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...
The risks of using an individual as your registered agent
Choosing a registered agent is a critical issue for newly forming and qualifying companies. In choosing whether to appoint an individual or a corporate registered agent, the company’s owners, as well as business lawyers who advise the owner...
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...
How much do you know about service of process and registered agents?
If you own a business you know how challenging it can be to comply with all of those state, federal and local laws to which your business is subject. And if you chose to form a corporation, limited liability company (LLC), limited partnersh...
LLC Formation in Missouri
An LLC (Limited Liability Company) combines the pass-through taxation of a partnership or sole proprietorship with the limited liability of a corporation. The LLC has become an increasingly popular choice for business formations.LLCs can be...
LLC formation in Delaware
The Limited Liability Company (LLC) has become an increasingly popular choice for business formations. It is a business structure that combines the pass-through taxation of a partnership or sole proprietorship with the limited liability of a corporat...
LLC Formation in Washington State
The Limited Liability Company (LLC) has become an increasingly popular choice for business formations. It is a business structure that combines the pass-through taxation of a partnership or sole proprietorship with the limited liability of a corporat...
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...
Appointing a Process Agent: 7 Things to Consider
What is a process agent?Process Agents receive service of notices, proceedings or documents on behalf of their overseas clients in situations where it is not possible for them to be served abroad. Appointing a Process Agent is a vitally im...
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...
Getting a grip on holding companies
This article originally appeared in Family Business Magazine.A holding company structure can help families govern their multiple entities and can even strengthen family cohesion. Too few families are aware of the advantages.Philip Clemens,...
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...
LLC formation in Oklahoma
Each state has its own rulings for forming an LLC (Limited Liability Company) and Oklahoma is no exception. Learning the requirements for an Oklahoma LLC will help you decide whether to form one in that state and make the formation process go more sm...
LLC formation in New Hampshire
Every state has its own rules for forming an LLC (Limited Liability Company) and New Hampshire is no exception. Learning New Hampshire’s requirements will help prepare you for the formation process.Naming your NH LLCYour New Hampshire LLC’s name must...
LLC formation in South Carolina
Each state has different requirements for forming a limited liability company (LLC). Whether you are just starting up or are already running your business, you'll want to understand the state requirements for LLC formation.Naming your SC LLCThe LLC n...
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...
What constitutes “doing business” in another state? Five signs you might be crossing the (state) line
Every LLC and corporation has a home state—the state where it was formed. Even if you do business in only your home state, your compliance responsibilities can be hard to keep up with. But, contacts and transactions in 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...
LLC compliance smart chart: Activities by foreign LLCs that do not constitute doing business under state LLC laws
A limited liability company often conducts business activities in states other than its state of formation. If those activities constitute “doing” or “transacting” business in those “foreign” states, the LLC must qualify to do business...
Corporation Compliance Smart Chart - Activities by Foreign Corporations That do not Constitute Doing Business
A corporation that conducts business activities in any state other than its formation state may be subject to a number of foreign qualification requirements, including registering to do business with the state's corporation filing...
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...
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...
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...
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...
