More Details

Edition

15th edition.

Description

441 pages ; 28 cm

Note

Includes index.

Contents

Your Legal Companion for Starting and Running a Small Business

1. Which Legal Form Is Best for Your Business?

Sole Proprietorships -- Partnerships -- Corporations -- Limited Liability Companies -- Choosing Between a Corporation and an LLC -- Special Structure for Special Situations -- The Benefit Corporation

2. Structuring a Partnership Agreement

Why You Need a Written Agreement -- An Overview of Your Partnership Agreement -- Changes in Your Partnership

3. Creating a Corporation

The Structure of a Corporation -- Financing Your Corporation -- Compensating Yourself -- Do You Need a Lawyer to Incorporate -- After Your Incorporate -- Safe Business Practices for Your Corporation

4. Creating a Limited Liability Company

Number of Members Required -- Management of an LLC -- Financing an LLC -- Compensating Members -- Choosing a Name -- Paperwork for Setting Up an LLC -- After You Form Your LLC -- Safe Business Practices for Your LLC

5. Preparing for Ownership Changes With a Buyout Agreement

Major Benefits of Adopting a Buyout Agreement -- Where to Put Your Buyout Provisions -- When to Create a Buyout Agreement

6. Naming Your Business and Products

Business Names: An Overview -- Mandatory Name Procedures -- Trademarks and Service Marks -- Strong and Weak Trademarks -- Before the Trademark: Name Searches -- How to Use and Protect Your Trademark

7. Licenses and Permits

Federal Registration and Licenses -- State Requirements -- Regional Requirements -- Local Requirements -- How to Deal With Local Building and Zoning Officials

8. Tax Basics for the Small Business

Employer Identification Number -- Becoming an S Corporation -- Business Taxes in General -- Business Deductions -- Tax Audits

9. Raising Money for Your Business

Consider Writing a Business Plan -- Two Types of Outside Financing -- Thirteen Common Sources of Money -- Document All of the Money You Receive

10. Buying a Business

Finding a Business to Buy -- What's the Structure of the Business You Want to Buy? -- Gathering Information About a Business -- Valuing the Business -- Other Items to Investigate -- Letter of Intent to Purchase -- The Sales Agreement -- The Closing -- Selling a Business

11. Franchises: How Not to Get Burned

What Is a Franchise? -- The Downsides of Franchise Ownership -- Investigating a Franchise -- The Franchise Disclosure Document -- The Franchise Agreement -- Resolving Disputes With Your Franchisor

12. Insuring Your Business

Working With an Insurance Agent -- Property Coverage -- Liability Insurance -- Other Insurance to Consider -- Saving Money on Insurance -- Making a Claim

13. Negotiating a Favorable Lease

Finding a Place -- Leases and Rental Agreements: An Overview -- Short-Term Leases (Month-to-Month Rentals) -- Written Long-Term Leases -- Additional Clauses to Consider -- Shopping Center Leases -- How to Modify a Lease -- Landlord-Tenant Disputes -- Getting Out of a Lease -- When You Need Professional Help

14. Home-Based Business

Zoning Laws -- Private Land Use Restrictions -- Insurance -- Deducting Expenses for the Business Use of Your Home

15. Employees and Independent Contractors

Hiring Employees -- Job Descriptions -- Job Advertisements -- Job Applications -- Interviews -- Testing -- Background Checks -- Immigration Law Requirements -- Personnel Practices -- Illegal Discrimination -- Wages and Hours -- Occupational Safety and Health -- Workers' Compensation -- Termination of Employment -- Unemployment Compensation -- Independent Contractors -- Employers' Health Care Insurance Requirements Under Obamacare

16. The Importance of Excellent Customer Relations

Developing Your Customer Satisfaction Policy -- Telling Customers About Your Policies

17. Legal Requirements for Dealing With Customers

Advertising -- Retail Pricing and Return Practices -- Warranties -- Consumer Protection Statutes -- Dealing With Customers Online

18. Cash, Credit Cards, and Checks

Cash -- Credit and Debit Cards -- Checks

19. Extending Credit and Getting Paid

The Practical Side of Extending Credit -- Laws That Regulate Consumer Credit -- Becoming a Secured Creditor -- Collection Problems -- Collection Options

20. Put It in Writing: Small Business Contracts

What Makes a Valid Contract -- Unfair or Illegal Contracts -- Misrepresentations, Duress, or Mistake -- Must a Contract Be in Writing? -- Writing Business-to-Business Contracts -- Signing Your Contracts -- Electronic Contracting -- Enforcing Contracts in Court -- What Can You Sue For?

21. The Financially Troubled Business

Thinking Ahead to Protect Your Personal Assets -- Managing the Financially Troubled Business -- Seeking an Objective Analysis -- Workouts -- Selling the Business -- Closing the Business -- Understanding Bankruptcy

22. Resolving Legal Disputes

Negotiating a Settlement -- Understanding Mediation -- Arbitration -- Going to Court

23. Representing Yourself in Small Claims Court

Deciding Whether to Represent Yourself -- Learning the Rules -- Meeting the Jurisdictional Limits -- Before You File Your Lawsuit -- Figuring Out Whom to Sue -- Handling Your Small Claims Court Lawsuit -- Representing Yourself If You've the Defendant -- Appealing Small Claims Decisions -- Collecting Your Judgement

24. Lawyers and Legal Research

How to Find the Right Lawyer -- Fees and Bills -- Problems With Your Lawyer -- Do-It-Yourself Legal Research

Summary

From opening day to tax day, this is the all-in-one book you need! Small business owners are regularly confronted by a bewildering array of legal questions and problems. Ignoring them can lead to disaster -- but with lawyers typically charging $200-$300 an hour, calling one to answer routine legal questions can be a fast track to the poorhouse. Fortunately, you have a better alternative: Legal Guide for Starting & Running a Small Business clearly explains the practical and legal information you need to raise start-up money, choose between a sole proprietorship, partnership or LLC, get licenses and permits, buy or sell a business or franchise, negotiate a favorable lease, insure your business, hire independent contractors safely, understand small business tax rules, pick and protect a good name, resolve legal disputes, adopt the best customer policies, enter into strong contracts and cope with financial problems. The 9th edition is completely updated and revised to provide the latest regulations, tax numbers and business realities. It also provides a start-up checklist, an expanded discussion about choosing a business structure, updates to bankruptcy law -- and much more.

27.00 BUS ED GEN (99-BEG-9)

Subject

Entrepreneurship -- Popular works -- United States.

Small business -- Law and legislation -- United States -- Popular works.

Business enterprises -- Law and legislation -- United States -- Popular works.

Business education -- Entrepreneurship -- Popular works -- United States.

Added Author

Nolo (Firm)

Added Title

Legal guide for starting and running a small business