CT Expert Insights

Dissolution is not a topic many business owners like to think about, but if the time comes, it's important to know what to expect. In this edition, CT Corporation Account Manager Mike Enright explains the different types of dissolution and how to approach that decision as a corporation or an LLC. He also walks us through the formal steps of dissolution in most states and what information you'll need to complete the process.For additional information and resources, please visit:https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/the-administrative-dissolution-and-reinstatement-of-business-entitieshttps://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/ct-corporation/business-entity-dissolution-or-withdrawalThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/2979093/advertisement

Engineering firms must navigate a number of government regulations, and that includes obtaining a business license. CT Corporation's Hans Howk walks us through the regulatory environment for engineering businesses, what the process for getting a business license looks like, and the significant consequences for non-compliance.For more information and resources:https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/business-license-pitfalls-for-architecture-and-engineering-companies

Before you start building your architecture business, make sure you have the proper licensing and other compliance in place. CT Corporation Content Management Associate Claire Corbin explains what you need to do to acquire your license, some of the rules you need to follow when naming your business, what the penalties are for non-licensure, and much more.For additional information and resources: https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/architecture-firm-business-licensing-and-other-legal-requirements

In late September, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN, finally released specifics on how small businesses need to comply with a new reporting rule through the Corporate Transparency Act. CT Corporation Publications Attorney Sandra Feldman explains what information the government requires, which businesses are exempt, and when you need to have all of your information submitted.For addition information, please visit: https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/fincen-issues-final-rule-implementing-the-reporting-requirements-of-the-corporate-transparency-act

In our most recent podcast, we walked through all the steps needed to select and establish a name for your corporation of LLC. But sometimes it becomes necessary to change the business name. CT Corporation Publications Attorney Sandra Feldman shares some reasons businesses seek a name change, steps to take before making a formal change, how to make it official, and what sort of compliance is required afterwards.For additional information and resources, please visit: https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/ct-corporation/business-naming

Naming your business involves a lot more than coming up with something your customers will remember. CT Corporation Manager of Customer Service Tim Jensen explains what the government will require from you in a business name, why you might not get to use your first choice, and what words you can and cannot use. He also explains how to reserve a name before your business opens and how to proceed if you do business in multiple states.For additional information and resources: https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/entity-naming-requirements-for-corporations-llcs

At the beginning of August, Delaware law changed to offer more liability protections for corporation officials when there's been a breach of duties. With so many businesses formally registered in Delaware, this will have an impact throughout the country. CT Corporation Publications Attorney Sandra Feldman explains what exactly has changed, the impact the change is likely to have, and what business owners need to do to comply with the updated law. For additional information and resources: https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/delaware-corporations-can-now-limit-the-liability-of-senior-officers

Choosing the right entity for your business is one of the most important decisions a business owner makes. In this edition, we focus on corporations. Should you establish your business as a corporation? And if you do, is it better for your business to be taxed as a C Corporation or an S Corporation? CT Corporation Publications Attorney Sandra Feldman explains what characteristics you need to qualify as a corporation and walks us through the tax advantages and disadvantages of filing as a C Corp or an S Corp.

Third party logistics providers, or 3PL's, must meet strict compliance requirements, particularly those doing business in the pharmaceutical industry. In this edition, Wolters Kluwer Manager of Content Management Hans Howk explains what the licensing requirements are for 3PL's and which government agencies will be making sure you are in compliance. He also explains the penalties for licensure non-compliance and how CT Corporation can help you navigate all the complexities that come with this designation.For additional resources, please visit:https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/third-party-logistics-provider-licensing-requirements

Business identity theft is growing quickly but protecting yourself before someone tries to attack you, and knowing what to do if they succeed, can save you a lot of money and stress. Andrew La Marca, director of fraud and compliance at Dun & Bradstreet, tells us how bad actors target businesses, how to stay vigilant for these attacks, and what to do if your business is victimized.For additional resources, please visit:https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/the-rising-risk-of-business-identity-theft

DIYMarketers.com Publisher Ivana Taylor shares her "winflation" mindset that she encourages all business owners to have during this time of inflation. Instead of focusing solely on cutting costs and raising prices, Taylor urges us to listen for other ways our customers wish we could help them and come up with enticing incentives for them to do more business with us. Taylor also highlights the value of finding ways to collaborate with other businesses and following up with existing and prospective customers to meet their needs.For additional information and resources, please visit: https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/ct-corporation/legal-solutions-small-business

Entrepreneur and speaker Ramon Ray joins us to discuss how employers can attract and keep the best talent at a time when so many businesses are badly understaffed. He also outlines some best practices to make telework good for your productivity and for employee morale. Finally, Ray offers some helpful hints on how to make yourself the best advertisement for your business.

Business licensing can get complicated for insurance businesses, so knowing how to stay compliant is critical. In this edition of "Expert Insights," CT Corporation's Coby Ringgenberg takes us through the importance of insurance firms being properly licensed, the consequences of non-compliance, and how to start and complete the licensing process.For additional resources, please visit:https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/ct-corporation/business-license-solutions

Durable medial equipment (DME) providers are among the most heavily-regulated businesses in the nation. Why is that and what do DME business owners need to know about getting licensed, and meeting state and federal requirements for operation? CT Corporation Manager of Content Management Hans Howk walks us through the critical steps of compliance and how to stay in good standing over the long haul.For additional resources on this topic, please visit: https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/durable-medical-equipment-licensing-requirements

The government will soon be imposing a new beneficial ownership reporting rule as part of the Corporate Transparency Act, which was passed by Congress last year. CT Corporation Publications Attorney Sandra Feldman explains which entities will need to comply with the new rule, what potential exemptions exist, and what information the government is going to want in these reports.For additional resources: https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/cta-reporting-requirements-what-companies-and-law-firms-should-do-to-prepare

Small business expert Gene Marks offers business owners timely advice on how to handle inflation, supply challenges, and labor shortages in the new year. Marks also offers encouraging news on the affordability of AI tools that improve efficiency and will improve the bottom line. And he gives business owners a tip on how to get funds from the Small Business Administration at a good interest rate...but you need to act within the next couple of weeks.

Since the start of the pandemic, Special Purpose Acquisition Companies, or SPAC's, have exploded in popularity for businesses and celebrity influencers. But what exactly is a SPAC? What advantages does it have compared to a more traditional initial public offering? What risks should you know about? And how could it impact your business? We get answers to these questions and more with CT Corporation Senior Director Amit Rajvanshy.For additional resources:https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/the-rise-of-the-spac

Choosing the right entity is one of the most important decisions a business owner can make, and an entity that will protect you from having to pay corporate taxes on top of personal income taxes can be very attractive. It's known as an S Corporation. CT Corporation Manager of Customer Service Tim Jensen explains what it takes to be eligible to file as an S Corporation, how this entity differs from other entity types, and what the ongoing compliance requirements look like.For additional information and resources, please visit:https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/s-corporations-offer-advantages-and-disadvantages

Could a holding company be the key to making sure your business survives tough stretches and unexpected interruptions like a pandemic? CT Corporation Publications Attorney Sandra Feldman explains what holding companies and operating companies are and walks us through the major benefits and possible drawbacks of choosing this kind of business structure. For additional information and resources, please visit:https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/using-a-holding-company-operating-company-structure-to-help-mitigate-riskhttps://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/getting-grip-holding-companies

One of the first critical decisions for any aspiring business owner is determining the right business formation or incorporation for you. But why is it important? What are the different options for incorporation and what should be the most important factors in choosing one? We discuss all of this and the incorporation process with CT Corporation Customer Service Manager Tim Jensen.For additional information on business formations, please visit https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/ct-corporation/business-formation-solutions

A record number of new businesses started in 2020 but many aspiring entrepreneurs are still reluctant to chase their dreams because of their fear of failure. CT Corporation Manager of Customer Service Tim Jensen joins us to explain how that fear is actually a good thing that can be leveraged to make your new business even better. He also offers advice on how to translate prior business failures into future success.For additional resources on the this subject, please visit:https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/ct-corporation/legal-solutions-small-business

Choosing a name for your business is one of the most important decisions any business owner will make. You want it to be memorable and to explain exactly what you do. But naming a business also needs to follow the rules in your state. What do you do if some other business already has the name you want? What is the difference between a legal name and the name the public knows you by? And what words should you be careful not to include in your business name? We discuss all of those questions and much more with Tim Jensen, manager of customer service at CT Corporation.For additional information and resources on naming your business, please visit:https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/ct-corporation/business-naming

Over the past 18 months, Special Purpose Acquisition Companies, or SPAC's, have exploded in popularity for businesses and celebrity influencers. But what exactly is a SPAC? What advantages does it have compared to a more traditional initial public offering? What risks should you know about? And how could it impact your business? We get answers to these questions and more with CT Corporation Senior Director Amit Rajvanshy.For additional resources:https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/the-rise-of-the-spac

It is vital for business owners to protect themselves and their firms through a formal business entity. The limited liability company, or LLC, is an extremely popular choice, but why is that? CT Corporation Customer Service Manager Tim Jensen joins us to explain the many benefits of LLC's and the due diligence you need to perform before making your choice official. Jensen also walks us through the steps of setting up an LLC and discusses the ongoing responsibilities that come with it.For additional resources on this topic, please visit:https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/ct-corporation/llc-limited-liability-company-formation-services

Some businesses are looking to acquire other firms weakened by the pandemic and others are looking to merge to stay afloat. But as these opportunities present themselves, what do business owners need to know before completing a deal? CT Corporation Publications Attorney Sandra Feldman shares five critical pieces of information you will need before signing any agreement.For additional resources on this subject, please visit:https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/ct-corporation/legal-solutions-small-business

Some business owners get a very unwelcome surprise when they find out a UCC-1 filing was made against their company. When false, such filings make a business look like a bad bet for lenders and other financial providers. So how do these filings happen? What can be done to set the record straight? And how can you find out whether your business is impacted before the lenders do? We get answers from CT Corporation Publications Attorney Sandra Feldman.For more information on UCC-1 filings:https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/the-courts-are-clear-ucc-1s-must-be-authorized-to-be-effective

If your business did not have employees working from home before the pandemic, there's a very good chance you quickly figured it out in March of 2020. Now that the business world is reopening, many business owners are planning to have employees continue working from home. But what do we need to know to remain compliant when it comes to business licensing and other obligations? CT Corporation Compliance Business Consultant Donia Wade tells us what we need to know to make these changes as smoothly as possible.For more information on business licenses, please visit https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/ct-corporation/business-license-solutions

With a pandemic easing and an economy fighting to recover, law firms are also experiencing a lot of changes. What are the biggest changes that firms are facing? Which parts of the world are seeing the most change? And what opportunities and challenges are law firms seeing right now? We get answers from Devlin Fisher, global sales support manager at CT Corporation.Additional resources on this subject from CT Corporation: https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/ct-corporation/global-corporate-services

CT Corporation Compliance Business Consultant Donia Wade walks us through the key steps for acquiring and maintaining a business license. She also offers best practices for staying on top of license compliance issues and making the process for renewing or adding licenses as simple as possible.For additional resources, please visit:https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/ct-corporation/business-license-solutionshttps://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/the-first-step-in-business-license-compliance

Whether retiring, selling a business, or having to close, knowing how to properly dissolve a business is critically important. CT Corporation Manager of Customer Service Tim Jensen walks us through the key steps of dissolution, the risks created by not going through the process properly, and why it's good to understand all of this before we actually need to do it.For additional resources, please visit: https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/ct-corporation/business-entity-dissolution-or-withdrawal

Natalie Mendell and Alejandro Martinez of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce discuss their proactive approach to helping businesses in New York City after a year of uncertainty. Martell and Martinez discuss their program of going door-to-door to meet with business owners, learn their concerns, and point them towards resources that will address their concerns over financing, leasing, and more.For more information on legal solutions for small businesses, please visit:https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/ct-corporation/legal-solutions-small-business

CT Corporation Manager of Customer Service Tim Jensen explains the many benefits of incorporation, how to choose the right entity type for your business, and how to navigate the actual process of incorporation.For additional information on business formations, please visit https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/ct-corporation/business-formation-solutions

For more and more law firms, growth and expansion often mean doing work in other countries. In this edition of Expert Insights, CT’s Global Sales Support Manager, Rob McHugh, discusses the opportunities and challenges of doing work internationally, and how law firms can structure their internal operations to best address growing global legal work.For additional resources on this subject from CT Corporation:https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/ct-corporation/global-corporate-services

As businesses continue to look for global opportunities, the law firms that support them can face their own set of challenges. More and more client work contains an international component for which law firms must be prepared to handle. In this edition of Expert Insights, CT’s Global Sales Support Manager, Devlin Fisher, discusses how the global pandemic has affected business activity and the marketplace, what practice areas are seeing the biggest growth, tackling the global components to client requests, and common issues law firms run into.Additional resources on this subject from CT Corporation: https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/ct-corporation/global-corporate-services

Millions of people were forced to work from home in 2020 and now some businesses plan to keep it that way. But what do business leaders need to know to stay compliant when it comes to teleworking employees? CT Corporation’s Compliance Business Consultant Donia Wade explains the compliance areas that you need to know about, when a business license is required for these situations, and what tools can make your compliance easier.For more information on business licenses, please visit https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/ct-corporation/business-license-solutions

When starting a new business, you have options on what type of entity to establish. Two common considerations are a sole proprietorship and a limited liability corporation. What are the advantages of each, what are the possible downsides, and how will this decision impact taxes for your business? We discuss all these questions and more with CT Corporation Publications Attorney Sandra Feldman.For more information: https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/ct-corporation/business-formation-solutions

After much debate, the COVID relief bill is now law and it includes more than $284 billion of relief for small businesses through a third round of the Paycheck Protection Program. CT Corporation Publications Attorney Sandra Feldman joins us to explain what is different about this round of PPP loans, why most of the changes are good news for business owners, and how you can apply for relief.

On January 1, a new law called the Corporate Transparency Act went into effect. It requires many businesses to file what's known as a beneficial ownership report. CT Corporation Publications attorney Sandra Feldman explains why the reports are needed, which businesses need to file them, and how soon that needs to be done.

Small business expert Gene Marks looks forward to what 2021 has in store for small business owners. Marks explains the Paycheck Protection Program changes available in the latest COVID relief legislation, how businesses can weather more shutdowns, and what new opportunities are emerging from all the upheaval in our economy.

We experienced a lot of sudden change in 2020, but hopefully we've also learned how to lead through times of change as well. Vested Group founder Joel Patterson reflects on the lessons learned from the past year and how to lead future change with clarity and empathy.

BizFilings Service Manager Mike Enright tells us why scammers frequently target business owners, what the most common scams look like, and how best to protect yourself and your business.

Big Ideas for Small Business, Inc. President Barbara Weltman shares timely advice on how best to prepare your business for tax season and how the pandemic and the CARES Act may impact your tax planning and other year-end decisions.