Nellie Akalp

Nellie Akalp is an entrepreneur, small business expert, speaker, and mother of four amazing kids. As CEO of CorpNet.com, she has helped more than half a million entrepreneurs launch their businesses. Akalp is nationally recognized as one of the most prominent experts on small business legal matters, contributing frequently to outlets like Entrepreneur, Forbes, Huffington Post, Mashable, and Fox Small Business. A passionate entrepreneur herself, Akalp is committed to helping others take the reigns and dive into small business ownership. Through her public speaking, media appearances, and frequent blogging, she has developed a strong following within the small business community and has been honored as a Small Business Influencer Champion three years in a row.

What Is a Trademark?

Now that you’ve started your business, it’s time to protect its name. After all, your business name is — and will continue to be — one of the most crucial branding assets you possess. So, how do entrepreneurs protect that critical element from being infringed upon...

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A State-by-State Guide to Economic Nexus

Economic Nexus The Supreme Court ruling on the South Dakota v. Wayfair case in 2018 changed how out-of-state retailers collect and remit sales taxes in each state. At a minimum, states can mandate that businesses without a physical presence in a state and with more...

Nexus Guide With Legal Statue

How Do You Pay Yourself as a Sole Proprietor?

Many small business owners start their companies as Sole Proprietorships. The Sole Proprietorship business structure offers setup simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and minimal business compliance requirements. As with any form of business, entrepreneurs must consider...

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What are Articles of Incorporation?

If you’ve decided to establish your business as a corporation, you’ll need to fulfill your state’s requirements for registering your company. Among those requirements is filing an Articles of Incorporation (sometimes called Certificate of Incorporation) with the...

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Choosing the Best Business Structure for Your Industry

Entrepreneurs face many critical decisions as they launch their businesses. Among the most important is selecting the best business structure for their company. Because of the legal, financial, administrative, and operational implications of the entity chosen,...

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Sole Proprietorship vs. LLC

Are you considering starting a business as a solo owner, or will you co-own the business with your spouse? Then, you may be wondering if operating as a sole proprietorship or a limited liability company (LLC) will be the better choice. What are the advantages and...

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What Is a Reseller License?

If you’re starting a retail business (whether online or at a brick and mortar location), you’ll want to apply for a reseller license. A reseller license certifies you don’t have to pay sales tax when buying products on a wholesale basis for the purpose of reselling...

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How to Move A Business To Another State

When you move from one house to another, you likely have a checklist of things you need to take care of in the process from changing your mailing address and calling your cable TV provider and your internet company. But when moving your business to another state,...

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Setting Up LLC Partnership Agreements

The Limited Liability Company (LLC) business structure is one of the most flexible and simple business entity types that entrepreneurs may choose. LLCs aren't usually required by states to have an LLC partnership agreement; however, it's something to...

Legal Document

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business?

Preparation matters when launching a business. And knowing your startup and ongoing costs is among the most important steps of the process. It’s critical for seeking funding, attracting investors, and estimating when you’ll break even and begin turning a profit....

Budget Planning Cartoon/Illustration

Stats, Tips, and Steps for Starting a Freelancing Business

If you have marketable skills and knowledge as a self-employed independent contractor, you may wonder if you should freelance, and if so, how you'd go about starting a freelance business. And with the current economic climate of the great resignation and possible...

Young Asian Woman Working on Laptop

How to Prepare Your Small Business for a Recession

Is a recession on the way? While some economic experts believe a recession is on the way, others, such as the National Retail Federation (NRF), think that although the economy is slowing, consumers are financially healthy and a recession is unlikely in 2022. And...

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Can You Have Multiple Businesses Under One LLC?

There may come a time when you decide to expand your business into an additional area of focus or take an online business to a storefront (or vice versa). These shifting operations lead business owners to wonder if they can have multiple businesses under one LLC....

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How Do LLC Owners Get Paid?

As a small business owner, how you pay yourself depends on your business’s legal structure and how you elect to pay taxes. The Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a popular legal entity offering liability protection to its owners (called members), simple compliance...

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Do You Need an LLC for Rental Property in Another State?

No matter where you’re buying a rental property, protecting that investment is important. Many real estate investors who own rentals choose to set up each of their properties as a Limited Liability Company (LLC). Doing so helps protect their personal assets from...

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10 Strategies for Growing a Business

Uncertainty is not unfamiliar territory for business owners. However, these past few years have brought a significant amount of ups and downs to entrepreneurs everywhere and in nearly all industries. While some companies focused on their short-term goals, other...

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10 Ways to Create a Successful Brand for Your Small Business

One of the key steps to starting a new company is creating a strong brand. Do it right, and you’ll have a memorable brand that customers line up to do business with. If you are a new business owner, you might not know where to even start. I've been there and I...

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Time to Declare Your Independence

For many, the American dream is all about entrepreneurship. Business ownership is a way to declare personal independence and even though the economy has been a roller coaster lately, it hasn’t quieted America’s entrepreneurial spirit. As a matter of fact, despite...

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How to Legally Start a Marijuana Business in California

With the legalization of marijuana for adult recreational use in California, it’s an exciting time for the state’s business community. The law brings many opportunities for entrepreneurs interested in producing and selling cannabis and cannabis products. CorpNet is...

Cannabis Products at Dispensary

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