Due to COVID-19, 76% of companies are planning long-term IT changes. It is no longer enough to have the basics of technology and hope for the best. Small business owners and businesses alike need to provide online protection that their customers trust. Not only the IT department has changed due to the current events. Here are three more things to consider before starting a business in this new era.
Taxes are different
The IRS can review all business tax returns within three years of filing them. The federal government can also deduct taxes owed for up to 10 years. Many business owners start out with the full intention of keeping their taxes up to date. However, a lack of knowledge of tax law coupled with financial bottlenecks can thwart your plans to comply.
You should consider hiring an accountant from the start when trying to manage business taxes. The IRS does not provide a clear framework for what items are deductible and how you should file taxes when you are a sole proprietorship to a limited liability company (LLC). At the very least, an accountant knows how much you should save for taxes in your monthly income. He or she can at least help you stay on schedule.
It is best to hire a lawyer
Small business owners tend to shun corporate lawyers. Not only are these lawyers generally expensive, but they can also be quite intimidating. Having a lawyer by your side can help in the future. If you ever get into a situation where trade secrets have been leaked or your business has been illegally sabotaged, there may be remedies available to you. The three types of legal protection are damages, punitive damages and injunctive relief.
You have to overcome your fear of a lawyer if you are to start your business on the right foot. Corporate lawyers provide guidance on building your corporate structure. Not every entrepreneur has to integrate his business. However, you need to understand the risks associated with sole proprietorship beyond paying the IRS more money each year.
You may have to pay personally for damage caused by your business if you fail to set up the business or at least set it up as a limited liability company (LLC). However, there is more to be paid to form an LLC or register as an LLC. A corporate attorney can walk you through the process of each business structure option so you know exactly what you’re getting into before paying for something you may not need.
It is important to note the difficulty associated with deciding to move back from an LLC to a sole proprietorship if you feel the business structure is not working for your company. This is one more reason to hire a corporate law attorney right from the start to help you build your corporate structure.
Commercial insurance is necessary
Insurance is often a matter of course for consumers. You only know how much you need car insurance after the accident. Commercial insurance is also crucial for the economic success of your company.
People who visit your brick and mortar building frequently can file a lawsuit for damages if they suffer damage at the facility. You need good insurance that pays both medical bills and lost wages if a customer falls over a display in your store.
If you have employees, workers’ compensation insurance is also required. It is not advisable to pay your workers under the table to avoid having to buy workers compensation insurance. Such a decision could cost you in the long run as government agencies have the right to impose heavy fines on your company for failing to comply with this law.
Opening your business has been a dream for many years. Keep these facts in mind when setting a plan to make entrepreneurship a reality.