The majority of the country operates under the IRS suggestion for classification of employees as either true employees deserving of benefits, and employment tax withholding, or independent contractors that don’t need either of those things. However, in April of this year, the California Supreme Court issued a ruling that changed the traditional view of employee vs independent contractor (IC) and …
The Do’s and Don’ts of Interviewing and Hiring
Summer is winding down, and we’re getting close to the fourth quarter of the year. Some businesses like to wind things down while others truly ramp it up to finish the year off strong. If you fall into the second category, and you’re considering hiring help whether that be permanent, seasonal, or on a contract basis, there are certain things …
Who Owns Your Podcast and More…
If you’re anything like me, you’re a podcast addict. From fitness to business growth there is something for everyone in the podcast world. More and more people are hopping on the podcast train as a way to provide more value to their customers, build their brand recognition, and drive sales within their company. One day I may hop on that …
Marketing, Advertising, and Trademark Law
Clearing your trademarks prior to launching a business or product is the first step you should be taking in protecting your intellectual property, and your business from unwanted trademark infringement suits. But what about clearing trademarks before launching a new advertising or marketing campaign? Sometimes your campaign involves a particular word or slogan, and it’s highly likely that you find …
Online Coaching Legal Checklist
The internet is a magical place full of information, funny memes, and endless possibilities. With the rise of technology and social media, online coaching has become more and more popular. You can find an online coach for almost anything from business growth to booty growth, if you want to improve it, there’s a coach for that. Which is great for …
International Trademark Protection
The United States signed the Madrid Protocol way back in 2003, which provided a convenient and more cost-effective way for US trademark holders to protect their marks abroad. There are over 80 countries signed to the Madrid Protocol and that list will likely be growing in the coming years. If you do business online or overseas, and you want to …
What You Don’t know CAN Hurt You
I realize this might be an unpopular opinion but the reality is when it comes to running your business, what you don’t know can and absolutely will hurt you in the end. As an attorney for small businesses and online entrepreneurs, I have made it my life goal to ensure you do know what can hurt you from a legal …
What You Need to Know before Hiring an Attorney for your Business:
I know what most people think about attorneys. My father is a retired police officer, so trust me I have heard all the jokes. But guess what? They’re wrong when it comes to hiring and working with an attorney to help protect and grow your business. We aren’t all scum, and we aren’t all out to just make a buck. …
Five Reasons NOT to be a Sole Proprietor.
Hopefully, by now you have read through one of my many past articles so you have seen me discuss things like business entities, why they are important, and even how to take the first steps to set something up for yourself. But, I don’t doubt that there are still so many questions regarding entity formation and what entity is the …
Non-Compete Agreements: Will yours hold up?
In my niche market a lot of the people I work with work on a contractor or consulting basis with their customers or clients. Because of this, I have been asked non-competes pretty regularly. Non-Competes are one of those areas of law that are very different depending on what state you are living in so this article is going to …