The Launch Blog: Expert Advice from the CorpNet Team

Legislative Update Gives Exemption to New California Limited Liability Companies LLCs registered to do business in California must pay an annual franchise tax of $800 to the state's Franchise Tax Board (FTB). However, to relieve some of the financial pressures amid the pandemic for newly formed businesses, California Governor Gavin Newsome signed legislation in 2020 to exempt startups from paying the LLC franchise tax during their first year in business. This is welcome news for aspiring business owners in the Golden State! The new rules established by the state’s 2020 Budget Act (AB 85)...

No matter where you’re buying a rental property, protecting that investment is important. Many real estate investors who own rentals choose to set up each of their properties as a Limited Liability Company (LLC). Doing so helps protect their personal assets from mishaps or accidents at their rental locations. But do you really need an LLC for rental property in another state? And, where is it most advantageous to register an LLC when buying real estate property out of state? Is it in the investor’s home state or where the rental property resides? In this article, I’ll provide some food...

I'm often asked if it is advantageous for a small business to hire family members. Some entrepreneurs have asked if hiring relatives presents legal issues, while others have asked if it is ethical. Whether you believe this practice is good business or nepotism, there are a lot of companies hiring relatives in full-time and contract positions. In the U.S. today, there are 5.5 million family-owned businesses, employing 63% of the American workforce. That adds up to many family business owners working with family members. These scenarios could be fraught with angst or, if done right, lead to...

A corporation has three main categories of stakeholders involved in the financial and management aspects of the company. While all play a crucial role, officers work more closely with a corporation’s managers and supervisors, arguably having a more direct impact on the company’s success. Officers - Officers are individuals appointed by the board of directors to manage the corporation. They act as agents of the board to ensure the organization carries out the directors’ decisions. Corporate officers’ roles and the number of officers can vary based on state law and the company’s governance...

If you’re starting a retail business (whether online or at a brick and mortar location), you’ll want to apply for a reseller license. A reseller license certifies you don’t have to pay sales tax when buying products on a wholesale basis for the purpose of reselling them to customers. In some states, a reseller license might alternately be called a reseller permit, resale license, resale certificate, sales tax permit, or some other term. Regardless of its name, its purpose is to identify your company as a reseller. Reseller License and Sales Tax In the United States, a business with a...

When you move from one house to another, you likely have a checklist of things you need to take care of in the process from changing your mailing address and calling your cable TV provider and your internet company. But when moving your business to another state, many business owners don’t know where to begin. There are many reasons to consider moving your business to another state. For example: Your target market has changed—economically and/or demographically. The cost of real estate (including property taxes) has risen so much that your business is at risk of going under. The state has...

Many small business owners choose to operate their companies under the LLC business structure. They do so with good reason! The LLC offers liability protection to its owners (members), tax flexibility, and compliance simplicity. However, that tax flexibility may cause some confusion for entrepreneurs. One of the tax-related topics that people often ask about is if LLC members have to pay self-employment tax. In this article, I'm going to cover that question, along with many others related to the subject. FAQs About LLCs and Self-Employment Tax Is Self-Employment Tax the Same as Income...

There are many reasons companies choose to incorporate as C Corporations. Being a C Corporation is preferred if you plan to seek investors or take the company public. Also, because the C Corporation is a legal, taxable entity separate from its owners, shareholders’ personal liability is limited to the amount they have invested in the company. In contrast, owners of Sole Proprietorships and Partnerships are personally liable for the business’s debts and legal issues. Although becoming a C Corporation involves more paperwork and continuous compliance, many business owners find the C...

Sometimes business owners want to market their services or products under a name other than their legal business name. For instance, a Sole Proprietorship, who must have both the owner’s first and last name in the business name, will want to use a fictitious name that’s more creative and compelling. They have to get permission to use that fictitious name by filing a DBA (doing business as). But other business entities, such as Nonprofit Corporations, may also have reasons for using a DBA. If you're wondering if a Nonprofit Corporation can register a DBA, the answer is yes and I’ll cover...

If you’ve decided to structure your business as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) and plan to register your company in California, it’s crucial to know how to keep your company in good standing by following the state’s compliance regulations. One regulation particularly important to California LLCs concerns their tax filing requirements. What is Form 568? Most LLCs doing business in California must file Form CA Form 568 (Limited Liability Company Return of Income), Form FTB 3522 (LLC Tax Voucher), and pay an annual franchise tax of $800. These businesses are classified as a disregarded...

The decision to change an LLC name is one not to consider lightly. After all, your business name is one of your most important brand assets. But sometimes, a name change is in order for one of many reasons. Perhaps there was a mistake in your formation paperwork, so you need to correct the name. Or perhaps the name was fine in the past, but now it's not because it includes the name of a business partner who just retired. Or maybe your business has expanded into other products or services, and the name no longer accurately reflects what you do. Another reason you might consider changing...

Does your business need to collect sales tax and remit it to the state or local tax authority? And if it does, how do you go about getting a sales tax license? Moreover, what if your business is selling your products across state lines? Do you need to charge and remit sales tax in those states, too? These are all valid and important questions! We're going to delve into them in this article to give you some helpful food for thought as you research what requirements apply to your business. Please keep in mind that all I share here is for discussion purposes. For professional tax guidance,...

Business compliance is a phrase that makes many an entrepreneur cringe. But despite the lack of affection for those two words, business owners must take them seriously. The possible consequences for noncompliance range from mild inconvenience to devastating disaster. Most critical is that noncompliance by Limited Liability Companies and Corporations can lead to piercing the corporate veil, which puts business owners’ personal assets at risk. Before I get into the penalties for noncompliance, let’s first take a moment to discuss what it is exactly. What is Noncompliance in Business? Nearly...