cases, falls can be perceived to be beyond the business’s control.
3. Create an Incident Report
As the owner of the business, you also need to create an incident report that would detail the victim’s name, the site of fall, conditions that necessitated the fall, injuries sustained, hospital visited, and names of witnesses. This is a crucial report as it details what transpired. You can also attach other supporting documents such as photos of the site can be crucial as these can help you during the claim if no obvious hazard existed at the time of the fall.
4. Legal Assistance
Make sure you are careful with what you say after the incident. In fact, it is best not to say anything which may sound like you are admitting liability. Refrain from making statements in the absence of a premises liability attorney. Your lawyer should be in a position to provide guidance on how you are going to deal with the legal process in a way that would protect your interests.
Final word
There are no precise means of determining when the owner of a business is legally responsible for the injuries sustained by other people within his or her premises. Every case depends on how the business owner acted during a slip and fall incident and whether the plaintiff or victim acted carelessly on his or her part to warrant the injuries sustained. As a business owner, following the pointers highlighted above will help to avoid liability when a victim claims you were negligent and failed to take necessary precautions to prevent slips and falls.
Four Reasons You Need a Lawyer When Selling a Franchise
If you have found a franchise that you would like to sell to others, then it may be that you need a lawyer to ensure that you are complying with all your state’s laws, as well as federal laws when selling a franchise. Failure to do so could lead to potential buyers having no interest in your franchise or reporting you to the state for not doing things according to the law.
They Know Everything That Needs to Be Included in Your FDD
To be able to sell a franchise, you first need an FDD. An FDD is a Franchise Disclosure Document and contains within it everything that prospective buyers need to make a decision on whether they want to be a part of your franchise or not. It can be difficult to figure out everything that needs to be contained in this document, and that is why a lawyer could help. They can aid in bridging the gaps between your knowledge and theirs, meaning your FDD will be up to perfect standard. If you aren’t sure what an FDD is, it is certainly a good idea to hire a lawyer to help you form one.
They Understand the Laws in Each State
Each state has different laws surrounding owning a franchise and selling one. Some states only abide by the federal laws while others have their own laws and registration fees. It is essential you follow both the Federal Franchising Laws, as well as your own state laws to ensure that your franchise doesn’t get stopped in its tracks before you even get a chance to sell it.
They Can Aid You to Advertise Following Regulations
If you have everything ready to sell your franchise, including your FDD, you will want to advertise your franchise before selling. Again, each state has a different rule regarding this and it may be that your state requires you to be registered before an advert can be published. You may also have to present the state with your advert, so they can approve it before you can use it. If this sounds like too much and you’re unsure of how to advertise while abiding by your state laws, a franchise attorney can review your advertisement for you and make any reasonable adjustments, leaving you with one less thing to worry about.
They Are Experts in Franchising
A franchise attorney will set up a plan for your franchise and how to sell it, including regulating any advertisements so you don’t have to. This means you can work alongside them to ensure selling your franchise goes off without a hitch and you can deal with the more important stuff, while they study your FDD and provide you with one that will comply with any laws. They can also help you in reducing any auditing costs.
If you are unsure on exactly how to sell your franchise, it is best to use legal protection to provide you with peace of mind that you are doing everything as you should.
5 Legal Requirements for Starting a Small Business
Starting a small business can change your life for the better, allowing you to take control of your own destiny and to build your reputation in the local community and beyond. If you’re particularly lucky, you can turn it into a family business and get your partner or your children involved.
At the same time, though, it isn’t always easy. There are specific legal requirements that you need to adhere to which can change from region to region, and if you find yourself falling foul of them, you could be in for a fine – or worse!
And so without further ado, here are five steps to starting a business for those who are worried about legalities and compliance. Let’s get started.
5 Legal Requirements for Starting a Small Business
1. Do you need help?
If you’re struggling, think back to when you were a student and you got college assignment help. Now it’s time for you to seek legal help! Hiring a lawyer or even just a business expert can save you a lot of time in the long run because you can make sure that everything is in order right from the very beginning.
2. Can you use the name?
One of the earliest things that people tend to do when starting out is to come up with a name for their company. Just remember that one of the most basic legal requirements for starting a small business is to make sure that you’re legally allowed to use the name. Make sure that nobody else has copyrighted key terms and consider copyrighting them yourself.
3. Have you sorted your tax?
In the United States, your business will need to comply with federal, state and local tax laws, while in the UK you’ll need to register either as self-employed or as a limited company, business partnership or social enterprise. Make sure that you’re registered and that you know how much tax you need to pay so you can save up and pay on time accordingly. To do that successfully, you’ll have to either hire an accountant or do the accounting by yourself. With the use of software, you can easily sync all your transactions from your CRM or POS system (if you have one).
4. What are the local employment laws?
While you may be planning to start out with just yourself, if your business grows then you’ll eventually find yourself taking on other employees to help you with the workload. If that’s the case, you’ll need to make sure that you’re in full compliance with any laws that cover your area. Of course, it’s also in your best interests to be an honest employer because word spreads and if you treat employees unfairly, no one will want to work for or with you.
5. Do you have the right licenses?
In many cases, you’ll require certain permits and licenses if you want to do business. The same goes for if you need to obtain permission to use certain patents and even images. For example, you may require the licenses to use imagery in your social networking presence or to include the logos of a company whose products you stock.
Conclusion
Now you know how to legally start a business, the next step is for you to make your dreams a reality. Carve out some time to follow the steps to starting a business that we’ve shared with you, but make sure that you’re ready for the commitment required before you get started.
Being able to legally create a business is one thing, but to make it sustainable is another. Spend some time reading articles and how-to guides and be sure to perfect your business plan so that you get started with the most solid foundation possible. Good luck.
Author Bio
Bryan Davis is a freelance writer and registered business owner. He writes about his successes and failures in the hope that he can stop other people from repeating his mistakes. He believes that anyone can be a businessperson and prides himself on the fact that he helps people to reach their full potential.
