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As a business owner, hiring your first employee is a big step. While it is certainly a milestone of growth, it also triggers a variety of legal issues of which every business owner should be aware. It is extremely...

A sole proprietorship is perhaps the simplest business entity available for self-employed individuals. In fact, many people have a sole proprietorship without even realizing they do. For example, a college student offering lawn services in the neighborhood to make...

Many small business owners do not want to start from scratch with a unique idea. The good news is that you can still be your own boss without building a business from the ground up, as franchises can be...

Previously on this blog, we discussed the importance of developing an employee handbook despite the time and energy involved. Another important step for small business owners is to properly set up a system for employee personnel files when you...

Many small business owners may not believe it is necessary to have a formal employee handbook. True, handbooks take time and energy to develop and must be updated on a regular basis. It may seem much easier to simply...

Small business owners should always be aware of all of the federal and state employment laws that may apply to their company.  Familiarizing yourself with laws regarding wages, hours, discrimination, and more not only guarantees fair treatment for your...

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has moved one step closer to implementing key provisions of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act. First signed into law over a year ago on April 5, 2012, the JOBS...

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in its landmark decision in United States v. Windsor.  This decision meant that the federal government would now...

Small business owners may be intimidated when huge corporate chains open in the neighborhood and may worry that the mass-marketing giants will lure their customers away.  However, many small businesses continue to succeed in the face of corporate competitors. ...

Many small business owners try to be flexible in order to accommodate their employees’ needs, busy lives, and unexpected situations.  However, even if owners are simply trying to be kind and helpful, they may be unintentionally breaking federal and/or...