As a business owner, it is almost guaranteed that you will encounter some variation of the following scenario: You engaged a client and completed fantastic work. The products the client desired were delivered on time with practically no issues. To request the money the client agreed to pay you, you send an invoice or a bill. Unfortunately, your invoice is …
How to Get a Domestic Violence Order of Protection in Shelby County
Many people who have suffered domestic abuse look to the Shelby County courts to help them. Frequently, this consists of filing a restraining order, which often is called an order of protection. What Is an Order of Protection? These orders may be available to people who have suffered physical abuse, harassment, intimidation, interference with personal liberty, or willful deprivation at …
Why You Need an Employer Identification Number
There are many essential tasks to complete if you are thinking of forming a new business. An important but often overlooked step is obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN). An EIN is a nine-digit federal tax identification number obtained from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It uniquely identifies a business entity and serves many purposes for a new company. The …
How to Best Prepare for Your Zoom Court Hearing in Shelby County
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, courts have been looking for ways to cope. One of the ways that they are coping is through virtual hearings. While these hearings may be conducted by telephone, most of them are held via Zoom or a similar web-based service. This enables the judge, the parties, and their attorneys to see and hear each other …
Considerations for Forming a Limited Liability Company for Real Estate
For individuals who own real estate, it is important to consider the best way to structure your ownership. When you are just starting out as an investor in real estate, you may hold title to the real estate personally, but that may not be the most advantageous method of ownership. Another option is to create a limited liability company (LLC) …
Why Your LLC Needs an Operating Agreement
Congratulations! You have decided to form a limited liability company (LLC) to run your business. After completing your state formation process, your LLC needs to have the right documentation in place. An operating agreement, sometimes called a company agreement, is a legal document that describes and outlines how an LLC will run, and is an essential document for owning and …
Risky Business: Piercing the Veil and How It Puts Your Business at Risk
When you create a limited liability company (LLC) or a corporation, the concept of limited liability is one of the key rationales for those entity choices. Limited liability is typically available when you create distinct legal entities that separate your personal assets from your business assets, thereby limiting exposure to liability on both fronts. Even though this is a foundational …
Good News for PPP Recipients of $50,000 or Less: Simplified PPP Forgiveness Process
Following the first surge of COVID-19 cases in the United States, many businesses financially impacted by the pandemic have applied for federal funds through the federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). One key element of the PPP is loan forgiveness, but business owners who received PPP funds must apply for loan forgiveness. If you received funds and are in the …
What You Need to Know about Elections and Your Business
With early voting already underway in some states and November 3 just around the corner, you may be wondering about your obligations as an employer to provide your employees the opportunity to vote. These questions are particularly important in light of the current pandemic and the high political tensions at play during this election. Here are three steps you can …
Staying on Track: What Every Employer Should Know About Tracking a Remote Employee’s Time
The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in a wave of new teleworkers. This shift in the way employers conduct business brings new challenges as they seek to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requirement of paying employees for all hours worked. In response, the Department of Labor released Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2020-5[1] (FAB 2020-5) to provide additional guidance …