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When trying to determine the form of incorporation for your business as well as how you want it to be taxed, you will ideally consider the costs and benefits of the various options. This article adds to this consideration by pointing to a...
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Your business attorney can add value when your comapny is leasing space, whether that leasing involves signing a new lease or merely maintaining/re-signing an existing one. This article shares five things you should discuss with your business...
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Those of us who have signed residential leases know that, although it can be a fairly stressful process, ultimately it is often a fairly standardized one. Commercial leases are different, and this article details five reasons why these...
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When leasing commercial space for your business, finding the right space at the right price can mean the difference between success and failure for your business. A tenant representative can add value to this process, and this article provides...
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Purchasing versus leasing is a classic decision which both business owners and individuals make many times throughout their lives. This article, of course, focuses on the startup business owner's part of that decision by providing...
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At some point, your business will need a new space. Like anything else about your business, you won't just rush ahead and buy the first space you like. Rather, you will be diligent; like anything else, this is a decision with costs and...
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Your startup or small business attorney should not just be someone to whom you go when you have a legal issue or major transaction; your attorney should be someone with whom you regularly consult to engage in preventative maintenance or proactive...
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Running your business is a lot of work, and can be difficult to do on your own. That's why you should lean on advisors for certain specialized functions. This article highlights five such advisors with whom it might be especially...
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Your accountant is one of the most important advisors to your business--especially around tax time. This article provides five questions to ask your accountant; these questions both approach angles via which you can reduce your tax liability...
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This article provides some guidance for businesses looking to help themselves financially in the coming year (which will clearly be most businesses). The article provides advice on reducing your tax bill, planning for your retirement, and help...
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This article continues a series of video blogs looking at the basics of starting a corporation in Colorado. This particular video blog compares and contrasts the basics (governance, documents, taxation, formation and more) of corporations and...
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Having an effective relationship with your small business attorney, much like operating your small business effectively, starts with preparation. This article assists your preparation by detailing five things to bring to your first appointment...
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Starting and growing a business is a challenging job; while some have likely been able to do it relatively independently, it's a lot easier with help. This article lists five types of advisors with whom you should consult when starting and...
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This article is a video blog explaining the basics of sole proprietorships and partnerships. The video explains the key points of differentiation between the two business forms, and focuses on the laws governing the forms in Colorado.
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This article asks five questions which you should think about before going into business with a partner. The idea behind the questions is to screen out and attempt to resolve conflicts which will arise before these conflicts can disrupt the...
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This is a video blog post which reviews various decision points which a business incorporating in Colorado faces. The video reviews considerations which play into the choice of entity, the selection of people running day-to-day operations of...
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Starting your own business requires a tremendous commitment on your end, and the success or failure of that business will be influenced by the degree of that commitment, along with other traits of yours. This article highlights five things to...
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This article seeks a general rule about what you legally can and cannot do when investigating employees online. The general rule at which the article arrives is that you shouldn't do anything online which you couldn't legally do offline. ...
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At some point, if your business is successful enough or is faced with enough opportunities, you will need to hire your first employee. This article helps you understand some of the legal considerations and to-dos when doing this. It helps...
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This article reviews the temptations which new businesses face to classify people working for them as independent contractors rather than employees. It goes on to detail the three regulators who might contest such a classification, and explains...
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In this blog post, Elizabeth Lewis explains the importance of specifying who, exactly, a business attorney represents. An attorney can represent any of the owners of the business, or the business itself. Ms. Lewis emphasizes that it is...
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Elizabeth Lewis counsels that employers who provide gifts to employees during the holiday season (Thanksgiving turkeys, for example) should be mindful of the approach the IRS takes to such gifts. Ms. Lewis notes that the IRS distinguishes...
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Elizabeth Lewis recommends that you review your business's legal documents every January. Why? First, you want to make sure that you have copies of any important documents (contractual and otherwise). Second, you can make sure to...
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Facebook (and other forms of social media) can be a great way for small businesses to market themselves. However, these sites have Terms of Service, and on Facebook, for example, a profile which violates these Terms of Service can be deleted,...
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Business owners can file a trademark at either the state or federal level. In this blog post, Elizabeth Lewis explains how she counsels clients trying to decide at which level to file. Basically, the factors are (1) cost (federal costs...
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Elizabeth Lewis knows that businesses generate an amazing amount of paper and other documentation. It can be tempting to discard documents which are apparently unneeded, but this can open up new problems for the business and its...
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Businesses that qualify as minority-owned or woman-owned may be able to secure financing and contracts that they would not otherwise be able to access. Elizabeth Lewis responds to the question whether a business owner can give majority ownership to...
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Elizabeth Lewis explains why it is a good idea for any small business owner to avoid agreeing to a contract without specifying in what state any dispute will take place and what state's law will govern that dispute. Lewis encourages including these...