by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Sep 30, 2024 | Asset Protection, Blog, Entity Formation, Estate Admin, Estate Planning, Fortune, Income Tax, Regulatory Compliance, Tax Planning, Trust Admin, Venture Protection
Under Private Letter Ruling 202428003, the IRS has allowed late filing of a Qualified Subchapter S Trust (QSST) election, to obtain relief from termination of S corporation status. The corporation represented that the termination was inadvertent and not for tax...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Sep 29, 2024 | Asset Protection, Blog, Dying Embarrassed, Entity Formation, Estate Planning, Estate Tax, Fortune, Gift Tax, GST Tax, Income Tax, Tax Planning
Estate reduction surgery may be more urgent than you think. Understandably, a lot of folks are sitting on the sidelines, waiting to see what happens in November — not only in the presidential race, but in the congressional races that will determine the balance...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Sep 27, 2024 | Blog, Business Succession, Buying or Selling a Closely Held Business, Entity Formation, Estate Planning, Limitation of Liability, Operation & Governance, Regulatory Compliance, Venture Protection
When starting a business, entrepreneurs typically have two options: they can either build a new business or purchase an existing business. Buying an existing business can offer the advantages of name recognition and a proven business model. The advantages can be even...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Sep 24, 2024 | Asset Protection, Blog, Business Succession, Buying or Selling a Closely Held Business, Career Maintenance, Career Preparation, Entity Formation, Estate Planning, Family Protection, Financial Mentorship, Fortune, Honor, Income Tax, Operation & Governance, Regulatory Compliance, Tax Planning, Venture Protection
The decision to hire family members for your business is a delicate balancing act that involves both personal and professional considerations. Working with loved ones can create a sense of trust and unity within the workplace and has been shown to increase business...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Sep 23, 2024 | Asset Protection, Blog, Bloodline Protection, Business Succession, Buying or Selling a Closely Held Business, Entity Formation, Estate Planning, Family Protection, Financial Mentorship, Fortune, Limitation of Liability, Operation & Governance, Regulatory Compliance, Tax Planning, Venture Protection
Starting a business requires a great deal of planning and execution. Exiting from your small business should entail a similar level of forethought and preparation. Nevertheless, some surveys indicate that nearly half of business owners have no exit strategy.[1] After...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Sep 19, 2024 | Blog, Business Succession, Buying or Selling a Closely Held Business, Entity Formation, Estate Planning, Fortune, Operation & Governance, Regulatory Compliance, Venture Protection
The limited liability company (LLC) has only been around since the first LLC statute was enacted in 1977. Within a few decades, it has become the most popular legal entity formed by new US businesses due to its ease of formation, flexibility, low start-up costs, and...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Sep 18, 2024 | Asset Protection, Blog, Business Succession, Buying or Selling a Closely Held Business, Creditors & Predators, Entity Formation, Estate Planning, Fortune, Limitation of Liability, Operation & Governance, Regulatory Compliance, Venture Protection
Limited liability is an important advantage provided by corporations and limited liability companies (LLCs). The personal asset protection that corporations and LLCs provide for their owners, however, is not absolute. To maintain the liability shield, owners must...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Sep 17, 2024 | Blog, Business Succession, Buying or Selling a Closely Held Business, Entity Formation, Limitation of Liability, Operation & Governance, Regulatory Compliance, Venture Protection
A shareholder agreement is a contract between the shareholders of a corporation that outlines the rights and responsibilities of each shareholder as well as the obligations of the shareholders to one another and the corporation. Shareholder agreements, also known as...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Sep 16, 2024 | Asset Protection, Blog, Business Succession, Buying or Selling a Closely Held Business, Creditors & Predators, Entity Formation, Estate Planning, Fortune, Income Tax, Limitation of Liability, Operation & Governance, Regulatory Compliance, Tax Planning, Venture Protection
There is no law that limits the number of LLCs an entrepreneur can own. Forming multiple LLCs may make sense under certain circumstances: for example, companies that have several rental properties, separate businesses with common ownership, or when one business makes...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Sep 12, 2024 | Asset Protection, Blog, Creditors & Predators, Entity Formation, Estate Planning, Fortune, Limitation of Liability, Operation & Governance, Tax Planning, Venture Protection
Equipment leasing is an alternative to purchasing new equipment. Amid volatile interest rates and inflated equipment costs, more businesses are turning to leases as they look for ways to preserve cash while acquiring the equipment they need to operate. Equipment...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Sep 9, 2024 | Asset Protection, Blog, Business Succession, Creditors & Predators, Entity Formation, Estate Planning, Income Tax, Limitation of Liability, Tax Planning, Venture Protection
When you are first starting a business, operating it as a sole proprietorship may make a lot of sense. Sole proprietorships are simple and inexpensive to set up and maintain: they are operated by a single taxpayer and are the most common form of business organization....
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Jul 29, 2024 | Asset Protection, Blog, Business Succession, Buying or Selling a Closely Held Business, Entity Formation, Estate Planning, Estate Tax, Fortune, Gift Tax, GST Tax, Income Tax, Tax Planning, Venture Protection
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 made several significant changes to the tax code that affect small businesses and business owners. It introduced the qualified business interest deduction, added a bonus depreciation deduction for qualifying property, and...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Jul 28, 2024 | Asset Protection, Blog, Business Succession, Buying or Selling a Closely Held Business, Entity Formation, Estate Planning, Fortune, Income Tax, Limitation of Liability, Operation & Governance, Regulatory Compliance, Tax Planning, Venture Protection
The rise of home-based businesses represents a fundamental shift in the way Americans work. Home businesses offer their owners a convenient and flexible way to earn income without commuting to a traditional office. They may also qualify for tax breaks in the form of...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Jul 19, 2024 | Blog, Business Succession, Buying or Selling a Closely Held Business, Entity Formation, Fortune, Limitation of Liability, Operation & Governance, Regulatory Compliance, Venture Protection
Whether you are an entrepreneur starting a new business or are running a well-established business, your success often depends on safeguarding innovative ideas and information that give you an edge over competing businesses. If you have spent years perfecting a secret...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Mar 4, 2024 | Asset Protection, Blog, Business Succession, Buying or Selling a Closely Held Business, Creditors & Predators, Entity Formation, Fortune, Limitation of Liability, News & Commentary, Operation & Governance, Regulatory Compliance, Venture Protection
National Small Bus. United v. Yellen, No. 5:22-cv-1448-LCB (N.D. Ala. Mar. 1, 2024) On Friday, March 1, 2024, in National Small Bus. United v. Yellen, Judge Liles C. Burke of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama ruled via memorandum...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Feb 23, 2024 | Asset Protection, Blog, Creditors & Predators, Entity Formation, Fortune, Limitation of Liability, Operation & Governance, Venture Protection
Platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO have disrupted an industry once dominated by hotels and resorts, allowing individuals to open their homes and residential properties to travelers. The boom in short-term rentals has created new opportunities for investors who want to...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Feb 21, 2024 | Blog, Business Succession, Buying or Selling a Closely Held Business, Entity Formation, Fortune, Limitation of Liability, Operation & Governance, Regulatory Compliance, Venture Protection
Small business owners are no strangers to government regulations. There are many requirements that businesses must be aware of and comply with, including business license and permit rules. Most businesses must obtain licenses or permits, so it is important for each...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Feb 20, 2024 | Asset Protection, Blog, Business Succession, Buying or Selling a Closely Held Business, Creditors & Predators, Entity Formation, Fortune, Limitation of Liability, Operation & Governance, Regulatory Compliance, Venture Protection
Over time, your business can undergo significant changes. What may have started as a humble, one-person operation can grow into a more complex company, with multiple owners, employees, an evolving mission statement, and increasing risks. As the scope and goals of your...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Feb 9, 2024 | Asset Protection, Blog, Creditors & Predators, Entity Formation, Fortune, Limitation of Liability, Operation & Governance, Venture Protection
All registered corporations are required by law to hold an annual meeting. Limited liability companies (LLCs), although not subject to the same statutory requirement, may hold regular meetings in accordance with their governing documents. What Is the Purpose of a...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Feb 6, 2024 | Blog, Business Succession, Buying or Selling a Closely Held Business, Entity Formation, Fortune, Limitation of Liability, Operation & Governance, Regulatory Compliance, Venture Protection
Americans have a “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” mentality that speaks to our individualism and enterprising spirit. This mindset is especially pronounced among business owners, who have chosen to forego the typical employment route in favor of creating their...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Feb 3, 2024 | Blog, Business Succession, Buying or Selling a Closely Held Business, Entity Formation, Estate Admin, Fortune, Operation & Governance, Venture Protection
Financial winter is coming. Or is it? Despite renewed optimism that the US economy can avoid a deep downturn, economists say the chances of a recession in 2024 are still about even. Small businesses are feeling the pain from high inflation, declining consumer...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Nov 12, 2023 | Asset Protection, Blog, Creditors & Predators, Entity Formation, Estate Admin, Estate Planning, Fortune, Operation & Governance, Regulatory Compliance, Tax Planning, Trust Admin, Venture Protection
Did you ever put off studying for a final, until the night before the final? That’s pretty much how the planning community is feeling about the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), which will go into effect January 1, 2024. Congress passed the devilish law several...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Sep 12, 2022 | Blog, Business Succession, Buying or Selling a Closely Held Business, Entity Formation, Operation & Governance
If you are considering buying or selling a business, you may need an asset purchase agreement. An asset purchase agreement (APA) is a contract that specifies the terms and conditions for the sale and purchase of a business or certain business assets. The APA...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Sep 9, 2022 | Blog, Business Succession, Entity Formation, Operation & Governance, Regulatory Compliance
Corporations are required to have a board of directors, which is selected by the shareholders. The board of directors helps govern the corporation, provides advice and counsel, conducts high-level management, elects officers, votes on key decisions, and protects...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Aug 24, 2022 | Blog, Buying or Selling a Closely Held Business, Entity Formation, Operation & Governance, Venture Protection
With the country emerging from pandemic lockdowns and economic activity beginning to expand, small business owners are optimistic about the future. Supporting local businesses can help them grow and thrive in a post-pandemic economy. But what if you could help a...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Aug 23, 2022 | Blog, Entity Formation, Estate Planning, Limitation of Liability, Operation & Governance, Tax Planning, Venture Protection
Farming brings to mind kinship with nature and a simpler way of life. But the farming industry is highly regulated, and navigating the applicable laws and regulations can be far from simple. A rising world population creates greater demand for food and the farmers who...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Aug 22, 2022 | Blog, Business Succession, Buying or Selling a Closely Held Business, Entity Formation, Limitation of Liability, Operation & Governance, Venture Protection
Many business partnerships eventually come to an end. Like other types of relationships, when business partners decide to split up, the process can be amicable or contentious. For personal and professional reasons, dissolving the partnership on good terms is in the...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Aug 18, 2022 | Blog, Entity Formation, Limitation of Liability, Operation & Governance, Regulatory Compliance, Venture Protection
Multilevel marketing (MLM) businesses sell products or services directly to retail customers using commission-based, nonsalaried representatives who are encouraged to recruit new representatives and form their own sales networks. They can have thousands of...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Aug 17, 2022 | Blog, Entity Formation, Limitation of Liability, Operation & Governance, Regulatory Compliance, Venture Protection
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...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Aug 8, 2022 | Asset Protection, Blog, Business Succession, Buying or Selling a Closely Held Business, Creditors & Predators, Entity Formation, Estate Planning, Family Maintenance, Financial Mentorship, Fortune, Limitation of Liability, Operation & Governance, Regulatory Compliance, Tax Planning, Venture Protection
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...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Jul 27, 2022 | Blog, Entity Formation, Operation & Governance, Regulatory Compliance, Tax Planning, Venture Protection
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...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Jul 11, 2022 | Blog, Business Succession, Entity Formation, Fortune, Limitation of Liability, Operation & Governance, Venture Protection
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...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Jun 22, 2022 | Blog, Entity Formation, Limitation of Liability, Operation & Governance, Venture Protection
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...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Jun 7, 2022 | Asset Protection, Blog, Business Succession, Entity Formation, Estate Planning, Venture Protection
Both running a successful business and having a successful marriage require commitment and hard work. Operating a business as a married couple can present its share of challenges, but being devoted to one another as spouses and as business partners can bring higher...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | May 23, 2022 | Blog, Entity Formation, Estate Planning, Venture Protection
Trusts and limited liability companies (LLCs) are both legal vehicles that can be used to manage and protect assets, minimize taxation, and avoid probate. Whether a trust or an LLC is a better choice may depend on the type of asset, but you do not necessarily have to...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Feb 22, 2022 | Blog, Entity Formation, Operation & Governance, Venture Protection
Membership in a limited liability company (LLC) may come with voting rights. Member voting rights are addressed in the LLC operating agreement, which typically provides that LLC members must vote on several issues that are material to the continuance of the business....
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Feb 16, 2022 | Entity Formation, Operation & Governance, Regulatory Compliance, Venture Protection
If your business is registered with the state, you are required to name a registered agent at the time of registration or incorporation. A registered agent is the person who receives legal and tax documents on behalf of your business. You or other people in your...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Nov 30, 2016 | Asset Protection, Entity Formation, Estate Planning, Limitation of Liability, Venture Protection
While it should go without saying, a business owner should intentionally choose its structure and tax status and accept the related tax and governance implications. Inadvertently forming the wrong entity could have costly consequences. In this case, it seems...
by Dave Duringer - Protective Law Corp | Jun 28, 2016 | Asset Protection, Creditors & Predators, Entity Formation, Income Tax, Tax Planning, Venture Protection
The IRS recently released temporary regulations clarifying that an employee of a disregarded entity is liable for self-employment tax if the employee is a partner in the partnership that owns the disregarded entity. See Treasury Decision 9766 (May 4, 2016). Source:...