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.

What Is an Agent for Service of Process?

An agent for service of process is an individual or business that accepts important legal and government notices on behalf of an LLC or Corporation. More commonly known as a registered agent, designating an agent for service of process is a requirement for LLCs,...

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How to Proactively Manage Small Business Compliance

Besides going through all the proper steps to set up a business, understanding and following through with ongoing compliance requirements is immensely important. I regularly address small business compliance considerations in my writings on the CorpNet blog and...

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Registered Agent Options for Non-Citizens

If you’re a foreign entrepreneur wishing to start a business in the United States, I expect you may have many questions about the process. Non-citizens can own a U.S-based Limited Liability Company (LLC) or C Corporation, and like U.S. residents, non-resident...

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How to Appoint a Registered Agent

Appointing a registered agent for your business entity isn’t terribly difficult, but it does require a little effort on your part. Whether you’re starting a brand new business and need to designate a registered agent for the first time or you want to change your...

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What is a Corporate Resolution?

A corporate resolution is a formal record of a corporation's board of directors' decisions and actions on behalf of the company. States require incorporated companies to use corporate resolutions for recording major business decisions. The company's board of directors must vote to approve resolutions either during board meetings or in writing. 

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Should I Be My Own Registered Agent?

The owner of a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or Corporation might consider being their own registered agent since it eliminates the cost of contracting another party to accept service of process and other official notifications on the business’s behalf. However,...

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A Guide for Starting a Business in Michigan

If you’ve been thinking about starting a business in Michigan, you're in good company. With plentiful resources, incentives, and loans, Michigan is home to 902,000 small businesses that represent 48.3 % of the state's workers. Michigan offers one of the best...

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What is a BOC-3 Process Agent?

The BOC-3 federal filing designates process agents to accept legal documents on behalf of transportation companies. The process agent company must list the process agents in all other states where the company conducts business.

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What Is a Registered Agent?

Many business owners will ask themselves what is a registered agent and then question if they really need one. The answer to both questions is yes! A registered agent is a person or company with the authority to accept service of process (legal documents and...

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Time is Running Out on $1 LLC and DBA Filing in Colorado

Since July 1, 2022, the filing fees required to be paid for the registration of new businesses within Colorado have been reduced to $1. This savings includes the formation of a Limited Liability Company (LLC) and initial tradename registrations (DBAs). Colorado...

Save Money in Colorado

What is a Registered Office?

You'll likely encounter some unfamiliar terms when forming and managing your business. One phrase is a registered office, which refers to the physical address where a company receives service of process, which are legal documents and government notices that need...

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What Is LLC Service of Process?

When someone sues an LLC, the procedure of delivering the legal paperwork that initiates the lawsuit and allows it to proceed is referred to as service of process. Service of process notifies the LLC of the lawsuit, and it establishes that the court hearing the...

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Tax Saving Features of Corporations, S Corporations, and LLCs

I regularly speak to business owners about entity types and their potential impact from a tax perspective. A while back, I created a webinar for accountants (and other professional services providers that work with businesses) on the topic of business structures...

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10 Ways to Promote Your New Business

Excited to start your new business in the coming year? Whether you’re forming your company as a sole proprietorship or a Limited Liability Company (LLC), promoting a new business takes strategizing and fresh ideas. Otherwise, it’s challenging to get your new...

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How to Find and Compare Registered Agent Service Providers

As a serial entrepreneur with a heart for helping other entrepreneurs, it pains me to see business owners misled by registered agent services providers who offer bargain basement prices. These low-priced registered agents focus on offering the cheapest price...

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What Is a Subsidiary?

The word “subsidiary” gets tossed about a lot in the world of business. But what does it really mean? A subsidiary is a company owned or controlled by another business entity (known as a parent company, holding company, or umbrella company). A parent company might...

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Can You Use a UPS Store or PO Box for a Registered Agent?

It may seem very appealing to use a UPS store or PO Box for your registered agent, but this comes with a lot of risks. And in some states, this action can result in the closure of your business. Let's walk through what a registered agent is and why opting to use a...

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Articles of Incorporation vs. Articles of Organization

If you're thinking about starting a business, you’ll want to research which business entity type will be most advantageous to you. As you go through that process, you will discover that various documents and filings need to be submitted to the state to form a...

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How to Legally Start a Food Truck Business

According to IBISWorld, the food truck industry has 25,476 businesses in 2020. Growth in the industry from 2015 to 2020 averaged 8.7%. With the COVID-19 crisis a reality now, arguably, the food truck industry may be better suited than brick-and-mortar restaurants...

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