Time to Hire- Employees or Contractors?
If you have realized the dream of owning your own business, then you are among the growing number of Americans doing just that. Currently, upward of 14% of Americans own their own businesses. Opening a business is only one piece of the puzzle. If all goes well, you will have a marketable product or service […]
How to Choose a Business Entity
Considerations for Choosing the Business Structure That is Right for You Over half a million new small businesses are founded each year in the United States. Owning your own business comes with its own unique advantages and, lets face it, it is part of the American Dream. Small Business owners are afforded many perks of […]
Have You Grabbed Our Small Business Checklist Yet?
A question we get time and time again is, “What am I missing?” Maybe a business owner has set up an LLC, opened a bank account, and then overwhelm and panic sets in. What else do I need to do to set up a legit business? The fact is, you don’t know what you don’t […]
How to Pick a Category of Goods or Services For Your Trademark Application
Picking the right category of goods or services for a trademark application appears deceptively simple. After all, if you’re selling handbags and hats, you’d choose the categories of handbags and hats, right? Not so fast. I always tell my trademark clients that when it comes to trademark applications, the devil is in the details. What […]
Documents Needed for Women or Minority Owned Business Certification
Applying for certification as a minority or women-owned business enterprise takes a lot of work….and paperwork. If your business is looking to obtain government contracts, becoming certified as a women or minority-owned business can give you a leg up. What kinds of documents might you need? 1) Be prepared to share financials. Many people are […]
High Five Holidays
We are excited to announce High Five Holidays! This November and December, up to 5%* of received legal fees will be donated to Toys for Tots. We are tremendously grateful for the support of all of our clients this year and are so excited to give back. We’d love to invite you to make a […]
Do I Need a Business Plan?
I encourage all of my clients to draft a business plan on two occasions: 1) when first starting a business and 2) when expanding or after three years in business. In fact, I typically won’t meet with new business owners that don’t have a plan in place. Why? A plan doesn’t have to be a […]
How Much Does A Trademark Lawyer Cost?
What does it cost to hire a trademark lawyer? The real answer – it depends! Depending on what type of trademark needs you have, trademark lawyer fees can range in the hundreds to the multi-thousands of dollars. For a trademark search and application, many lawyers will charge a flat fee. Find out what is included […]
I Got An Office Action on My Trademark Application – Now What?
Ah, the dreaded Office Action, every trademark applicant’s worst nightmare (that might actually be an opposition, but I digress). What does it mean? What can be done about it? Trademark applications have to meet certain requirements or they will be refused registration by USPTO. Many times, if counsel is engaged to prepare the trademark application, […]
How to Buy An Existing Business
A lot of people want to be business owners, but they don’t want to go through all of the hassle of a start-up. They’d like to buy an existing business that’s already proven and turn key. In that instance, what are your options for buying a business? In this video, I discuss starting your own […]