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.

Corporation Annual Shareholder Meeting Requirements

If your business is set up and registered as a Corporation, you’re required by law to hold an annual shareholder meeting and to document the meeting with minutes. Annual shareholder meetings, sometimes referred to as annual general meetings, are intended to give...

Shareholder Meeting With Men Speaking on Stage

The Purpose of BOI Reporting

Why does FinCEN need a BOI report? Could the purpose of BOI reporting be so great that businesses across the USA have to file yet another report with the government? That’s the question many business owners have been asking since the Corporate Transparency Act of...

Why?

Annual Report Requirements

Are you confused about your business' annual report requirements and if you need to complete one? You're not alone. Requirements for annual reports vary by state, so they can be a little intimidating for the average business owner. If your business is a Limited...

Annual Report Confirmation on Mac

Understanding the Various Types of LLCs

While you are familiar with the Limited Liability Company business entity, you may not realize there are different types of LLC business structures. In a recent live presentation to accounting and tax professionals, our own Amanda Beren walked through what an LLC...

Different Businesses in Downtown Street

Benefits of Forming an LLC

The Limited Liability Company (LLC) business structure is a popular choice for entrepreneurs who want to protect their personal assets, enjoy tax and management flexibility, and keep corporate formalities to a minimum. In this article, I’ll discuss the main...

Woman standing at counter

The Ultimate Buying a Business Checklist

If you aspire to start a business but are hesitant because of the risks, you’re wise to be cautious. According to recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, nearly one in four new businesses fail within their first year of operation. But fear of failure doesn’t...

Businesspeople Having Meeting In Modern Open Plan Office

Do I Need to Register an LLC and Obtain a Business License?

Many entrepreneurs assume that after going through all the steps of setting up and filing a Limited Liability Company (LLC) with the state, they’re free to begin doing business. While that assumption is understandable, it’s not correct. Before you can hang out your...

Certificate With Text That Reads "LLC Registration, Business License, Or Both?"

What to Expect When Selling Your Business

Deciding to sell a business you’ve worked hard to start and build is seldom an easy or hastily made decision, but the truth is that it happens all the time for a variety of reasons. Why would anyone want to sell something they’ve created? Maybe you are a serial...

businessman with clipboard at warehouse

Should You Incorporate at Year End or Wait Until 2025?

If you’re gearing up to incorporate and get your business off the ground at the start of 2025, you might wonder when to file your business formation paperwork. Can you submit your incorporation forms now and request an effective date that is delayed? After all, the...

Calendar Days in a Pile

S Corporation vs. LLC

Limited liability companies (LLCs) and S Corporations are business structures that provide liability protection for business owners and allow for pass-through tax treatment. While they have those things (and some others) in common, they differ in several ways, too....

LLC and S Corp Balanced

Incorporate Before Year End to Avoid Issues at the Secretary of State

Think you’re the only business owner who wants to incorporate or form an LLC before the end of the year with your Secretary of State? Think again. Registering a business at the end of a calendar year can take longer than any other time of the year. Because everyone...

Businessman Running

BOI Reporting Requirements By Business Entity Type

As the deadline approaches for reporting companies to submit their BOI report to FinCEN, many business owners are still questioning if they need to file a report. I field that sort of inquiry a lot when presenting webinars on the topic and the answer is often...

Businessman Filing Online Report via Table

Consequences of Not Filing a BOI Report

By now, you’ve hopefully heard about the beneficial ownership information report that many businesses must file before the year's end. The BOI report is filed with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and it is designed to document information about...

Illustration of Man Receiving Fines

Nexus and State Reciprocity

Nexus and state reciprocity are important topics for business owners and employees, as they can have tax implications for both parties. These topics might seem confusing until you understand the context in which they apply, so let’s break them down for a closer...

Employees Scattered on US Map

Legal Requirements for Hiring Employees

Small businesses hire nearly half of all private sector employees in the United States, with about 61.6 million people working for more than 33 million businesses across the country, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). If you’re a small...

Employee Interview

How to Legally Dissolve a Corporation or LLC

Just like life, running a business has its share of ups, downs, and surprises, which is why there are many different reasons why business owners may want to dissolve their LLC or Corporation. Dissolution, the act of formally dissolving (closing) a business entity...

Women in Storefront Holding Close Sign

Creative Tax Deductions for Small Businesses

Paying taxes is a necessary task for small business owners, but there are ways to minimize the amount you must turn over to the government. While you’ve certainly heard of tax deductions, and hopefully are taking advantage of some, there are some lesser-known...

Woman Cutting Word Tax

Hiring Remote Employees in Another State

The number of employees working remotely increased dramatically in recent years, turning the traditional workplace model on its head. It’s estimated that by 2025, 22% of Americans will be fully remote. While many employees love the flexibility of working remotely,...

Employee Profiles on Computer

Legal Requirements for Hiring Out-of-State Employees

While hiring out-of-state employees can provide many benefits for your business, doing so presents some challenges you should consider before moving forward. Compliance laws vary, but every state has regulations pertaining to hiring, payroll, taxes, benefits, and...

Employees Leaning Against Wall

What Is Reasonable Compensation for an S Corporation?

Operating a business as an S Corporation can provide some tax advantages for a company and its shareholders, but it also means complying with rules imposed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), including the need for employees to be given “reasonable compensation”...

Man Holding a Paycheck

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