Nellie Akalp

Nellie Akalp is an entrepreneur, small business expert, speaker, and mother of four amazing kids. As CEO of CorpNet.com, she has helped more than half a million entrepreneurs launch their businesses. Akalp is nationally recognized as one of the most prominent experts on small business legal matters, contributing frequently to outlets like Entrepreneur, Forbes, Huffington Post, Mashable, and Fox Small Business. A passionate entrepreneur herself, Akalp is committed to helping others take the reigns and dive into small business ownership. Through her public speaking, media appearances, and frequent blogging, she has developed a strong following within the small business community and has been honored as a Small Business Influencer Champion three years in a row.

How to Apply for an EIN

One of the essential steps new business owners must take when launching their companies is to apply for an EIN. An Employee Identification Number (also known as a Federal Tax ID Number or Tax ID Number) is a nine-digit number assigned to a business for filing...

Employer Identification Number (EIN) written on legal document

Do Amazon Sellers Need an LLC?

Amazon sellers, like other entrepreneurs that sell products online, should think about how their business structure affects them professionally and personally. The business entity type chosen has an impact on income tax obligations, ongoing business compliance...

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Can an S Corporation Own an LLC?

When entrepreneurs want to expand their businesses, they face the important decision of how to structure that growth. One approach is to form a separate company under another registered business entity. Some restrictions exist and small business owners may be...

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Choosing the Best State to Start a Business

Choosing the best state to start a business is an important detail in your overall business plan. When it comes to launching a small business, “Location, location, location” is part of the formula for success. If you’re wondering if a specific location would give...

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How to Budget as a Freelancer

Creating a budget as a freelancer shouldn’t be any harder than it is for any other small business. And yet, the rollercoaster ride of finding and keeping clients, collecting invoices, marketing your business, and juggling all of this yourself can create major...

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The Best CPA Marketing Channels for Growing Your Firm

Whether your accounting business is just starting out, or whether you’re a seasoned veteran, marketing your business is a must. It’s crucial in good economic times and in bad. In fact, during an economic downturn, choosing the right CPA marketing channels for your...

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What Is 501(c)(3) Status and How Do You Obtain It?

Have you always dreamed of starting a nonprofit organization so you can give back to your community? Maybe you have a charity that’s close to your heart, such as research for autism or helping the homeless, and you’ve always wanted to have the same kind of impact...

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Is a Farm LLC Really Necessary?

Starting and running a farming business provides the opportunity and the freedom to forge your own professional path. There’s hard work involved and any seasoned farmer will tell you farming is a 24/7 commitment. And an agricultural business comes with many of the...

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Do I Need Articles of Organization For a Michigan LLC?

If you're considering forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in Michigan, you're probably wondering what paperwork the state requires. For example, do you need Articles of Organization for a Michigan LLC? That's one of the common questions we field here at...

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Do Uber Drivers Need an LLC?

Uber drivers, even those doing rideshare driving as a side gig, are considered to be earning income through self-employment. Just like other self-employed independent contractors, they face some critical startup decisions—including what business entity type to...

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How to Find Your First 10 Accounting Clients

Searching for the first clients for your startup accounting business might seem like finding a needle in a haystack (or, for you Harry Potter fans, like finding a Horcrux in the Room of Requirement). In reality, however, it can actually be pretty simple, thanks to...

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Can a Sole Proprietor Have Employees?

Even when a small business starts as a sole proprietorship with only a solitary business owner who handles everything, growth and expansion are often the ultimate objectives. To achieve those goals, a sole proprietor will likely need some help along the way — which...

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Ten Tips for Creating a Business Name

Creating a business name is one of the most exciting and important startup tasks that entrepreneurs must tackle. The name you choose for your business will serve to distinguish you from your competitors and give customers insight into the experience they will have...

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Seven Tips for Optimizing LinkedIn for Accountants

With more than 849 million users, LinkedIn is a powerhouse of social media. While it doesn't command the 2.9 billion users of Facebook, it is the top location for connecting at a business-to-business level. The social network has established a solid niche for...

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DBA vs. LLC: What’s the Difference?

If you’re starting a new businessm adding new locations, or adding business lines, you are likely wondering if registering a DBA or forming an LLC is the best route to travel. A DBA is an assumed (fictitious) name that an existing business has received approval to...

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What Are Payroll Deductions?

Payroll deductions are monies that employers withhold from an employee’s pay. These deductions include withdrawals such as federal income taxes, state income taxes, local income taxes, FICA tax (Social Security and Medicare taxes), medical benefits, retirement...

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LLC vs. S Corp vs. C Corp

Yes, operating a business as a sole proprietor or general partnership offers simplicity, but that comes at the cost of not having a separation between you as an individual and your company. Are there other options? There are alternate options that include popular...

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How to Register a Business in Oregon

Have you been thinking about making your dream of starting your own business in the beautiful Pacific Northwest a reality but not sure how to begin?  This post will help guide you through the process of registering a business in Oregon. That said, let’s get started...

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Does an LLC Get a 1099?

Many freelance professionals and independent contractors operate as Limited Liability Companies (LLCs). The requirements for when a business should send a 1099 form to an LLC vary, as does the 1099 form to send. Generally speaking, this is when LLCs should or...

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