There are several types of business structures available in California, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. Incorporation can provide a number of advantages, but you should think carefully about the type of corporation that might be right for you. Understanding the difference between an S-Corp and a C-Corp is important so you can decide if one of these corporate entity types might be right for you. An Read More
Fair Use Explained
Copyrights are an important form of protection that prevents other parties from using your intellectual property for their benefit. It is important to know, however, that this protection has limits. Fair use is a principal that limits how a copyright can be enforced. Understanding this principal is necessary for knowing how your protected works can still be used without your permission, giving you a better idea of Read More
Closing the Doors: How to Dissolve a Corporation in California
Running a corporation in California can be a very exciting and profitable experience. There may come a time, however, when you decide it’s time to shut your business down. Often people make this decision because they wish to retire or start a different business or when the company simply isn’t making enough money. No matter the reason, you must dissolve the corporation legally in California, or you might find Read More
Four Benefits to Including a Notices Provision in Your Contracts
Business owners typically understand that contracts are an essential tool that are required for their success. Too often, however, they fail to read through the entire contract, especially what they consider to be the “boilerplate” sections. Perhaps the most overlooked, or even omitted, portion of a contract is the notices section. Read on to learn why this section can have a big impact on any contract and why it Read More
The Six-Step Process for Filing a Trademark
When starting a new business, one of the first things you need to do is come up with a business name and logo. Obtaining a trademark for your name and logo is an important part of that process, not only because it will protect your intellectual property but because it will ensure you don’t accidentally infringe on that of someone else. The process of filing a trademark can be quite complex. In this blog, we will walk Read More
Three Types of Patents Available for Inventors
If you have come up with a new invention, or even just an idea for a new invention, you need to make sure you take the necessary steps to protect it. In most instances, this means filing for a patent with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to prevent others from taking your idea and using it as their own. There are three types of patents available for inventors. This blog offers an introduction to each of these Read More
Have You Received a Demand Letter? Here’s What to Do Next
A demand letter is a common tool used by individuals and companies to encourage another party to take a specific action. Usually, this is for the purpose of obtaining a payment, but it can be used for other things as well. This type of letter may come from a person or company, but more often it will come from a law firm or legal service on their behalf. While these letters often have the appearance of a legal Read More
Five Tips for Picking Your Business Name
When starting a business you will have a lot of important decisions that need to be made. One of the most important is picking out a business name. This name will remain in place long into the future and will have an impact on your marketing strategy, branding, and much more. With this in mind, you really need to think through your options to ensure you make the right choice. The following tips will help you to find Read More
Understanding Volunteer Agreements
Companies have all kinds of resources to get projects done—from vendors to employees. On some occasions, however, they may want to use a volunteer to work on a project. Nonprofits regularly use volunteers as one of their main sources of worker pools. For-profit companies may also want to use a volunteer. For example, if you are going to use an intern or extern, or someone wants to shadow an employee for a short Read More
Getting Started on the Right Foot: Why You Need to Create a Business Plan
Many new business owners overlook creating a business plan. It is easy to do because these plans are sometimes difficult and time-consuming to develop. They can be useful, however, if you are looking for financing or investors, and they serve several other important functions as well. What Is a Business Plan? A business plan establishes the roadmap for your company. It describes what your business will Read More
