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Starting a Business Articles & FAQs Mistakes Made by New Businesses: The Top Ten Start Your Own Business: 50 Things You'll Need to Do Evaluating Your Business Idea Articles & FAQs Evaluating Your Business Idea FAQ Start the Right New Business for You Will My Business Make Money? Start-Up Advice for the Entrepreneur Starting a Small Business in Paradise Q&As Is it infringement if someone uses my company's name for a different business? Can I safely start a business with a money-bungling buddy? Financing Your Business Articles & FAQs Business Financing FAQ The Lowdown on Business Loans Understanding Promissory Notes Small Business Loans: Getting the Lender's Approval Raising Money Through Equity Investments Loans and Equity Investments Compared Private Loans & Investments: Raising Money from Family and Friends What Are Some Tips for Financing a Small Business? Q&As Can I add my good payment history on a private loan to my credit report? Writing a Business Plan Articles & FAQs Business Plan FAQ Why You Need to Write a Business Plan Business Plan Basics Q&As Do independent contractors need business licenses? Can I safely start a business with a money-bungling buddy? Naming Your Business Articles & FAQs Choosing a Business Name FAQ Pick a Winning Name for Your Business Make Sure Your Proposed Business Name Is Available Registering Your Business Name Choose and Register a Domain Name Domain Names and Trademarks FAQ Q&As When does a variation of my name become a fictitious business name? Is it infringement if someone buys a URL with my company's trademark? Is it infringement if someone uses my company's name for a different business? What if the domain name I want is taken -- but not yet being used? Obtaining Licenses & Permits Articles & FAQs State Start-Up Requirements for Small Businesses Local Start-Up Requirements for Small Businesses Federal Start-Up Requirements for Small Businesses Q&As What laws should I know about in the adult entertainment business? Finding and Renting Space for Your Business Articles & FAQs Finding and Renting Space for Your Business FAQ Basics of Commercial Leases The Right Commercial Real Estate for You Determine the Space Your Business Needs Choosing a Successful Location for Your Business Tips for Assessing the Cost of the Rental Avoid Zoning Trouble Dealing With Zoning Problems The Commercial Lease: What You Should Know How Commercial Leases Are Made Common Commercial Lease Terms Commercial Leases: Negotiate the Best Terms What Should You Know When Leasing Commercial Space? Q&As Can I break a lease where the view of my shop from the street is being blocked? Can a new owner change the terms of a commercial lease? My tenants want network cable: Who pays? Can our landlord evict us for noise when we leased space for an arcade? What are my commercial tenant 's responsibilities after assigning her lease? How much can I raise the rent on a commercial sublease? Can I get out of my commercial lease when new owners arrive? Ownership Structures Articles & FAQs Business Ownership Structures Choosing the Best Ownership Structure for Your Business Chart: Ways to Organize Your Business Should You Form a Corporation or an LLC? Q&As Can my husband and I own our business together as a sole proprietorship? Sole Proprietor Articles & FAQs Sole Proprietorship FAQ Sole Proprietorship Basics How Sole Proprietors Are Taxed Q&As When does a variation of my name become a fictitious business name? Can my husband and I own our business together as a sole proprietorship? The first quarter's over: what tax forms must I fill out? Partnership Articles & FAQs Partnership FAQ Partnership Basics Creating a Partnership Agreement Plan Ahead for Changes in Partnership Ownership How Partnerships Are Taxed Limited Partnerships and Limited Liability Partnerships Q&As Can I safely start a business with a money-bungling buddy? Corporation Articles & FAQs Corporations FAQ Corporation Basics How to Form a Corporation Documenting Corporate Decisions How Corporations Are Taxed S Corporation Facts Plan Ahead for Changes in Corporate Ownership Qualifying to Do Business Outside Your State Should You Form a Corporation or an LLC? Q&As What happens if we forget to hold an annual meeting? How do I quit being an S corporation officer? How do I start a pension plan for my C corporation? Should my very small business incorporate in Delaware? How do I serve a corporation that has no agent? Can our nonprofit get in trouble for failing to file tax returns? Can my corporate directors be H-1B visa holders? I want to sell but the other shareholder doesn't. Who wins? Am I liable for co-shareholders' decisions in an S corporation? Limited Liability Company (LLC) Forming an LLC in Your State Limited Liability Company FAQ LLC Basics The LLC Operating Agreement How to Form an LLC How LLCs Are Taxed Plan Ahead for LLC Ownership Changes Qualifying to Do Business Outside Your State Should You Form a Corporation or an LLC? Q&As Must an LLC be formed in the same state in which it will operate? Are LLC members taxed? Making a Profit Articles & FAQs FDIC Insurance: How Safe Is Your Money? What Happens to Your Money If Your Financial Institution Fails or Is Acquired? Saving Business Taxes Articles & FAQs Small Business Taxes FAQ Small Business Tax Deductions Top Tax Deductions For Your Small Business Current vs. Capital Expenses Preparing for a Business Audit What Auditors Look for When Examining a Business Top Ten Tax Deductions for Landlords Why the Self-Employed Are Audit Targets How to Hire a Tax Professional for Your Small Business Tax Deductions for Professionals: Nolo's Top Ten Q&As Can I fully deduct the cost of gifts to employees? Will bankruptcy set off the IRS's audit radar? If I lease a car, can I deduct the payments? Should I report expense reimbursements as income? When is the deadline for making retirement plan contributions? The first quarter's over: what tax forms must I fill out? Bookkeeping and Accounting Articles & FAQs Accounting Terms Every Businessperson Should Know Bookkeeping and Accounting Basics Cash vs. Accrual Accounting What Do You Do If Your Business is in Financial Trouble? What Can You Do About Retail Theft? Q&As Should I report expense reimbursements as income? When is the deadline for making retirement plan contributions? When can I charge late fees or finance charges? As a freelancer, how can I make sure to get paid? Contracts & Transactions Articles & FAQs Invoicing Customers and Extending Credit Consumer Credit Laws and Your Business Make a Legally Valid Contract Retail, Wholesale, and Consignment Sales Shipping Goods to Your Customers Business Equipment: Buying vs. Leasing Consumer Protection Laws and Your Business Mediation for Small Businesses Q&As If I lease a car, can I deduct the payments? When can I charge late fees or finance charges? Can I safely start a business with a money-bungling buddy? As a freelancer, how can I make sure to get paid? Debt Collections Articles & FAQs Business Debt Collection Small Claims Court and Business Disputes Deciding Whether to Pursue Payment by a Bankrupt Customer Customer Bankruptcies: Ten Tips to Minimize Losses Q&As When can I charge late fees or finance charges? Marketing Articles & FAQs A Marketing Strategy for Every Business Listings: Advertising That Works Your Business Image: Ten Ways to Build and Market It Seven Rules for Legal Advertising Email Marketing Without Spam Doing Market Research Define a Target Market for Your Small Business Q&As Where can I find current laws regarding spam? e-Commerce Articles & FAQs Get Your Business Online Website Terms and Conditions Sales Tax on the Internet Electronic Signatures and Online Contracts Business Method Patents Challenging or Infringing Another's Business Method Patent Avoiding eBay Fraud Resolving eBay Disputes Q&As Where can I find current laws regarding spam? What if the domain name I want is taken -- but not yet being used? Buying or Selling a Business Articles & FAQs Buying or Selling a Business: An Overview Buy-Sell Agreement FAQ Q&As I want to sell but the other shareholder doesn't. Who wins? Buying a Business Articles & FAQs Buying a Business: What You Need to Know What to Investigate Before You Buy a Business Buy-Sell Agreement FAQ Selling or Closing a Business Articles & FAQs Deciding When and Whether to Sell Your Business Eight Key Steps to Selling Your Business Figuring Out What Your Business is Worth Tips for Financially Troubled Businesses When You Can't Pay Your Business Debts: Personal Liability and Bankruptcy Options Is it Harder to Sell a Retail or a Service Business? Closing Your Business: What You Need to Do What Do You Do If Your Business is in Financial Trouble? Q&As I want to sell but the other shareholder doesn't. Who wins? Starting a Franchise Articles & FAQs Ten Good Reasons Not to Buy a Franchise Should You Buy a Franchise? Nonprofit Organizations Articles & FAQs Nonprofits FAQ Nonprofit Basics Five Reasons to Incorporate Your Nonprofit Association How to Form a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation Protecting Your Nonprofit Corporation's Tax-Exempt Status Tax Concerns When Your Nonprofit Corporation Earns Money Create a Strategic Plan for Your Nonprofit Using Your Nonprofit’s Website to Help Fundraise What Are the Rules for Nonprofit Fundraising? Nonprofit Fundraising Through Inherited Gifts Remind Volunteers About Tax Deductions for Expenses Can a Nonprofit Make a Profit? Why Your Nonprofit Should Publish How Nonprofits Take Action: Getting Board or Member Approval Building Your Nonprofit’s Board Nonprofit Volunteers: Top Five Tips to Keep Them Coming Nonprofit Formation Documents: Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and Organizational Minutes Nonprofit Image: Improve Your Public Profile Q&As What happens if we forget to hold an annual meeting?