Statutory Requirements Name requirements for corporations, limited liability partnerships and limited liability companies are established by statute. The name of a corporation must: Be in the English language or any other language expressed in English characters; Contain the words “corporation”, “incorporated”, or “limited”, or an abbreviation of one or more of these words, or the…
Certificate of Assumed Name After you’ve decided what type of business entity is right for your business, you may have to decide on a business name. In this sub-series of posts, we’ll discuss: Certificate of Assumed Name Naming the Business Entity – Naming a Corporation, Limited Partnership, Limited Liability Partnership or Limited Liability Company Determining…
Net Operating Loss If the taxpayer’s deductions for the year exceed gross income, the taxpayer may have a net operating loss (NOL). The NOL is used to reduce taxable income in other years. There are limits on the kinds of deductions, and the amounts, that can be used in computing an NOL. These limits are…
In Minnesota, “emancipation” means that a minor has the same legal rights and Minor obligations as an 18-year-old adult. It can also be “partial, conditional … or limited as to time or purpose.” Sonnenberg v. County of Hennepin, 99 N.W.2d 444, 447-448 (Minn. 1959). A minor can be emancipated by a legal marriage or by…
Sample Item 23: Receipts ITEM 23: RECEIPTS Receipt This disclosure document summarizes certain provisions of the franchise agreement and other information in plain English. Read this disclosure document and all agreements carefully. If Belmont offers you a franchise, it must provide this disclosure document to you 14 calendar days before you sign a binding agreement…
What is the property tax refund program? The homeowner’s property tax refund program (sometimes called the “circuit breaker” or the PTR) is a state-paid refund that provides tax relief to homeowners whose property taxes are high relative to their incomes. If property tax exceeds a threshold percentage of income, the refund equals a percentage of…
Introduction Whether you are self-employed or an employee, if you use a portion of your home for business, you may be able to take a home office deduction, including some operating expenses for the business use of a part of your home. These expenses may include mortgage interest, real estate taxes, insurance, utilities, repairs, and…
Sole Proprietorship There are no federal or state regulations governing termination of the sole proprietorship itself. The sole proprietor simply winds up the affairs of the business and discontinues operations. If the business had employees, the owner must notify federal and state taxing authorities that the proprietor is no longer operating the business and paying…
Sole Proprietorship A sole proprietor transfers ownership of the business by transferring the assets of the business to the new owner. The prior proprietorship is terminated and a new proprietorship is established under the new owner. Partnership The transfer of a partner’s economic interest in a partnership is determined by the partnership agreement, or by…
A startup business, regardless of form, generally will find it difficult to obtain outside financing. The statistical failure rate for new businesses is high, and many lenders view financing the startup business venture as extremely risky. Banks and other creditors generally will require a significant capital investment by the business owner, and a personal guarantee…
Sole Proprietorship The sole proprietor has full and complete authority to manage and control the business. There are no partners or shareholders to consult before making decisions. This form of organization gives the proprietor maximum freedom to run the business and respond quickly to day-to-day business needs. The disadvantage of this form is that the…
All businesses, regardless of their form, will encounter certain organizational costs. These costs can include developing a business plan, obtaining necessary licenses and permits, conducting market research studies, acquiring equipment, obtaining the advice of counsel, and other costs. Sole Proprietorship The sole proprietorship is the simplest form of organization, and the least expensive to establish….
A recent case before the Minnesota Court of Appeals was important because it affirmed the right to sue a Minnesota city, township, or other municipality. In the case, Washington County sued the City of Oak Park Heights, claiming that the City had overcharged the county for water and sewer services. The County’s claim, in legal…
This is an overview of the steps involved in starting an herb business in Minnesota: Form an LLC under the business name you pick (we charge a total of $620 for this) Obtain an EIN number for the LLC: EIN at the IRS Visit the Zoning Department at your city hall to ensure that you…
Just because you are legally owed money, doesn’t mean it is easy to get that money. You have probably heard the saying, “you can’t squeeze blood from a turnip.” If the debtor has no money and no assets it will be difficult to get your money. On the other hand, what if your debtor is…
If you have a judgment you are trying to collect, and the debtor has funds at a bank or other financial institution, you may garnish the debtor’s account. Obtaining the judgment and finding out where the debtor has assets is probably the most difficult and expensive part of debt collection. In order to garnish a…
Once you have a judgment against a non-paying debtor, it may be time to garnish his or her wages. Step 1: Serve Notice of Garnishment You must serve the debtor with a Garnishment Exemption Notice and Notice of Intent to Garnish Earnings Within 10 Days upon the debtor at least 10 days before attempting to…
Attempting to collect a debt can be difficult, even when you already have a court order showing that the debt is owed to you. Not every debtor will pay a debt simply because a court has ruled he or she owes it. Seek Court Intervention When debtors won’t simply pay up, you may need to…
Choosing the Form of Business Organization: Tax and Non-Tax Considerations Introduction One of the fundamental initial decisions a new business owner faces is choosing the form of organization for the business. Generally speaking, a person should consider himself or herself to be “in business” once they have begun the operation of an activity for which…
Is a creditor, if you request an Order for Disclosure from a court ordering the debtor provide you with information about the debtor’s assets, but the debtor doesn’t obey the court, you are not done. If the debtor fails to comply with the court’s Order for Disclosure and does not provide you with the debtor’s…
The first step to collecting a debt owed is obtaining a judgment from a court. Once you have a judgment, you can begin the collection process. If the debtor does not automatically pay, you will have to do some work. After obtaining a judgment and docketing the judgment, you will need to find out…
Watch this video before you send a Cease and Desist Letter: In this video, you get answers to these questions: What is a cease and desist letter? When should I send one? Who can send one? How detailed should I be? What does a cease and desist letter do? What are some common mistakes made…
The laws surrounding bankruptcy are intended to provide a debtor an opportunity to begin again, start over without existing debt, or reorganize the repayment schedule to find a workable payment plan. Federal Courts A bankruptcy case normally begins by the debtor filing a petition with the bankruptcy court. Federal courts, and not state courts, hear…
A TRO is a Temporary Restraining Order issued by a Minnesota court judge. The most common type of TRO is for domestic abuse or threats of violence in the family context, but Temporary Restraining Orders are also used in a business context. Click here for information on Restraining Orders for Domestic Abuse Minnesota Business TRO…
Minnesota landlords have legal rights when dealing with difficult tenants: renters who violate their lease, don’t pay rent, damage the property, or otherwise break Minnesota landlord-tenant law. The article below discusses landlord’s rights when dealing with problem renters. Are you a tenant? Contact Homeline, a Minnesota nonprofit organization that helps residential tenants with rental problems. Minnesota Month-to-Month…
All contracts are promises. People are free to enter into any contract they want as long as there are agreements on both sides, and neither promise violates a public policy or law. A contract will contain promises to act in a certain way or to refrain from acting in a certain way. Confidentiality agreements include…
A solicitation is defined as a request, an enticement, or an allurement. Non-solicitation agreements prohibit requesting, enticing, or alluring someone to do something. Contractual Agreements Not to Request, Entice, or Allure Non-solicitation agreements are used by many Minnesota businesses. A non-solicitation agreement is a contract. It may be one provision in a contract, or it…
This article explains the legal responsibilities of those serving on the board of directors of a Minnesota nonprofit organization. Introduction It is an honor to be asked to serve on a board of directors for a Minnesota nonprofit organization. Unfortunately, many people accept appointment or election to a board of directors without realizing what is…
In addition to the fiduciary duties owed by shareholders, fiduciary duties arise by holding a position of director or officer. A director is required, by statute in Minnesota, to discharge the duties of the position of director in good faith, in a manner the director reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the…
In this video, you get answers to these questions: How do you create a contract in Minnesota? Can you have an oral contract or does it have to be in writing? What provisions have to be in the contract? What three elements are involved in a contract? Contracts are agreements that are formed between or…