Why You Should Form Your LLC or Incorporate a New Business BEFORE 2024!

Why You Should Form Your LLC or Incorporate a New Business BEFORE 2024!

Business Formation, Corporations, Limited Liability Company
Are you considering starting a new business or forming a new LLC or incorporating in the near future? If so, you should really consider getting it done before the end of 2023. The Federal Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) is here, and it carries both civil and even criminal penalties for non-compliance. https://youtu.be/o4X8gYOCYdI Introduction, Caveat Stuff In this article, I’m going to give you a super high-altitude overview of the CTA and why I think it’s important to at least consider forming your new business, corporation, LLC or other legal entity as soon as possible before January 1, 2024. As always, this article is strictly for entertainment and educational purposes only and is NOT legal advice. Always consult with your own lawyer to discuss your given facts and legal situation. This…
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Yes, Your Startup Needs to Have Its Own Insurance.  Here’s Why.

Yes, Your Startup Needs to Have Its Own Insurance. Here’s Why.

Business Formation, Corporations, Insurance, Limited Liability Company
Rarely a month goes by that a new founder or business owner I’m meeting with asks me some version of the following: “But we already formed a corporation (or LLC), why do we need liability insurance?” or “Aren’t my personal assets protected as it is [by the legal formation of the company]?” In this blog post, I’ll try an answer those questions, explain the specific types of insurance that a new startup should consider, and how to get started. Doesn't legal formation of my business protect my personal assets? Well, yes and no. First off, let me be absolutely clear-- operating any business under a validly formed legal entity is one of the first things you should be doing as an entrepreneur who’s about to actually market and sell goods…
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Using Your Home Address as Known Place of Business in Arizona

Using Your Home Address as Known Place of Business in Arizona

Business Formation, Corporations, Entity Formation
Startup founders who have just launched their business are usually focused squarely on developing their MVP and are not quite at the point where they need office space or want to take on the expense of an actual lease. These business owners will frequently ask our Phoenix startup law practice if they can use a home address (usually that of the company owner or a shareholder) as the known place of business for their Arizona corporation? First of all, the usual caveats. This post deals strictly with Arizona law and requirements. You should always examine the applicable law of your state of formation or consult an attorney practicing there. For purposes of this article, we also are focusing on Arizona domestic corporations. Now, let’s take a look at what Arizona…
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Do I Need to Register My Out-of-State Corporation in Arizona?

Do I Need to Register My Out-of-State Corporation in Arizona?

Business Formation, Corporations, Entity Formation, Foreign Corporation
If you're an Arizona startup that is actually incorporated in another state (e.g., Delaware), chances are by now you've heard that you may have to register to do business here in the State, even though you are already incorporated in a different state. In this post, we examine whether and when you must register your out-of-state corporation in Arizona. Operating in Arizona but incorporated elsewhere? This question is far more common than it might seem in our Phoenix startup law practice. For example, earlier this month I met with representatives of a middleware outfit that had originally formed as a corporation in a state back East. However, their U.S., Canada, and Mexico operations had just recently relocated to the metro Phoenix area. During our meeting, I asked if they had…
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How to Get an Arizona Business License

How to Get an Arizona Business License

Business Formation, Corporations, Licensing
There are occasions when I'll get a call from a new (or aspiring) business owner who calls or e-mails me saying, "I need to get an Arizona business license". This statement is normally followed up by some variation of, "Can your firm help us with this?" These questions are based largely on a number of (understandable, yet incorrect) assumptions: First, that their business even requires a license to begin with; second, that such a license is given out by some central licensing authority here in Arizona, and, lastly, that there is a one-size-fits-all business license for every type of business out there. While one or more of these assumptions might be true in other 49 States, this is not the case here in Arizona. Generally speaking, Arizona handles business licensing…
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