Starting a Home-based Business?

One of the nice things about starting your own business is the number of options that exist. You don’t necessarily have to rent an office, or even commute to work.  If you want to be an entrepreneur, there are many businesses that can be run right from your home. Even if you don’t have a particular business in mind but do know that you simply want – or need – to work from home,…

When to Hire a Small Business Lawyer

When to Hire a Small Business Lawyer
For most small business owners, “Budget” is the first key factor in deciding whether to hire a small business lawyer. Obviously, we’d all prefer to hire the toughest law firm, equipped to handle any kind of case or transaction, staffed with a team of attorneys that will respond to our needs immediately.

For most small businesses, however, we just can’t afford this “full-time legal dream-team.” So, we…

Starting a Business? …During a Recession?

According to Kimberly Palmer, writing for US News & World Report, “going against the tide and starting your own business in a recession not only lets you escape from the corporate grind, but it also can be easier than it would be during boom times.”  Looking back through recessions past, she may be right.

Starting a Business During an Economic Downturn

Several once-small companies now considered giants in their fields started during economic downturns:…

Women In Business

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that women have held nearly 50% of all jobs in the United States for the last decade, a sharp increase from decades past. The number of female-owned businesses has also risen, and may–perhaps, should–continue to do so as women are having to step into the role of primary breadwinners for their families.

Women and the Recession

A variety of media outlets, including CNN, Fox News, USA Today, and…

Marketing with Social Media and Blogs

The Small Business Budget

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) suggests setting your marketing budget at between 2% and 10% of sales, depending on business size and whether your company is established in the market place or a startup. However, it is possible to market your business on less than $1,000.00 per year and even a responsible move to do so. Whether you’re at the helm of a startup, a small business owner,…

In Business, Nothing is Free

The best things in life are FREE, right?  Well, maybe not. At least, not when it comes to finding quality products and services designed to improve and enrich life. Oh, great deals do exist but, “great deal” rarely equals “free.” And most deals, unfortunately, come with a catch.

What’s the “Catch”?

Below are some examples of how many service providers and retailers take advantage of those out to find a great deal. Don’t get caught…

Small Business Taxes and Employees

There’s no way around it. When you open your own business, you’re going to have to become mighty familiar with taxes…or at least meet a reputable CPA.

Hopefully, you’ll engage a qualified accountant (a CPA, preferably) (or at least a payroll service) to ensure your payroll is properly calculated, but it’s a good idea to at least know what taxes you’ll be liable for as you get ready to open for business. Particularly if you’re…

Can’t Wait To Quit Your Day Job? Don’t Burn Any Bridges

If you’ve been working as an employee while planning to start your new business, one of the big questions you’ll need to address is when – and how – to leave your job.

As excited as you are about your new venture, leaving the security of your current job is a difficult thing to do. Let’s face it, until now you’ve had a steady paycheck, scheduled time off, and probably health insurance too. From here…

Protecting Your Big Idea – Intellectual Property

If you’ve ever seen a new product advertised and said, “I’ve thought of that very same thing! Why didn’t I pursue it?” you know the importance of protecting your ideas. No matter how terrific your idea is, if you don’t protect it and make it exclusively your own, someone else just might beat you to the market.

In business, ideas are often property. They are the seeds for inventions, which require knowledge, time, money and…

Free Corporate Name Search

Did you know that here at Corpnet we offer a free corporate name search? Before you can register a business in a given state or county, the business name must be available. Whether you want to incorporate online, form an LLC, or file a DBA, CorpNet will perform a free name check to see if your desired company name is available at no cost to you, with no obligations. Oh yes, and you’ll get the…