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I am starting an online business in PA and have a virtual office address for the business along with a registered agent that I used to file the corporation with the state. Can I use that address to get a local business license or do I need to use my home address? I am unsure if I should use the... View More 
answered on Feb 27, 2023
Not sure what you mean by a "business license" in Pennsylvania? if you are looking to form a corporation or an LLC to conduct a business in PA you will need a street address. We usually don't recommend that you use your home address, but since you do not have a business office or... View More
My father gave me shares of his s-corp, roughly 30 years ago, and equates to 1/3 of the issued shares. Now he is incapacitated and I see how the corp distributes profit and losses to the shareholders in prior tax returns. I never received anything for my shares and he had kept them with his... View More
answered on Feb 14, 2023
You describe a complicated situation that has many potential legal and tax issues - it’s even possible the company is no longer in existence. I think you need to consult personally with a business lawyer to review what documents you have, what documents are filed with the PA Department of State... View More
I live in and the business will operate in Pennsylvania. What is the best way to set this up? I am not looking to dodge the pa tax, I just don't want my name on the database as the owner. Should I register as a foreign corporation or set up a second domestic S corp with the first as the owner?... View More
answered on Feb 7, 2023
Whether you form the entity in DE, NV or WY, you will still have to file in PA as foreign entity and will be visible. However, if you want anonymity, then use a paid registered agent and have a service or law firm file the paperwork for you in PA. This will provide the anonymity you are seeking.... View More
Father passed away in 2017. I was named the sole executor and beneficiary in his will. The will explicitly outlined this property as belonging to him and being left to me in the case of his death. Suddenly a silent business partner that walked away four years ago exerts that he is half owner of the... View More
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answered on Dec 2, 2022
Dear Executor, without more details it is difficult to give you an answer as to what recourse you may have. That aside you are the Executor which means that you step into your Father's shoes regarding the disposition of his assets. The attorney that represented the Estate should have... View More
answered on Nov 22, 2022
If someone does marketing through video ads for his products, he most probably has his product trademarked. However to have complete answer to this a qualified trademark research must be performed. I highly recommend you to seek an advice from intellectual property lawyer in your area first.
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answered on Nov 21, 2022
You would have to see a lawyer to determine whether you can sue the other party for lost wages. Employment laws vary from state to state. I think you'd have a tough time proving that you lost income as an independent contractor. W2 employee income is known and predictable, but yours isn't... View More
I want to start a classifieds webpage for cannabis products for dispensaries and consumers alike. How can I make that happen?
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answered on Aug 2, 2022
One response is "just do it." But a better answer would be to form a business entity, such as a corporation or a limited liability company, to protect your personal assets from exposure to business liability.
answered on Jul 9, 2022
A sole proprietorship is not a business organization separate from its owner. This means that there is no legal “person” involved except the proprietor, so there is nobody else who could own property in their own name. A small business owner might register a “doing business as” name, but... View More
answered on Apr 24, 2022
I think you should work with your certified public accountant and he may have to work with your partners’ accountants. It would be best if each partner had his own accountant, as there will be issues that all partners (such as valuations) would have to agree to.
I started a business with my dad when I was 19 in 2014. Neither of knew absolutely anything about running a business. So we created a partnership through legal zoom (first mistake). We carried on business as usual and messed up filing our taxes so had somebody fix it. Then 2 years later we split... View More
answered on Apr 2, 2022
As you are not incorporated, closing the business will not eliminate your personal liability. Although bankruptcy may be the solution, it will take a detailed examination of your overall financial situation to be certain.
That being said, Chapter 7 bankruptcy may help you eliminate most or... View More
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answered on Feb 10, 2022
I'm sorry: this question can't be answered as asked. Lots more detail and context is necessary. The question needs careful deconstruction. If this is an actual situation you are facing, and you are asking for specific advice, you should talk with an attorney. Good luck.
Background: I am going to see life coaching clients from all over the USA/world by online teleconferencing software.
Do I need to file DBAs for each USA States and Foreign Country when I encounter a new client from a new country/USA state?
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answered on Jan 3, 2022
Assuming you will be 'headquartered' and conducting business in PA from a teleconference originating in PA, I believe the answer is "no."
without a court order nor my permission who has the legal right to contact and receive the records that were signed and uploaded to the electronic signature company software. Please remember I am the client who has the contract with this company. A third party signed a contract and is attempting... View More
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answered on Dec 13, 2021
What does your contract with the electronic signature company say? What do you mean when you say "attempting to obtain"? Subpoena? I'm not sure what the detective has to do with it.
This question is difficult to answer as stated. It would be best to obtain advice of counsel.
Good luck.
I registered three business names as LLCs and received EINs in New York State. One business is online (functions in Pennsylvania) and the other two are for real estate and branding purposes. I haven't made any money and I forgot to publish the businesses in the newspaper. Should I publish now... View More
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answered on Nov 10, 2021
The good news: there is no publication / advertising requirement for Pennsylvania LLCs. There's also no need to change the LLC structure in order to pay yourself when the business profits (or even before it does). We can take up the general business counseling in an out-of-band... View More
My dad got a business loan from the previous owner of said business in 2005. Regular payments have been made to the lender since. My dad recently died and now the lender said the balance was supposed to be paid over 7 years ago and wants the rest of his money from me.
answered on Oct 14, 2021
You are not responsible for the debts of your father. Tell the lender to submit the debt to the estate.
However, if the loan isn't personal but a business loan, if the business is up and running it can be submitted to them.
Jot down each time they call, who you speak to, the... View More
We put down 4,000 to open a business. We signed the lease but because of Covid, weren't able to get the paperwork in the normal, timely fashion. When we went to get the lease, it was altered.
answered on May 6, 2021
I don't think there are enough facts in your question to be able to give any response It doesn't say whether you took a copy of the signed, unaltered lease with you at the time you and the landlord signed it; or whether you told the landlord that the lease had been changed when you... View More
I want starting a business with someone else using my idea/system that i made, I want to share the business 50/50, how can I make this legal, as well as make sure they don't steal the information and use it somewhere else?
answered on Apr 8, 2021
You have a number of questions here that you really need to sit down with a business attorney and sort through your best options. First of all I never recommend a 50/50 split of ownership because it can lead to deadlocks at a number of levels in the business. As far as your idea/system, that... View More
I have a cleaning company, the client complained that we did mot finish few things, i told her the reason why was my crew saw a bug that they thought to be a roach and did not want to return., i offered to return 3 seperate times myself even though i saw a dead one., she refused and asked for... View More
answered on Feb 25, 2021
It is not defamation or slander if the conversation is between the two of you. Defamation and slander require that there be some public statement. Do not, by the way, discuss this on facebook or any social media--that's where people get into trouble!).
All the best.
I am filing an LLC in Pennsylvania to provide general accounting service and preparing tax as a CPA, are the services to be provided considered restricted professional services? The LLC will be a single member LLC. The member is a licensed CPA. No public accounting (typically Auditing or advisory)... View More
answered on Jan 11, 2021
The term "public accounting" as defined in TItle 15 (Section 8996(d) is broader than auditing and advisory services. In fact it specifically lists preparation of tax returns in your capacity as a CPA.
My question is about avoiding violating a third-party trademark.
Here’s a quick summary:
A third party, let’s call them “Tower, Inc.” took a dead trademark (which lived from c. 1870-1970) and filed to bring it back to around 2000. Tower, Inc. now uses the trademark in new... View More
answered on Dec 28, 2020
It depends on how you use the trademarked image. Trademark infringement depends on a lot of factors such as: (1) strength of the marks, (2) relatedness of the goods, (3) similarity of the marks, (4) evidence of actual confusion, (5) marketing channels, (6) degree of consumer care, (7)... View More
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