Why do I need a Registered Agent?
What is a Registered Agent?The Registered Agent receives state communications regarding important filings and changes in organizational requirements. The Registered Agent is also responsible for receiving notice of a lawsuit (“service of pr...
Mastering entity data compliance: Entity formation
Entity compliance is not only complex; it's also fast evolving. As regulatory compliance is becoming more visible to shareholders, corporate leaders and the public, more companies are outsourcing their state and local-level compliance tasks.Organizat...
Five questions to answer before using an individual registered agent
Every state requires that corporations, LLCs, and other formal business entity types (such as limited partnerships) formed or registered to do business in that state have an in-state Registered Agent.Many states prohibit the busin...
Appointing a professional agent (or contract agency) for service of process in a private contract
Business contracts often contain notification provisions that must be met in order to take certain actions under the contract, such as extensions or terminations. Appointing a professional service company to serve as the agent for contracts can...
Why and How to Form an LLC: Essentials of the LLC Business Type
In the “alphabet soup” of entity choices, the (LLC) is a frequent favorite. Whether you’ve been in business a while or you’re just starting out, it’s good to get a grip on some essentials of the LLC business type.What is an LLC?An LLC&...
The Series LLC: An organizational structure that can help mitigate risk
While most people are familiar with the limited liability company (LLC), few are familiar with a variation of the traditional LLC called a Series LLC. The Series LLC can help organizations protect their assets from liability, and in many cases can do...
LLC vs. S corporation: Advantages and disadvantages
When choosing a business form, business owners who want pass-through taxation often end up deciding between an S corporation and an LLC. These are both popular business entity choices for a closely held business or solopreneur.As...
Piercing the veil of small business: What the owners of LLCs and corporations need to know
One of the main reasons—if not the main reason—people form corporations and limited liability companies to own and operate their small businesses is to avoid personal liability for the business’ debts.Corporations and LLCs have their own le...
The Administrative Dissolution and Reinstatement of Business Entities
Administrative dissolution is an action taken by the Secretary of State that results in the loss of a business entity’s rights, powers and authority. Reinstatement is the action taken that restores an administratively dissolved business entity’s righ...
Resolutions for a Compliant Business Year
Have you made your New Year compliance resolutions yet? The end of a year and the beginning of a new one can trigger a multitude of compliance actions for your corporation or LLC. Filing annual reports, collecting online sales tax, reviewing business...
Foreign corporations
hen a corporation conducts business in a state other than its state of incorporation, the corporation is considered a foreign corporation in that state.All states prescribe terms and conditions that a foreign corporation must adhere to before being a...
Expanding Your Business? Foreign Qualification Protects Your Rights in a New State
If you’re expanding your business into other states, you may need to register to do business in those states. This is done through a procedure usually called “foreign qualification”, or just “qualification”.In everyday conversation, “foreign” usually...
Five Reasons Why Multistate Businesses Should Use a Single Registered Agent
Every corporation or LLC must have a Registered Agent in its state of formation and in each state where it’s registered to do business as a foreign corporation or LLC. A Registered Agent receives service of pro...
What should a company do when it stops doing business in a foreign state
What must, or should, a corporation or LLC do if its owners or managers decide to stop doing business in a state where it has qualified as a foreign entity? This is an issue with increasing relevance as challenging economic times...
Understanding why companies have to register to do business in another state
Companies expanding their operations across state lines may be subject to the new state’s registration or “foreign qualification” requirements. It’s important for business owners, managers, and advisors to understand this requirement because there ar...
Five steps when doing business in a new state (foreign qualification)
Every corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership that wants to do business in a state other than where it was formed will have to first qualify to do business in that so-called “foreign” state. If it does b...
6 compliance considerations for remote employees
Working from home has become the new norm for many American workers. Even before COVID-19 forced businesses to send their employees home there were around 4 million Americans who worked remotely for at least half of the week.As many employers found o...
Registered agents and annual reports: Essential elements of good standing
When you formed your company with the state—whether you opted for a corporation or an LLC—you filed initial formation documents that provided the state with basic information about your company and appointed a registered agent. Those two steps c...
Annual Report Compliance: How to Get it Right
Annual report compliance: Mandatory & complexOnce a business entity such as a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership is organized, it must, in most cases, file an annual report with its state of organiza...
The Rising Risk of Business Identity Theft: Why Formal Entity Dissolution and Withdrawal is a Critically Important Safeguard
Thanks in part to the massive migration of data online, identity theft has become more prevalent in recent years. The 2017 Identity Fraud Study, conducted by Javelin Strategy & Research, illustrates the scope of the problem. According to the...
Nine tactics to guard your business identity
In some ways, business identity theft is like a powerful hurricane. It rushes in quickly and without warning; wreaking havoc and causing extensive damage and distress in its wake. Each year, business identity theft can be blamed for millions of dolla...
New Delaware law encourages sustainability and transparency
An increasing number of companies are committed to sustainability and transparency. And a new Delaware law will give that state’s more than one million business entities a new way to let the public know about their commitment.The corporate sustainabi...
Annual Report Filing Deadlines Can Be Tricky
Operating as a corporation or LLC gives your business legitimacy. It shields the owners from liability and may provide tax advantages.However, an LLC or corporation faces ongoing state-reporting obligations.Annual report filing requirements...
What Are My Annual Report Filing Requirements?
All states impose a reporting obligation on their domestic and foreign business entities. They also penalize companies that don’t comply, which is why it is so important to be familiar with this compliance requirement.What is an annual reportStatutor...
Take the guesswork out of annual report compliance
If you’re a corporation, LLC, or limited partnership, you must file an annual report in the state(s) you are registered and do business in. If your business is a franchise, there’s another hurdle to clear – paying franchise fees or tax...
Mastering entity data compliance: Annual report requirements
In our previous articles, we've explored the first two steps in the entity compliance workflow: entity formation and regulatory business license compliance.In this article, we'll take a closer look at the third step—meeting annual repo...
Corporate tax and reporting requirements
A corporation generally has to file returns and pay taxes to the federal government, to its state of incorporation, and to those states and localities in which it transacts business. Corporations may also be responsible for collecting certain taxes p...
Corporation Compliance Smart Chart – State-by-State Requirements for Voluntary Withdrawal of Foreign Corporations and LLCs
When a corporation or LLC does business in a state other than its state of formation (known as a foreign state) it is required to qualify to do business in that state. When it stops doing business in a state in which it had qualif...
