Home based businesses can be an exciting new endeavor that bring in significant profits. Of course, before you get started, you should know that home based businesses are still required to conform to some strict rules and regulations. Before you decide to open your own home based business, here are a few points you should carefully review.
1. There are restrictions on the sale of certain goods and these vary from state-to-state.
There are a variety of items that you cannot produce or sell in your home. Potentially dangerous products such as medications and sanitary products are illegal to manufacture and/or sell from home.
2. You need to register and obtain certain licenses to be legally able to do business.
Before you open up shop, make sure you register your business's name in the state that you're conducting business in. Additionally, you will also need to register for a sales tax number, since every business is required to collect sales tax.
3. You may need a Home Occupation Permit and Check Your Zoning Laws!
In some states, you will need to have a Home Occupation Permit in order to legally do business. You will need to check whether or not your home is zoned for the type of commercial activity you plan to do in your home.
4. There are additional health and safety measures you may have to take.
Certain industries require extra health and safety precautions to ensure that both the working environment and final product are safe for consumption. You should check with your State Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that your home based business is up to date with all safety standards.
5. You may want to look into sign permits.
If you have a business such as a home based daycare, you may want to place a sign in front of your home in order to advertise. If this is the case, you may want to look into whether or not you need a sign permit, since certain towns will restrict the size, type and/or location of signs.
Its important to be informed before you start any kind of business. If you have any questions or concerns about the legalities of starting your own business, its best to consult an attorney. This will ensure that your business is up to code in all areas and help you understand your legal responsibilities so that your business will get off to a great and productive start. Good luck with your new business!
Showing posts with label business owner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label business owner. Show all posts
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Thursday, April 17, 2014
What Business Owners Need to Know About Hiring Employees and Background Checks
One of the most difficult facets of running a business as a small business owner is finding and keeping the ideal employees. One aspect of this is the background check. Background checks are often necessary to ensure that potential employees are honest, stable and/or have the necessary prerequisites for the job. Although employers have the right to freely require a background check for employees in New York and New Jersey, there are some regulations that small business owners should be aware of.
According to the new federal guidelines, employers are no longer legally permitted to issue a blanket "no" if the applicant in question has a criminal record. Instead, employers must determine if the record will have any effect on the applicant's suitability to the job.
The other important set of regulations to keep in mind when hiring is the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The FCRA delineates the rights consumers have to protect their credit and other personal information. The FCRA clearly states that businesses must have a "permissible purpose" in order to pull credit information while hiring. This information is important because there has been a recent uptick in lawsuits pertaining to potential FCRA violations. If you are a small business owner and are unsure whether or not you have legal permission to request a credit report, you should consult an attorney with experience in labor issues. Again, you should have a clear reason for requesting a credit report before you do so. This reason must be pertinent to the job in question.
Remember, any violations of the federal guidelines will result in monetary penalties for your growing business. The avoidance of fines and lawsuits could make the difference in the success or failure of your business.
If you have any questions or concerns about the hiring process, feel free to contact my office at (718) 313 - 7563.
- Kevin P. McKernan
According to the new federal guidelines, employers are no longer legally permitted to issue a blanket "no" if the applicant in question has a criminal record. Instead, employers must determine if the record will have any effect on the applicant's suitability to the job.
The other important set of regulations to keep in mind when hiring is the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The FCRA delineates the rights consumers have to protect their credit and other personal information. The FCRA clearly states that businesses must have a "permissible purpose" in order to pull credit information while hiring. This information is important because there has been a recent uptick in lawsuits pertaining to potential FCRA violations. If you are a small business owner and are unsure whether or not you have legal permission to request a credit report, you should consult an attorney with experience in labor issues. Again, you should have a clear reason for requesting a credit report before you do so. This reason must be pertinent to the job in question.
Remember, any violations of the federal guidelines will result in monetary penalties for your growing business. The avoidance of fines and lawsuits could make the difference in the success or failure of your business.
If you have any questions or concerns about the hiring process, feel free to contact my office at (718) 313 - 7563.
- Kevin P. McKernan
Friday, November 8, 2013
How to Create an Effective Non-Compete Agreement
A Non-Compete Agreement is a legal document used by business owners to restrict their employees from doing things that will damage the business, such as trying to convert customers or using inside knowledge or trade secrets, after they leave the company.
In New York, Non-Compete Agreements have been historically hard to enforce. The New York Court of Appeals has set strict guidelines that Non-Compete Agreements must follow in order to be considered valid in a court of law. The most important factor in whether or not a Non-Compete is enforceable is whether it is considered reasonable. The agreement must neither place undue hardship on the employee nor place any restrictions on the employee that are greater than needed to protect the company's legitimate interest. Despite the difficulty in enforcing Non-Compete Agreements, it is wise for small business owners to look into drawing up a valid agreement in order to protect their business. Below are some tips that can make your Non-Compete agreements more likely to be enforced in court.
In New York, Non-Compete Agreements have been historically hard to enforce. The New York Court of Appeals has set strict guidelines that Non-Compete Agreements must follow in order to be considered valid in a court of law. The most important factor in whether or not a Non-Compete is enforceable is whether it is considered reasonable. The agreement must neither place undue hardship on the employee nor place any restrictions on the employee that are greater than needed to protect the company's legitimate interest. Despite the difficulty in enforcing Non-Compete Agreements, it is wise for small business owners to look into drawing up a valid agreement in order to protect their business. Below are some tips that can make your Non-Compete agreements more likely to be enforced in court.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)