Before I became a small business owner, I was a lawyer. This leap from one very different career path was reminiscent of Elle Woods in the movie Legally Blonde going from fashion to law school. Only I started out as a practicing attorney, and later became the CEO of a small business. While, admittedly, there […]
3 Scary Things That Can Happen To Unincorporated Businesses
Halloween is right around the corner, and I’ve been thinking about the scary moments entrepreneurs face when they start their businesses. The most frightening moment isn’t when you take out a loan. It’s not when you’re drafting an in-depth business plan. The scariest thing a small business owner can do for their startup is to […]
How and When to Choose the Best Legal Service for Your Business
My neighbor is a very successful restauranteur who owns 14+ restaurants throughout the state of South Carolina. His restaurants run 12 to 16 hours a day, seven days a week. Recently he shared a little secret with me that seemed to emerge from his mouth as more of a humorous fact rather than as a […]
Fall Business Tasks: What Business Owners Need to Do Before the Year Ends
Autumn’s arrival has signaled that the dog days of summer are officially over and it’s time to get back to the grind, whether that means syncing up to the kids’ class schedules or staying longer hours later at the office. For small business owners, it’s critical to start planning on through the end of the […]
Does Your Business Need a Trademark?
Do you ever wonder what will prevent another company from using your same name? Or if you’re legally permitted to use the name you picked for your business? If you’re a small business owner, read on to learn about the trademark, and most importantly, if you need one for your business. Trademarking 101 First, some […]
End of the Year Checklist for Your Business
December is a non-stop whirlwind of family events, holiday shopping, and end of the year parties. But if you’re a business owner, no matter the size and scale of your business, it’s also that time of year to make sure you’ve got everything squared away for the New Year. Waiting for your New Year’s resolutions […]
Starting an Incorporation Business – Interview with Nellie Akalp
Nellie and her husband, Phil started their first incorporation business in 1997 while they were attending law school. They were surprised by the overwhelming demand for their honest, time-saving, and affordable incorporation services. In 2005, they sold their business to Intuit (for $20 million dollars) and retired, but, after their three-year non-compete agreement was up […]