Thousands of small businesses open in the United States each year, but the number that survive and thrive for decades are in the minority. Many of these small businesses fail because small business owners make deadly legal mistakes, particularly in the early days—before and after they open their doors to customers. Don’t be among the…
Trademark Scams – Don’t Pay for What You Don’t Need
In a previous blog post, I shared some tips to protect yourself from trademark scam letters, and unfortunately, the number of scammers continues to grow. That means you need to understand how these scams could affect you so you don’t spend unnecessary money or time thinking about them. The Trademark Scam Letter You filed a…
Confusing Employees and Independent Contractors: A Costly Risk
Employees and independent contractors are not the same, and the difference isn’t just that employees are on your payroll and independent contractors are not. It’s also not just that employees should sign employment agreements and independent contractors should sign independent contractor agreements. And it’s definitely not that you don’t have to provide medical benefits to…
5 Secrets to Raise the Next Generation of Business Owners
For small business owners, one of the most important concerns—but also, one of the least often considered concerns—is who will run the business when the owner moves on. Whether you plan to retire or are unexpectedly forced to step away due to health or other problems, you need a plan in place to ensure your…
Business Name and Trademark Confusion Can Cost Your Business Big Bucks
One of the biggest mistakes that a business can make is failing to secure the trademark for its business name. Many businesses register their business names in their states so they can start operating, and they think that’s all they have to do. Fast forward a few years and a business that makes this mistake…
Demystifying Copyright Symbols
Be confused no more! I’m about to take the guesswork out of how to create and use a proper copyright notice. You see copyright symbols all the time but may not be sure what the symbol really means. The copyright symbol, the letter C in a circle, or ©, may be used for any “original…