Entries for 'Gina Bongiovi'

Um...with a pen? Seriously, though.  It sounds simple, but you should consider the implications of how you sign documents on behalf of your company.  As a business owner you have a split personality.  In any situation, you will be either Jane Doe The Individual or Jane Doe The Business Owner.  Before you sign something that inv...

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No, it doesn't involve a safety pin or have anything to do with a wedding.  This is one of those often-used yet rarely-explained phrases that every small business owner should understand.   If formed and managed properly, corporations and LLCs are treated as legal entities separate from their owners.  This is why we business la...

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I often speak with business owners who are ready to hire workers.  While this is a big step for a small business, many owners believe they can avoid paying employment taxes simply by calling these workers independent contractors.  I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but calling them independent contractors does not necessarily make them ...

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Last week I was on the panel for a continuing legal education class at the UNLV Boyd School of Law called "How to Start a Law Practice."  The audience was comprised of law students, recent graduates, and licensed attorneys.  We had a good turnout either because of widespread layoffs in the legal profession or because all the lawyers ...

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Last Christmas I asked for, and received, a bread machine. Like I did with my Barbie Dreamhouse at 5 years old, I tore into the packaging and briefly read the directions. I furiously unpacked the machine and set about measuring the ingredients before the wrapping paper hit the floor. I pushed a few buttons and stood back. It took a good eight h...

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What is it? "Owners' Agreement" is a general term that can refer to any document that addresses issues like owners' rights, compensation systems, succession planning, management roles, and shareholder disputes.  Owners' agreements include partnership agreements, shareholder agreements, buy-sell agreements, operating agreements, stock option a...

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Seems counterintuitive, doesn't it?  Shouldn't everyone looking to start a business already have an idea of what they want to do?  Not necessarily.   Head to your nearest bookstore, grab the October/November 2009 issue of Business Week's Small Biz, and read "Beyond Eureka" by Amy Barrett p40.  This is, by far, one of the most i...

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You should.  I'm sure you expect that kind of response from a lawyer, but it's vitally important to not only read, but understand, every document that bears your signature. This rule is especially important when dealing with commercial leases, which are almost always written in favor of the landlord and have some pretty strict expectations of...

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