8 Legal Considerations When Starting A Business
Opening a business is a very exciting venture. Nevertheless, you have to go through many processes before you can start one. The first thing to do to start these processes is to understand its legal considerations.
This can also help in preventing time-consuming and pricey mistakes. Those often cause delay or negative impact at the start of your business. Continue reading to learn some of the legalities involved when starting your business.
Legal Considerations When Starting A Business
Business Structure
The most common business structure small businesses choose is an LLC or limited liability company. LLCs are common since this business structure provides a form of liability if you neglect a contract or fail to make bill payments. Even though LLCs can be difficult to manage, you have some protection rather than having zero protection.
There are other business structures such as sole proprietorship, partnership, or professional corporation. Therefore, it is highly recommended to consult an advisor or CPA. They’ll provide you with business structure options and determine which one works best for your business.
Tax Requirements
To make sure that you will not have any legal issues when you launch it is crucial to check tax requirements. You can start by familiarizing yourself with the federal tax requirements. Many business owners check these thoroughly. However, they do not check the other tax types — local and state taxes. You need to check these together with the federal tax requirements.
Business Name
You need to do a careful search on the Internet before you pick your business’ name. You need to check if another business operates with the same name as yours. You need to be meticulous to avoid issues with infringement upon the trademark of another company.
After picking out the name of your business, you need to register your business name and logo if you have one as your trademark. This is to avoid other businesses using your brand name or logo when they register.
Licenses
Before you can open your business, you need numerous licenses and permits. The licenses your business needs depend on what kind of business you are planning to put up. The most basic things you will need are a trading license, business license, and sales tax license.
For instance, if you plan to open a food-related business such as a pub, restaurant, or catering business, you need to register at your local office. This is to make sure that you comply with food standards and health and safety regulations. There are also relevant licenses and permits if you plan to start an entertainment business.
Put simply, you need to do extra research and reach out to your local government offices to know more about the licenses you specifically need to legally operate.
Insurance
Many business zones require owners to have a particular number of employees to have employer’s liability insurance. Nevertheless, insurance goes beyond a legal requirement. If you have insurance with ample coverage, you can prevent fines that can incur if you are not insured.
Moreover, you are also more secure from your employees’ compensation claims and visitors who got sick or hurt while in your office. You can also consider getting professional indemnity or public liability when you avail of employer’s liability insurance.
Confidentiality And Non-Disclosure Contracts
You need confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements if you will enter a contract with suppliers or work with banks or other people for business financing. That is because they will be able to see information about your business that you might want to keep confidential. You need to prepare these contracts and make sure that all the parties involved will sign them.
Related Health And Safety Laws
You have health and safety accountability when you have a business. This means you have to ensure the safety and health of your employees in the workplace. You also have the responsibility for the safety of your visitors and clients inside, outside, and around your business premises.
It will be a lot of help if you have a risk assessment. This can determine the risks people are exposed to when they visit your business premises. Then, you need to do your best to lessen these dangers. What you might need to do is to change some of the standard procedures. You might even have to remove some equipment to guarantee your employees’ and visitors’ safety.
Zoning Rules
If you are in the process of searching for a location for your business, you need to check that the location you are considering is the right zone for the kind of business you plan to have. Researching or inquiring about it at your local government office will help in ensuring that you are choosing the right area for your business.
However, you should never assume that the zone is right for your business. That’s because there are businesses that are similar to yours in that zone. This will be costly for you if it is not the right zone. There are situations that the zoning laws have changed since these businesses were opened or they might have received exemptions.
Conclusion
Finally, launching your business can be challenging. Nevertheless, understanding these legal considerations can help the process easier. Because you will be responsible for the daily operations of your business, you need to know what possible legal issues can arise. You can also protect yourself and your business if you familiarize yourself with these.
