Nellie Akalp

A pioneer in the online legal document filing space since 1997, Nellie has helped more than half a million small businesses and licensed professionals start and maintain companies across the United States, most recently through her Inc.5000 recognized company, CorpNet. She closely follows trends in the industry and shares her wealth of knowledge across various CPA and small business communities, establishing Nellie as one of the most prominent influential experts on business startup and compliance matters.

LLC vs. Partnership

When deciding between an LLC vs. partnership as your company's business structure, you'll have many considerations to address. There are ramifications legally, administratively, and financially when choosing a business entity type. Rushing to a decision can have...

LLC-vs-Partnership-Text-on-Scale

What is a Certificate of Incorporation?

When forming a C Corporation, business owners need to file for a Certificate of Incorporation (sometimes referred to as Articles of Incorporation) to register their company with the state. What is a Certificate of Incorporation exactly? It is a legal document...

Man Stamping a Legal Document

How to Add a DBA to an LLC

Some companies, such as Limited Liability Companies (LLC), choose to do business under a different name than the one they have registered in their formation documents. Like other businesses, before an LLC may use an alternate name in its contracts, advertising, and...

How to Text With Lightbulb

Setting Up Payroll for an LLC or Corporation

Payroll involves far more than just cutting a paycheck to employees. It entails calculating work hours, wages, salaries, benefits, wage garnishments, and withholding and paying employment-related taxes. So, what do business owners need to know about setting up...

Woman Running Payroll on Her Computer

Incorporating a Business 101

As a business owner, the day will come when you inevitably will have to address the legal aspects of your business – and the sooner the better. And, fortunately, the process can be relatively painless and hassle-free. I talk to countless small business owners and freelancers who consider themselves too small to worry about incorporation. After all, you don't have mazes of cubicles…you may not even have any employees. However, incorporation can still be a smart idea even for the self-employed graphic designer or wedding planner and in this post we discuss the benefits of incorporating your small business.

Business woman writing in planner

Checklist for a Home-Based Business

Many entrepreneurs start their small businesses in their homes. Without the costs associated with renting or buying office space, it helps keep startup expenses down. Still, business owners running their companies out of their houses must pay attention to many...

Woman With Baby Working From Home

How to Change from a Sole Proprietor to an LLC

It's estimated that over 70% of U.S. businesses operate as sole proprietors. That's not surprising, considering that doing so requires no formal business registration forms, few compliance requirements, and income tax reporting simplicity. But as businesses grow...

Limited Liability Company Written on Board

7 Tips to Help Your Business Survive Through a Recession

Is there a recession on the way? The best and most honest answer is maybe. Some economic signs point to a coming economic downturn, while others, like the nation operating at nearly full employment, suggest otherwise. It may be a cliché, but only time will tell. In...

Businessman Under Black Cloud

How to Start a Business With a Partner

You’ve heard the phrase "two heads are better than one” and that often rings true for entrepreneurs. Along with the pooled knowledge from multiple brains, having a business partner brings the perks of additional funds, a wider breadth of skills, a built-in support...

Business Partners Reviewing Files

C Corporation vs. S Corporation

If you have your sights set on incorporating your business, you may be wondering if a C Corporation or S Corporation is the better option. While both are popular choices, nuances exist that may make one or the other more advantageous for your situation. The...

Woman Using Hands to Show a Comparison

What is Payroll?

Payroll refers to the various tasks and responsibilities businesses must perform to pay their employees accurately and on time. It encompasses calculating wages and salaries; preparing checks or paying employees via direct deposit; withholding taxes and other...

Payroll Report on Tablet

How to Start a Tax Preparation Business From Home

Do you already have experience in preparing tax returns as an employee or temp for a tax agency and wish you had more control over your schedule? Or are you looking to capitalize on your math abilities and attention to detail on your own terms? Either way, you may...

Home Office With Wood Desk and Computer

What is the Owner of an LLC Called?

The Limited Liability Company (LLC) business structure is a popular choice for entrepreneurs in nearly all industries because of its simplicity, personal liability protection, and tax and management flexibility. An owner of an LLC is called a member, and an LLC may...

President Name Badge

What Is a Trademark?

Now that you’ve started your business, it’s time to protect its name. After all, your business name is — and will continue to be — one of the most crucial branding assets you possess. So, how do entrepreneurs protect that critical element from being infringed upon...

Trademark written in wooden cubes

A State-by-State Guide to Economic Nexus

Economic Nexus The Supreme Court ruling on the South Dakota v. Wayfair case in 2018 changed how out-of-state retailers collect and remit sales taxes in each state. At a minimum, states can mandate that businesses without a physical presence in a state and with more...

Nexus Guide With Legal Statue

How Do You Pay Yourself as a Sole Proprietor?

Many small business owners start their companies as Sole Proprietorships. The business structure offers setup simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and minimal business compliance requirements. To determine if a Sole Proprietorship is right for them, entrepreneurs should...

Man Holding a Paycheck

What are Articles of Incorporation?

If you’ve decided to establish your business as a corporation, you’ll need to fulfill your state’s requirements for registering your company. Among those requirements is filing an Articles of Incorporation (sometimes called Certificate of Incorporation) with the...

Document With Seal

Choosing the Best Business Structure for Your Industry

Entrepreneurs face many critical decisions as they launch their businesses. Among the most important is selecting the best business structure for their company. Because of the legal, financial, administrative, and operational implications of the entity chosen,...

Cartoon of Different Businesses on Street

Sole Proprietorship vs. LLC

Are you considering starting a business as a solo owner, or will you co-own the business with your spouse? Then, you may be wondering if operating as a sole proprietorship or a limited liability company (LLC) will be the better choice. Keep in mind that there are...

Business woman writing in planner

Subscribe to Newsletter

Practical business and financial insights, lessons, perspectives, and know-how brought right to your inbox.

Thank you for subscribing!

100% satisfaction guaranteed or we will refund 100% of our service fees with no questions asked!