{"id":4328,"date":"2016-04-04T08:47:27","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T13:47:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness.html"},"modified":"2025-04-28T22:52:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T03:52:52","slug":"smallbusiness","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness.html","title":{"rendered":"Small Business Law"},"content":{"rendered":"
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  1. \n FindLaw <\/a>\n \/<\/span>\n <\/li>\n
  2. Small Business Law<\/li>\n <\/ol>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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    Small Business Law<\/h1>\n

    While there is no clear definition, small businesses share some common characteristics. They are independently owned and operated, organized for profit, and are not dominant in their field, as defined by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).<\/p>\n<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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    \n Find a Qualified Attorney Near You\n <\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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    Find a Qualified Attorney Near You<\/h2>\n \n Search by legal issue and\/or location\n <\/p>\n \n Enter information in one or both fields. (Required)\n <\/p>\n
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    \n \n Find a Lawyer\n <\/h3>\n
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    \n \n Legal Issue<\/label>\n
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    \n \n <\/i>\n <\/button>\n \n \n <\/i>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n More Options<\/span>\n <\/li>\n \n \n Name Search\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n \n \n Browse Legal Issues\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n \n \n Browse Law Firms\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n \n \n Support\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n \n \n City, ZIP Code or County\n <\/label>\n
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    \n \n \n <\/i>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/i>\n \n Enter either your legal issue or location to continue\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n Find a Lawyer<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/button>\n <\/form>\n <\/div>\n \n \n More Options\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n \n \n Name Search\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n \n \n Browse Legal Issues\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n \n \n Browse Law Firms\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n \n \n Support\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/i>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n
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    Small Businesses in the U.S.<\/h2>\n

    The vast majority of businesses in the U.S. are considered small businesses, which employ roughly half of all workers in the country. FindLaw’s Small Business Law section covers everything from obtaining financing and hiring employees to choosing the right insurance policies and filing taxes. You can find business lawyers and resources<\/a> to help with your business legal issues.<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n \n\n

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    \n <\/i>\n \n Starting a Business<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
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    \n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n First Steps To Start a Business\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Financing a Business Plan\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n Creating a Business Plan\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Applying For Loans\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Breakeven Analysis\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n Reasons To Contact an Attorney<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n
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    \n <\/i>\n \n Incorporation and Legal Structures<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
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    \n \n Amount and Timing of Investments\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Become Tax Exempt Organization\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Business Forms & Federal Tax Laws\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n C Corp vs. S Corp\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Corporation vs. LLC\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n Business Entity Benefits<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n
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    \n <\/i>\n \n Employment Law & HR<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
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    \n \n 401k Plan Fees for Employers\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Choosing Employee Health Plans\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Complying With FMLA\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Employment Law 101\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n Employee Benefit Basics<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n
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    \n <\/i>\n \n Intellectual Property Law<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
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    \n \n Tips for Inventors\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Non-disclosure Agreements (NDA)\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n Avoiding Infringement Problems\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Copyright Registration\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Enforcing Patent Rights\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n Renewing a Copyright<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n
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    \n <\/i>\n \n Business Finance Law<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
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    \n \n Accounting Malpractice\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Business Loan Workouts\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Credit and Collections\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Debt Collection\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Mergers 101\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n Business Accounting 101<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n
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    \n <\/i>\n \n Business Contracts and Forms<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
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    \n \n Breach of Contract and Lawsuits\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Drafting Contracts\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n What Is An Offer?\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Business Contract: Key Considerations\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Do’s and Don’ts of Contract Terms\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n Common Business Contracts<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n
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    \n <\/i>\n \n Business Tax Law<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
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    \n \n Business Audits by the IRS\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Do Non-Profits Pay Taxes?\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Do I Need an EIN?\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Filing Quarterly Taxes\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Self Employment Tax\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n Business Tax Basics<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n
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    \n <\/i>\n \n Business Debt and Bankruptcy Law<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
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    \n \n Bankruptcy Forms and Contracts\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Small Business Debt Collection\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n What To Expect: Filing Bankruptcy\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Business Bankruptcy 101\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n 10 Tips Before Filing Bankruptcy\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n Dealing With Debt<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n
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    \n <\/i>\n \n Business Laws and Regulations<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
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    \n \n Annual Report Filing\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Breach of Fiduciary Duty\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Hiring Immigrant Workers\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Shareholder Rights\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n View All Business Laws<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n
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    \n <\/i>\n \n Business Liability and Insurance<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
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    \n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n Employer Liability for Employee Actions\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Cyber Attacks: Business Guide\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Driving On Company Time\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  49. \n
    \n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n Insurance Policies\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Workers’ Comp\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n Business Liability 101<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n
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    \n <\/i>\n \n Business Operations Law<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
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    \n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n Advertising Do’s and Don’ts\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Annual Reports for LLCs\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n CEO vs. President\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Finding Commercial Property To Rent\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n Competitive Analysis 101<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n
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    \n <\/i>\n \n Closing a Business<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
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    \n \n Business Valuation Methods\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Completing an Asset Sale\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Selling a Business\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Being Sued After Closing Your Business\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n Steps to Dissolve a Company<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n
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    State Business Laws<\/h2>

    States typically have a wide range of laws that apply to business operations. Choose a state from the map below or use the link list by clicking “show all states.” Find information about state-specific business laws, laws for incorporating a business, antitrust laws, and more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

    \n \n Show All States<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/button>\n