How to Start an E-commerce Business
If you have ever considered starting an e-commerce business, now is a great time to move from ideation to action. Online retail sales exploded to an all-time high amid COVID-19 lockdowns, travel bans, and brick-and-mortar closures, and this was not just a temporary...What You Need to Know about ADA Website Compliance
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires businesses to accommodate people with physical and cognitive impairments. While the ADA, which applies to “places of public accommodation,” was designed with physical spaces in mind, the proliferation of online...What Happens to Your Business When You Die
You spend a significant part of your life building your business, and it becomes a major part of your legacy. But when you die, everything you have built could fall apart if you have not taken the time to create a business succession plan. Without a plan in place,...Common Pitfalls in Family-Owned Businesses
Your family and your business are two of your top priorities. You would not do anything to compromise either of them. But working with family members in a family-owned business presents unique challenges that can cause lasting damage to both if not properly managed....Legal Considerations in the Hiring Process
You are probably aware of employment laws that could create liabilities if your company fails to comply with them. However, even before a person becomes an employee, certain antidiscrimination laws protect them during the application process. Most employers must...How to Handle Conflicts in Family-Owned Businesses
Conflicts are inevitable within businesses and families. Personal rivalries, differences of opinion, competition for resources, and questions of prestige can set individuals at odds and lead to warring factions with competing loyalties. Resolving conflicts in both...How to Protect Your Business from Lawsuits
Small business owners are no strangers to risk management. Owning and operating a small business entails a certain level of unpredictability. Despite your best efforts to stay on top of supply chains, marketing, sales, competitors, employees, and cash flow, unexpected...Business Trusts 101: What Entrepreneurs Should Know about Using a Business Trust
Trusts are usually associated with estate planning, but trusts can also apply to business operations. As a small business owner, you can hold the business in a trust instead of using a business entity such as a limited liability company (LLC) or corporation. Business...Why You Cannot Withhold Payment from Employees
Paying employees is among the top legal obligations of employers. Whether due to financial difficulties or worker conduct, it is generally illegal to withhold payment from employees. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), as well as state labor boards, have strict laws...Develop a Vacation Policy for Your Business
What do workers want most? Beyond a pay raise, one of the best ways to keep workers happy is to give them more paid time off (PTO). Contrary to what business owners and managers might think, vacation time has actually been shown to boost productivity. Vacation is an...Considerations for Hiring Your Child as an Employee
Hiring your child to work in the family business can be a win-win situation for both you and your child. A child employee offers you tax advantages not available with other employees. There are also potential tax savings for the child employee, who can set aside that...Considerations for Paying Employees: What to Know about Setting Wages and Salaries
You cannot successfully run your business without good employees. And you cannot find good employees without offering them competitive pay. Employee compensation is more than an expense—it is an investment that, when made in the right individuals, appreciates over...When Should I Think about Selling my Business?
Part of the reward of being a small business owner is seeing your hard work pay off over the years. The many sacrifices you made for your business can all seem worth it on the day you close a deal to sell your company. But if you are dreaming of that day, it will take...Financing a Business: Evaluating Your Options
Financing is the lifeblood of a business. During good times, business financing can help entrepreneurs purchase assets, expand products and services, add a new location, and hire more staff. During more difficult times, business owners may require financing just to...How Do I Obtain a Business Loan?
Small businesses are the backbone of the US economy, accounting for nearly half of the country’s economic activity, creating two-thirds of new jobs, and driving innovation—and business loans are the backbone of small business growth. Lenders provided over $644 billion...How Do I Start a Home-Based Business?
The number of people working from home has never been higher. During the pandemic, many workers got a taste of the remote-work future and realized that they prefer to work from home. Now, as companies move ahead with return-to-office plans, there is an emerging power...Japan’s Strict Gun Control Failed to Prevent Assassination
Breitbart reports: Japan has some of the most “restrictive” gun controls in the world – legal provisions that appeared not to prevent the assassination of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo at the hands of an apparent lone gunman on Friday. It was a homemade shotgun....What Is a Nonsolicitation Agreement, and Should I Use One?
You have invested a lot of time and money in developing your employee, customer, and vendor relationships. You cannot stop your employees from walking out the door, but you may be able to limit their ability to take other employees and business relationships with...What Happens When an LLC Member Dies?
In theory, a limited liability company (LLC) can last in perpetuity. However, the owners of an LLC should plan for the day when they are no longer there to run their business. This includes not only situations like retirement or career change, but also a decidedly...What Is an Equity Purchase Agreement and Why Do I Need One?
An equity purchase agreement, also known as a share purchase agreement or stock purchase agreement, is a contract that transfers shares of a company from a seller to a buyer. Equity purchases can be used to acquire a business in whole or in part. They are frequently...Complying With Estimated Quarterly Taxes
Tax day is one of the most important—and one of the most dreaded—days on the calendar for working Americans. If you have had a side gig or even transitioned to full-time self-employment, you may have to make estimated quarterly tax payments. Not everybody who earns...Using a Deferred Compensation Agreement in Your Business
The war for talent is heating up. A record number of workers have quit their jobs this year, creating a massive problem for employers. While higher pay can help get new workers in the door of your business, wages alone may not be enough to keep them there. Employers...Using a Liability Waiver in Your Business
Exposure to lawsuits involving injury and loss claims is among the biggest risks that businesses face. Although liability waivers are most commonly used by businesses that offer inherently dangerous activities, such as ski resorts, amusement parks, and gyms, they can...22-year-old Handgunner with No Permit Stops AR-15 Armed Mall Attacker in Greenwood Indiana
Federal law unconstitutionally bans the sale of handguns to adults less than 21 years of age. Yet this 22-year-old hero, Elisjsha “Eli” Dicken, was alone able to take out a mall attacker armed with a rifle, who had already killed three and injured two....Most Common Tax Deductions for Small Businesses
There are many expenses incurred in starting, running, and growing a business. Luckily for business owners, many of these expenses can be deducted. Knowing which expenses you can deduct helps to lower your tax burden and keep more money in your business. However,...How to Pay Yourself When You Own an LLC
One significant advantage of organizing your business as a limited liability company (LLC) is the flexibility it affords. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows LLC owners to choose how their business will be taxed. As an LLC owner, you can be taxed as a sole...California Just Made This Picture of My Daughter Illegal (AB 2571)
California just enacted AB 2571 to restrict the ability of gun owners to transmit gun culture to their kids. This blatantly unconstitutional act bans advertising that may attract minors to firearms and the penalties for violation are huge, up to $25,000 per...Hobby or Business: What Factors Does the IRS Consider?
There are some activities we engage in outside of work strictly for personal reasons, with no thought of ever profiting from them. You might, for example, enjoy photography, hiking on the weekends, or collecting classic records. There is no monetary gain—and no...Firing with Grace
Small business owners are accustomed to having grace under fire when it comes to running their business. But it is just as necessary that they demonstrate grace when firing an employee. Due to harsh economic conditions, some sectors of the American economy had to...Can I Provide Services Instead of Capital to a New LLC?
Small business owners put their blood, sweat, and tears into ensuring the success of their company, which, though difficult to measure, are no less valuable than capital contributions. At the same time, if you are investing your time and energy into a limited...Supreme Court Sends Back Gun Cases that Upheld Bans on Open Carry, Magazines, Assault Weapons
The Supreme Court today (order list) issued “GVR’s” — granted certiorari, vacated judgment, and remanded to lower courts for reconsideration in light of NYSRPA v Bruen — in four cases that had upheld bans on open carry, magazines, and...How to Talk to Your Family About Business Succession
Benjamin Franklin famously quipped, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” From the very beginning, you had a plan for your business to succeed. You set goals and developed methods to achieve those goals. Your business has stood the test of time because you...California AG Bonta Doxes All California CCW Holders
If you have a California CCW, or if you have applied for one, then you were doxed yesterday and today by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and his merry band at DOJ. “Doxed” means a great deal of your personal, confidential information was released to...California AG Ditches Good Cause, Pitches Moral Character for CCW Denial (What is Bonta Smoking?)
Last Friday, one day after the Supreme Court’s landmark NYSRPA v Bruen decision (analyzed fully here), California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta rushed out a bizarre letter offering inept guidance to various state officials involved in issuing concealed...Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Praying Coach, School Violated His #1A Free Exercise and Free Speech Rights
In the case of Kennedy v Bremerton School District (slip opinion), SCOTUS today ruled in favor of a high school football coach who was terminated for kneeling and praying mid-game on school grounds, in violation of his First Amendment rights to free speech and to free...NYSRPA v Bruen Exceeds Expectations
Now that I’ve read the full majority opinion and concurrences, I have a few comments and predictions to make regarding NYSRPA v Bruen (I’ve omitted citations, so please just go to the actual opinion and use CTRL-F if you need to find something). I ignored...Supreme Court Overrules Roe v Wade, Returns Abortion Issue to People and Elected Reps
The Supreme Court of the United States, a few minutes ago, released its opinion in Dobbs v Jackson overturning both Roe v Wade and Planned Parenthood v Casey, thus returning the issue of abortion to the People and their elected representatives. The decision is either...Supreme Court Strikes Down Restriction on Right to Bear Arms in Public – NYSRPA v Bruen 6-3 Decision for 2A!
In a blockbuster decision released minutes ago, the Supreme Court of the United States has held with a solid 6-3 majority in the case of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, that New York’s statutory restriction against bearing arms...What You Need to Know about S Corporations
S corporation status is one of several tax classifications that you may be able to elect for your enterprise. For C corporations and limited liability companies (LLCs) that qualify, S corporation election offers shareholders advantages that include pass-through...Supreme Court Strikes Down Maine’s Anti-Religious Tuition Assistance Program
In an opinion released today, the US Supreme Court struck down a Maine tuition assistance program assisting parents of kids located in districts without a secondary school to help them send their kids to private school. However, the program was for...What You Need to Know Before Starting a Franchise
It has been a tough couple years for small businesses. Across the country, millions of small businesses have temporarily closed their doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even now, as the pandemic eases and operations begin to pick back up, many small businesses report...What Is Reverse Veil Piercing and How Should You Protect Against It?
Normally, limited liability business entities, which include corporations and limited liability companies (LLCs), prevent the entity’s creditors from going after an owner’s personal assets to satisfy their claims. But in rare circumstances, courts allow piercing of...How to Set Up Your Board of Directors
You might think that a board of directors is something that only big companies have, but all S corporations and C corporations—even small businesses—are legally required to have boards of directors. Specific rules for the board of directors are established in the...The Basis Optimized Trust (BOT)
The Basis Optimized Trust (BOT) is an advanced option for planning that may yield better results than the more common types of irrevocable trusts, such as credit shelter (bypass) trusts, or qualified terminable interest property (QTIP) trusts, which have been the...How to Conduct an Effective Employee Performance Review
Employee performance reviews can be stressful for workers and managers alike. Now more than ever, with workers quitting their jobs in droves as part of the “The Great Resignation,” managers may be hesitant to provide direct, constructive criticism that could be...What Is a Business Grant and How Do I Obtain One?
A business grant is a form of financial assistance given to a company by a government agency or private organization for a specific purpose. Grants, unlike loans, do not need to be paid back. Despite this benefit, finding a grant that your business qualifies for and...How Do I Prepare To Meet with a Business Lawyer?
Businesses are governed by laws and regulations that affect nearly every aspect of their operation. From formation, hiring, and firing, to drafting contracts, resolving disputes, and dissolving or selling the company, there are numerous legal matters that arise during...Personal Guarantees: What Are They and When Are They Required?
Your new business needs a capital infusion to get off the ground. The only problem is that a new business is not established enough to have generated a business credit report. It may also be lacking assets that can be used as loan collateral. Without a business credit...Key Person Insurance: What Is It and Do I Need It?
We protect what we value most with insurance. Car insurance and home insurance ensure that we can financially survive a major property loss. Life insurance pays money to beneficiaries after a death, acting as a financial lifeline to the deceased’s loved ones. Business...
Free to Advisors
Protective Law Corporation
895 Napa Ave
Suite B4,
Morro Bay, CA 93442 Suite B4,
United States (US)
URL: https://lawnews.tv