Do I Need A Lawyer To Incorporate My Small Business?

Do I Need A Lawyer To Incorporate My Small Business?

by | Oct 1, 2021 | Business News

Do I Need A Lawyer To Incorporate My Small Business?

One of the most important first decisions you’ll make as a business owner is selecting the business structure. If you and your attorney determine that a corporation is the correct business structure, there are some procedures to follow in order to correctly file the necessary paperwork, and having a small business attorney to help can end up saving you time and money in the long run. 

What is a Business Corporation?

A corporation is a legal entity independent from its owners. Depending on whether you are taxed as an s-corporation or a c-corporation, corporations may have profits and may owe taxes. Corporations taxed as s-corporations and c-corporations typically give the owners (shareholders) limited liability protection and the corporation is held legally responsible for its actions. While corporations provide protection from personal liability for their owners, corporate record-keeping, operations, and reporting must be more meticulous. Most businesses that will need to raise capital or that plan to “go public” benefit from incorporating. 

Benefits of Incorporation

There are several advantages to forming your business as a corporation:

  • A corporation minimizes your personal liability and may provide you with tax benefits.
  • Health and life insurance premiums may be deducted from your company’s gross income on the company’s tax return.
  • Incorporating also means that people will treat your firm seriously, and you’ll be able to lay the groundwork for future growth.
  • You may raise cash for your company by selling shares.
  • If you decide to sell your company, there may be advantages to being a corporation.

Basic Incorporation Procedures

The process of incorporating your business can vary depending on what state your business operates in, but in general, there are a handful of procedures that apply such as:

  • Selecting a name for your business and researching whether or not another corporation has registered the name
  • Preparing article of incorporation
  • Filing articles of incorporation
  • Choosing a board of directors
  • Adopting bylaws
  • Electing officers
  • Registering an agent to accept legal documents
  • Issuing stock
  • Determining whether you want to be taxed as an s-corporation or c-corporation and filing the appropriate documents to be taxed as you determine
  • Filing to obtain a business license
  • Obtaining an EIN to tax purposes

Do I Need a Lawyer To Incorporate My Small Business?

It is possible to incorporate your small business without the assistance of a lawyer, but it may not be the best route to take. Legal fees can be an expense that many new business owners don’t want to pay. However, keep in mind that there may be a higher cost to doing it yourself: You put yourself through the tedious process and the risk of making mistakes if you don’t do very thorough research. The paper-filing process isn’t the hard part, but the do-it-yourselfer may not be aware of tax and legal liability issues. Securities regulations might be complicated if you plan to offer shares, even to those that work in the company or close friends and family.

Get Advice Before Incorporating Your Business

The structure you choose for your company has implications for ownership and how the law views your organization. The agreements you make with yourself, the business, and the other owners will have a lasting impact. Consulting with a business attorney who has expertise in creating these documents about your future plans might be the difference between a successful company and one that fails. If you’re ready to form a corporation or you’re still wondering, “do I need a lawyer to incorporate my small business”, contact the Law Offices of E.C Lewis today. 

Business Formation: Proven Strategies for a Strong Start

Business Formation: Proven Strategies for a Strong Start

by | Dec 6, 2018 | Business Formation

Business Formation: Proven Strategies for a Strong Start

You’re a Colorado entrepreneur who is excited about the future and ready to create the business you’ve been dreaming of. However, you may find the idea of business formation confusing or even intimidating. Thankfully, it is not as difficult as it might seem to get a business up and running. The key is to take advantage of proven start-up strategies and to get good advice on business decisions that lie outside of your area of expertise. .

Tips for Launching Your Denver Small Business

Below are some key considerations as you work to establish a solid foundation for your new venture.

Create a business plan

Every successful business starts with putting a detailed plan into writing. Having your strategy fully mapped out in your head is great, but putting it on paper ensures that all stakeholders are literally on the same page. Your business plan should cover a wide range of topics including details about your product and/or service, target market, management structure, marketing strategies, etc. Not only will you and your team benefit from the time and effort you put into crafting your plan, other parties like lenders and investors will expect business formation documentation from you.

Form the business entity

Will your business be a limited liability company (LLC)? A sole proprietorship? A partnership? The decision you make at this stage of business formation will have long-term implications on a wide range of subjects from taxation to legal liability. Be sure you understand which business structure is right for your needs. Deciding on the legal structure of your business is perhaps the most important point at which to get business development legal help.

Choose your business name wisely

The are many things to consider as you pick a name for your company. You want it to be descriptive and memorable today, but you also need to think about whether it will still be applicable as time passes and as your business grows and potentially diversifies. You also need to do thorough trademark research to ensure you aren’t infringing on anyone’s rights.

Obtain insurance

From general business liability insurance to what is known as “errors and omissions” insurance, there are many types of coverage you should consider. You want to have the appropriate policies in place before your company is operational so that you are protected from Day 1.

Get required permits and licenses

Many types of businesses must be authorized by regulatory agencies to begin operations. Be sure you have done thorough research and have the certifications required in your area. A Colorado small business lawyer is your best resource for determining what permits and licenses your business will need to operate legally.

Establish financial relationships

For most small businesses, the saying that “it takes money to make money” is very true. Not only should you find a primary lender, it’s never a bad idea to connect with people at other institutions in case you ever choose to move your business or have a need that your primary lender can’t address.

Consider intellectual property protection

Wikipedia defines intellectual property as “a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect, and primarily encompasses copyrights, patents, and trademarks.” Intellectual property law is very complex, so it is a good idea to talk with a Denver business attorney who specializes in this field to find out what steps you should take to protect your ideas. And, keep in mind that while you may not think of your type of business as one that would produce intellectual property, you may be surprised to learn that it does.

Find trusted advisors

From attorneys to accountants to business mentors, developing relationships with people who will share their insights can have a very positive impact on the success of your Denver small business. Plus, once you have established a core group of advisors, they can refer you to experts in other areas as needed. What’s more, they may even be able to steer some business your way!

And the Most Important Business Formation Advice of All Is…

While preparation is critical to success, determination plays an equally important role. The idea of “hoping for the best but planning for the worst” is very sound advice. Few Denver small businesses achieve the success they are striving for without hitting some bumps along the way. Patience, persistence, and a commitment to making it through the tough times will be some of your most valuable assets.

If you need a trusted resource for vital information on business formation, contact me, Elizabeth Lewis, at the Law Office of E.C. Lewis, P.C., home of your Denver Small Business Attorney. Phone: 720-258-6647. Email: elizabeth.lewis@eclewis.com

Contact Us Today

Law Office of E.C. Lewis, P.C.
Your Denver Business Attorney

LICENSED IN COLORADO AND NORTH CAROLINA

Mailing Address:

501 S. Cherry Street, Suite 1100
Denver, CO 80246
720-258-6647
Elizabeth.Lewis@eclewis.com

Online at:

Real Estate Services for Business Owners

Elizabeth Lewis provides the following real estate law services to small and medium sized business owners in Denver and throughout Colorado:

  • Commercial real estate purchases
  • Legal review of commercial real estate leases
  • Protecting your assets

How to Start Your Business Off On the Right Foot

How to Start Your Business Off On the Right Foot

by | Feb 13, 2018 | Business Formation

How to Start Your Business Off On the Right Foot

Before you decide on a location, design a logo, or pick out furnishings, it is crucial to choose the right business structure for your small business. This decision will greatly affect your daily operations, impacting everything from liability and taxes to the amount of paperwork and control you have over your own business. There are numerous forms, or structures, each with their own benefits and drawbacks and some with overlapping characteristics. An experienced business attorney will explain the pros and cons and help you determine which structure is the most appropriate for your Colorado business and financial goals. This post will explore four of the most common business structures. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), these are Sole Proprietorship, General Partnership, Corporation, and Limited Liability Company (LLC).

1. Sole Proprietorship

The most basic of business structures, sole proprietorship is used by more than 70 percent of businesses in the U.S. according to the Small Business Administration. With this structure, you are responsible for all of your business’s profits and debts. You are also personally liable for everything that the “business” does as you are the business.

2. General Partnership

Two or more individuals own the business in a general partnership. Most times, partnerships are general partnership in which everything is shared based on the ownership of each partner. Partnerships may also be set up as limited partnerships, limited liability partnership, or a limited liability limited partnership. With general partnerships, all partners have personal liability for what the partnership does.

3. Corporation

A corporation is an entity that is separate from its owners, meaning it has limited liability. It is independent with its own legal rights (e.g. ability to sue, be sued, own and sell property and stocks, etc.). Most household names, like Coca-Cola, Microsoft, and Google, are corporations. There are two ways that corporations can be taxed (C corporations and S corporations) so many people will refer to their corporation by its tax structure rather than just a corporation.

4. Limited Liability Company (LLC)

LLCs have been seen as a hybrid of partnerships and corporations. Their owners are called “members”. They can be taxed multiple ways leading to being loved by CPAS. LLCs protect members from personal liability for the debts of the business most of the time, provided they have not conducted activities in an illegal, unethical, negligent, or irresponsible manner.

A Closer Look at Business Structure
Choosing the best structure to insulate your business from the beginning is one of the most important decisions you will make. It is easy to become swept up in the commotion of getting your business started, but you have to think about your needs now as well as in the future. Consider what your business might look like once it is well established, if something happens and you are unable to run your business, or if you decide to expand or sell. Although it can be difficult to switch to a different business structure because of strict tax code regulations, you may need to reassess yours down the road.

A sole proprietorship is the simplest business structure to set up, but it can be harder to secure outside funding than it is for a corporation. Corporations have the least amount of personal liability, and partnerships share liability as defined by the type of partnership. For sole proprietors, all profit is personal income and taxed accordingly. The LLC structure prevents double taxation, meaning you are not taxed as a company and as an individual. There are many more distinctions among the various business structures related to taxes, liability, control, funding, licenses, permits, and regulations. You can find more information on choosing your business structure on the Colorado Secretary of State website.

Your small business attorney will explain the distinctions, advantages, and eligibility requirements among the different business structures. After you have selected the right business structure, your attorney can assist you with the following: filing paperwork, keeping records, hiring employee and professional support, determining services and location, maintaining appropriate insurance coverage, and more.

If you need help with your business formation, contact me, Elizabeth Lewis, at the Law Office of E.C. Lewis, P.C., home of your Denver Business Attorney. Phone: 720-258-6647. Email: elizabeth.lewis@eclewis.com

Contact Us Today

Law Office of E.C. Lewis, P.C.
Your Denver Business Attorney

LICENSED IN COLORADO AND NORTH CAROLINA

Mailing Address:

501 S. Cherry Street, Suite 1100
Denver, CO 80246
720-258-6647
Elizabeth.Lewis@eclewis.com

Online at:

Real Estate Services for Business Owners

Elizabeth Lewis provides the following real estate law services to small and medium sized business owners in Denver and throughout Colorado:

  • Commercial real estate purchases
  • Legal review of commercial real estate leases
  • Protecting your assets

Future Expectations and Your Small Business Structure

Future Expectations and Your Small Business Structure

by | Sep 7, 2017 | Business Formation, Business Tax Law, Home Business

Future Expectations and Your Small Business Structure

You have had your brilliant idea for you new business – whether it’s software development or a boutique bakery – and now you need to know how to make it come to life. One of the most important things you will do for your new business will happen at the very beginning and concerns your future expectations and your small business structure.

Choosing your business structure has important implications for your future taxes, who owns your company, and who is responsible for any losses. Your business structure can mean the difference between paying employment taxes on everything you make and being able to take part of your business’s income as non-employment taxable dividends. Without the correct business structure and operations, you may fail to have limited liability and be personally liable for any damages caused by your business, you, or your workers. A Colorado attorney will help you choose the best business structure for your individual needs. Here is a brief summary of the most common small business types:

Sole Proprietorships

Sole Proprietorships are the most basic business type. If you are a freelancer, you probably are already a sole proprietor. There is little paperwork to be filed or forms to fill out, as it is the default status for running a business in the U.S. While simple, this business type comes with a lot of risk as there is no delineation between you as a person and you as a business. You are the only person responsible for the profits, and also for the loses. “This risk extends to any liabilities incurred because of employee actions” (SBA.gov).

Partnerships

If you are part of dynamic duo (or trio, or beyond), and you want that to continue into your business, a Partnership may appeal to you. The IRS sets the expectations of a Partnership as “Each person contributes money, property, labor or skill, and expects to share in the profits and losses of the business.” There are different types of business structures housed under the umbrella of Partnership, each with different expectations for the length of the collaboration between parties, and the amount of liability and input for each party. The Small Business Administration has a helpful list of things you should discuss with your potential business partners before filling your paperwork. However, like a sole proprietor, partners typically have personal liability so careful consideration of this business structure should be had with an attorney before entering into it.

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) is a business structure that does just that – limits your liability. It is a relatively new business structure – the first one was created in 1977. LLC laws are determined at the state level, so the state you form your LLC in matters. Due to the variation between states, LLCs can get a bit complicated, but Attorney Elizabeth Lewis is experienced in business formation and will help you navigate the formation of your LLC correctly. A few types of businesses generally cannot be LLCs, such as banks and insurance companies.

C-Corporations Taxes as C-Corporations

“From a legal standpoint, a corporation is a different person than the person or people who created it, and is therefore able to own property of its own, accrue its own profits, and be responsible for its own debts and civil liabilities.” (Upwork.com)
Most large businesses are Corporations, and a lot of legislation regarding Corporations has these large businesses in mind. A corporation taxed as a c-corporation may not be a good fit for your small business, as owning one tends to place a large burden on owners. Additionally, you may be taxed twice, since your corporation is a separate entity from yourself if you are a c-corp. It is a better a company type than the previously listed ones, however, if you plan on taking your company public.

Corporations and LLCs Taxed as S-Corporations

You can only have s-corporations if you have an LLC or corporation formed under state law. Many small businesses use them since they do not cause the double taxation problem. Not all companies can become S-Corporations however. From the IRS:

“To qualify for S corporation status, the corporation must meet the following requirements:

  • Have only allowable shareholders
  • May be individuals, certain trusts, and estates and
  • May not have owners that are partnerships, corporations or non-resident alien shareholders
  • Have no more than 100 shareholders
  • Have only one class of stock
  • Not be an ineligible corporation (i.e. certain financial institutions, insurance companies, and domestic international sales corporations)”

The way you structure your business will have long lasting implications for your earnings, liability, and taxes. Improperly done filings can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and create stress year after year. It is best to consult an attorney before creating your business.

If you need help evaluating your future expectations or deciding on your small business structure, contact me, Elizabeth Lewis, at the Law Office of E.C. Lewis, P.C., home of your Denver Business Attorney. Phone: 720-258-6647. Email: elizabeth.lewis@eclewis.com

Contact Us Today

Law Office of E.C. Lewis, P.C.
Your Denver Business Attorney

LICENSED IN COLORADO AND NORTH CAROLINA

Mailing Address:

501 S. Cherry Street, Suite 1100
Denver, CO 80246
720-258-6647
Elizabeth.Lewis@eclewis.com

Online at:

Real Estate Services for Business Owners

Elizabeth Lewis provides the following real estate law services to small and medium sized business owners in Denver and throughout Colorado:

  • Commercial real estate purchases
  • Legal review of commercial real estate leases
  • Protecting your assets

3 Important Tax Rules for Relocating Your Small Business

by | May 24, 2017 | Business Formation

3 Important Tax Rules for Relocating Your Small Business

There are a lot of questions you want to ask (and probably have an attorney answer) before you relocate your small business from one State to another. This blog will alert you to three important tax rules for relocating your small business:

  1. the six potential F Reorganization requirements
  2. the relocation rules for your specific form of business
  3. the need (or not) to obtain a new Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Understand the Six Requirements for F Reorganization

Warning – the six requirements are not written in plain English and can be a little daunting. Of all the rules you need to understand, making sure you understand the six requirements for an F reorganization and have met the criteria may be the most important. Why? Because in the case of F Reorganization, the “F” stands for free, as in tax free. Your move may subject you to unnecessary tax burdens if it doesn’t meet the six requirements. I am supplying portions of the IRS code describing each of the requirements below – if you don’t enjoy reading legalese, skip these bullets and go on to the next section.

  • Immediately after the Potential F Reorganization, all the stock of the Resulting Corporation must have been distributed (or deemed distributed) in exchange for stock of the Transferor Corporation in the Potential F Reorganization.
  • Subject to certain exceptions, the same person or persons own all the stock of the Transferor Corporation at the beginning of the Potential F Reorganization and all of the stock of the Resulting Corporation at the end of the Potential F Reorganization, in identical proportions.
  • The assets and attributes of the Resulting Corporation [must be limited] immediately before the transaction)
  • The Transferor Corporation [must be liquidated]

The final two requirements are in place to make sure the resulting reorganization qualifies as a “Mere Change” – simply put, your move really is about moving the business and not about a clever means of evading actual tax obligations.

  • Immediately after the Potential F Reorganization, no corporation other than the Resulting Corporation may hold property that was held by the Transferor Corporation immediately before the Potential F Reorganization, if such other corporation would, as a result, succeed to and take into account the items of the transferor corporation described in section 381(c).
  • Immediately after the Potential F Reorganization, the Resulting Corporation may not hold property acquired from a corporation other than the Transferor Corporation if the Resulting Corporation would, as a result, succeed to and take into account the items of such other corporation described in section 381(c).

Know the Rules for Moving Your Particular Business Form

When you are ready to move your business, you need to know the rules for moving your particular business form to a new state – these rules will vary depending on the form your business operates under, and some are more straight forward than others. The SBA gives a good overview of the rules, but advises, as do I, to talk over your move with an attorney, and to understand clearly the steps you will be expected to take as an LLC, Corporation, sole proprietor, or partnership.

It is likely that you chose your form of business for the tax advantages it offers. If you haven’t had an attorney review your current form of business to make sure you are getting the best tax advantage and legal protections, consider doing so before you make your move. Tax law changes over time. Understand what changes you may want to make before moving your business to a new State with a less than optimal business form.

Obtain a New Employer Identification Number (EIN) – Perhaps

This is another one of those cases where the answer on whether or not you need to obtain a new employer identification number (EIN) is, perhaps. Once again, the need to obtain a new EIN is controlled by your form of business. Gratefully, these rules are a little easier to understand, but they are far from crystal clear. For example, the SBA explains that corporations will not be required to obtain a new EIN if “conversion at the state level with business structure remain[s] unchanged.” If you’re not sure what is meant by conversion, you might not realize that you can keep your EIN.

If you aren’t sure whether or not you need a new EIN after a move, or want want help understanding these 3 important tax rules for relocating your small business, contact me, Elizabeth Lewis, at the Law Office of E.C. Lewis, P.C., home of your Denver Small Business Lawyer. Phone: 720-258-6647. Email: elizabeth.lewis@eclewis.com

Contact Us Today

Law Office of E.C. Lewis, P.C.
Your Denver Business Attorney

LICENSED IN COLORADO AND NORTH CAROLINA

Mailing Address:

501 S. Cherry Street, Suite 1100
Denver, CO 80246
720-258-6647
Elizabeth.Lewis@eclewis.com

Online at:

Real Estate Services for Business Owners

Elizabeth Lewis provides the following real estate law services to small and medium sized business owners in Denver and throughout Colorado:

  • Commercial real estate purchases
  • Legal review of commercial real estate leases
  • Protecting your assets