S corporation status is one of several tax classifications that you may be able to elect for your enterprise. For C corporations and limited liability companies (LLCs) that qualify, S corporation election offers shareholders advantages that include pass-through taxation and a lower overall tax bill. However, not every business can be classified as an S corporation. There are strict Internal …
Legal Issues for E Commerce Businesses
Do you have an internet-based business? Even if you facilitate the purchase and delivery of products or services entirely online, you are still running a business with all of the legal advantages and pitfalls that entails. Many e-commerce operations face unique legal challenges, which Rincker Law can help you solve. Contract Negotiation & Management Every e-commerce business relies on relationships …
How to Start an E-commerce Business
If you have ever considered starting an e-commerce business, now is a great time to move from ideation to action. Online retail sales exploded to an all-time high amid COVID-19 lockdowns, travel bans, and brick-and-mortar closures, and this was not just a temporary bump. E-commerce was already experiencing strong year-over-year growth prior to 2020. The accelerated shift to online purchases …
How to Resolve Deadlocks in Your LLC
Membership in a limited liability company (LLC) may come with voting rights. Member voting rights are addressed in the LLC operating agreement, which typically provides that LLC members must vote on several issues that are material to the continuance of the business. A unanimous or majority vote may be required depending upon the nature of the matter voted on. A …
Why You Might Want to Hire Someone to Be Your Registered Agent
If your business is registered with the state, you are required to name a registered agent at the time of registration or incorporation. A registered agent is the person who receives legal and tax documents on behalf of your business. You or other people in your business can serve as the registered agent, but doing so raises a few potential …
How to Conduct an Effective Employee Performance Review
Employee performance reviews can be stressful for workers and managers alike. Now more than ever, with workers quitting their jobs in droves as part of the “The Great Resignation,” managers may be hesitant to provide direct, constructive criticism that could be perceived as overly harsh. Employees, in fact, widely agree that most performance reviews do more harm than good. This …
What Is a Business Grant and How Do I Obtain One?
A business grant is a form of financial assistance given to a company by a government agency or private organization for a specific purpose. Grants, unlike loans, do not need to be paid back. Despite this benefit, finding a grant that your business qualifies for and submitting a complete application can be challenging. However, if your business could benefit from …
Considerations for Paying Employees: What to Know about Setting Wages and Salaries
You cannot successfully run your business without good employees. And you cannot find good employees without offering them competitive pay. Employee compensation is more than an expense—it is an investment that, when made in the right individuals, appreciates over time. The competition for workplace talent has never been more fierce. As companies compete for employees in a world reshaped by …
How to Pay Yourself When You Own an LLC
One significant advantage of organizing your business as a limited liability company (LLC) is the flexibility it affords. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows LLC owners to choose how their business will be taxed. As an LLC owner, you can be taxed as a sole proprietorship (if you are the LLC’s sole member), a partnership (if your LLC has two …
Why it is Important to Have a Corporate Formalities Checkup for Your Business in Illinois
Most people don’t have to be reminded about having annual checkups at the doctor and dentist’s office. However, it’s not unusual for those same individuals to ignore the need for annual corporate formalities checkups. This is an especially critical practice for smaller businesses that don’t have an in-house legal department. If you’d like to ask for a corporate formalities checkup …
How to Start Your Business Year Strong
It has been a tough couple of years for many small businesses, but, as the adage goes, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Small businesses that survived the challenges of 2020 and 2021—the worst pandemic in US history, a nationwide labor shortage, supply chain volatility, and rising inflation—are heading into 2022 with fresh hope. According to a new survey …
How to Protect Your Business from Lawsuits
Small business owners are no strangers to risk management. Owning and operating a small business entails a certain level of unpredictability. Despite your best efforts to stay on top of supply chains, marketing, sales, competitors, employees, and cash flow, unexpected issues can knock you for a loop. You have survived plenty of bumps in the road and emerged stronger than …