Legal Guide for Starting & Running a Small Business

by Steingold, Fred S.; Randolph, Mary; Warner, Ralph E.; Randolph, Mary; Warner, Ralph E.

• ISBN13: 9780873373746
• ISBN10: 087337374X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-04-01
• Publisher: Nolo

Summary

This is the nuts-and-bolts guide to starting and running a small business that no business owner should be without. It provides clear, plain-English explanations of the laws that affect businesses every day, without costing a fortune in legal fees. It covers what every business owner needs to know about partnerships, corporations and limited liability companies, trademarks and service marks, licenses and permits, taxes, independent contractors, leases, buying and selling a business and much more.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1 Which Legal Form Is Best for Your Business	1/4
A. Sole Proprietorships	1/4	(3)
B. Partnerships	1/7	(3)
C. Limited Partnerships	1/10	(1)
D. Corporations	1/11	(8)
E. Special Kinds of Corporations	1/19	(2)
F. Limited Liability Companies	1/21
CHAPTER 2 Structuring a Partnership Agreement	2/2
A. Why You Need a Written Agreement	2/2	(1)
B. An Overview of Your Partnership Agreement	2/3	(10)
C. Changes in Your Partnership	2/13
CHAPTER 3 Creating a Corporation	3/2
A. The Structure of a Corporation	3/2	(2)
B. Financing Your Corporation	3/5	(1)
C. Compensating Yourself	3/6	(1)
D. Do You Need a Lawyer to Incorporate?	3/7	(1)
E. Overview of Incorporation Procedures	3/8	(1)
F. 12 Basic Steps to Incorporate	3/8	(9)
G. After You Incorporate	3/17	(1)
H. Business Practices for Your Corporation	3/17
CHAPTER 4 Naming Your Business and Products	4/3
A. Business Names: An Overview	4/3	(1)
B. Mandatory Name Procedures	4/4	(3)
C. Trademarks and Service Marks	4/7	(1)
D. Strong and Weak Trademarks	4/8	(1)
E. How to Protect Your Trademark	4/9	(1)
F. Name Searches	4/10
CHAPTER 5 Licenses and Permits	5/3
A. Federal Registrations and Licenses	5/3	(1)
B. State Requirements	5/4	(2)
C. Regional Requirements	5/6	(1)
D. Local Requirements	5/7	(2)
E. How to Deal With Local Building and Zoning Officials	5/9
CHAPTER 6 Tax Basics for the Small Business	6/2
A. Employer Identification Number	6/2	(3)
B. Becoming an S Corporation	6/5	(1)
C. Business Taxes in General	6/6	(6)
D. Business Deductions	6/12	(5)
E. Tax Audits	6/17
CHAPTER 7 Raising Money for Your Business	7/3
A. Two Types of Outside Financing	7/3	(5)
B. Twelve Common Sources of Money	7/8	(6)
C. Document All Money You Receive	7/14
CHAPTER 8 Buying a Business	8/2
A. Finding a Business to Buy	8/2	(1)
B. What's the Structure of the Business You Want to Buy?	8/3	(3)
C. Gathering Information About a Business	8/6	(1)
D. Valuing the Business	8/7	(3)
E. Other Items to Investigate	8/10	(2)
F. Letter of Intent to Purchase	8/12	(10)
G. The Sales Agreement	8/22	(1)
H. The Closing	8/23	(2)
I. Selling a Business	8/25
CHAPTER 9 Franchises: How Not to Get Burned	9/2
A. An Overview of Franchises	9/2	(2)
B. What Is a Franchise?	9/4	(1)
C. Investigating a Franchise	9/5	(1)
D. The Uniform Franchise Offering Circular	9/6	(6)
E. The Franchise Agreement	9/12	(3)
F. Solving Problems With a Franchisor	9/15
CHAPTER 10 Insuring Your Business	10/2
A. Working With an Insurance Agent	10/2	(2)
B. Property Coverage	10/4	(4)
C. Liability Insurance	10/8	(4)
D. Other Insurance to Consider	10/12	(2)
E. Saving Money on Insurance	10/14	(3)
F. Making a Claim	10/17
CHAPTER 11 Negotiating a Favorable Lease	11/2
A. Finding a Place	11/2	(1)
B. Leases and Rental Agreements: An Overview	11/2	(1)
C. Short Term Leases (Month-to-Month Rentals)	11/3	(1)
D. Written Long-Term Leases	11/4	(12)
E. Additional Clauses to Consider	11/16	(1)
F. Shopping Center Leases	11/17	(1)
G. How to Modify a Lease	11/18	(1)
H. Landlord-Tenant Disputes	11/18	(2)
I. Getting Out of a Lease	11/20	(1)
J. When You Need Professional Help	11/21
CHAPTER 12 Home-Based Business	12/2
A. Zoning Laws	12/2	(5)
B. Private Land Use Restrictions	12/7	(1)
C. Insurance	12/8	(1)
D. Taxes	12/9
CHAPTER 13 Employees and Independent Contractors	13/2	(3)
A. Hiring Employees	13/2	(3)
B. Job Descriptions	13/5	(1)
C. Job Advertisements	13/6	(1)
D. Job Applications	13/6	(3)
E. Interviews	13/9	(1)
F. Testing	13/9	(4)
G. Investigating Job Application Information	13/13	(2)
H. Immigration Law Requirements	13/15	(1)
I. Personnel Practices	13/15	(2)
J. Illegal Discrimination	13/17	(1)
K. Wages and Hours	13/18	(4)
L. Occupational Safety and Health	13/22	(1)
M. Workers' Compensation	13/22	(1)
N. Termination	13/23	(2)
O. Unemployment Compensation	13/25	(1)
P. Independent Contractors	13/26
CHAPTER 14 The Importance of Excellent Relations	14/3
A. Developing Your Customer Satisfaction Policy	14/3	(2)
B. Telling Customers About Your Policies	14/5	(10)
CHAPTER 15 Legal Requirements for Dealing With Customers	15/2
A. Advertising	15/2	(3)
B. Retail Pricing and Return Practices	15/5	(4)
C. Warranties	15/9	(6)
D. Consumer Protection Statutes	15/15	(1)
CHAPTER 16 Cash, Checks and Credit Cards	16/2
A. Cash	16/2	(1)
B. Credit Cards	16/2	(1)
C. Checks	16/3
CHAPTER 17 Extending Credit and Getting Paid	17/2
A. The Practical Side of Extending Credit	17/2	(6)
B. Laws That Regulate Consumer Credit	17/8	(1)
C. Becoming a Secured Creditor	17/9	(1)
D. Collection Problems	17/10	(4)
E. Collection Options	17/14
CHAPTER 18 Put It in Writing: Small Business Contracts	18/2
A. What Makes a Valid Contract	18/2	(2)
B. Unfair or Illegal Contracts	18/4	(1)
C. Misrepresentation, Duress or Mistake	18/5	(1)
D. Must a Contract Be in Writing?	18/6	(3)
E. Writing Business-to-Business Contracts	18/9	(4)
F. The Formalities of Getting a Contract Signed	18/13	(4)
G. Enforcing Contracts in Court	18/17	(1)
H. What Can You Sue For?	18/18
CHAPTER 19 The Financially Troubled Business	19/2
A. Thinking Ahead to Protect Your Personal Assets	19/2	(3)
B. Managing the Financially Troubled Business	19/5	(3)
C. Seeking an Objective Analysis	19/8	(2)
D. Workouts	19/10	(3)
E. Selling or Closing the Business	19/13	(2)
F. Understanding Bankruptcy	19/15
CHAPTER 20 Resolving Legal Disputes	20/2
A. Negotiating a Settlement	20/2	(1)
B. Understanding Mediation	20/3	(2)
C. Arbitration	20/5	(3)
D. Going to Court	20/8
CHAPTER 21 Representing Yourself in Small Claims Court	21/2
A. Deciding Whether to Represent Yourself	21/2	(2)
B. Learning the Rules	21/4	(1)
C. Meeting the Jurisdictional Limits	21/4	(2)
D. Before You File Your Lawsuit	21/6	(2)
E. Figuring Out Whom to Sue	21/8	(1)
F. Handling Your Small Claims Court Lawsuit	21/8	(3)
G. Representing Yourself If You're the Defendant	21/11	(1)
H. Appealing Small Claims Decisions	21/11	(1)
I. Collecting Your Judgment	21/12
CHAPTER 22 Lawyers and Legal Research	22/3
A. How to Find the Right Lawyer	22/3	(2)
B. Fees and Bills	22/5	(1)
C. Problems With Your Lawyer	22/6	(1)
D. Do-It-Yourself Legal Research	22/7
APPENDIX A
APPENDIX B
INDEX