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How to Protect Your Business From Common Lawsuits

By Lisa October 12, 20180

As an entrepreneur, it’s your responsibility to make sure that the business runs smoothly and is not affected by anything. One thing that can greatly harm your business is a lawsuit for tort liability. To avoid being a victim, here are five ways to protect your business from common lawsuits:

1. Monitor Your Actions and Words

You should be very careful when making public announcements or launching marketing campaigns. Always be honest with your promotions and avoid misleading advertisements. In addition, public statements should be respectful and avoid slander.

2. Institute a Sexual Harassment Policy

In your company’s sexual harassment policy, define what sexual harassment is, state that your business won’t tolerate such practices, talk about how your firm will discipline wrongdoers, include a procedure for filing such complaints, and outline protective measures for those who report such conduct. Gender shouldn’t be a basis for discrimination or irresponsible behavior; therefore, train your employees to treat each other with respect.

3. Have Personal Liability Insurance

Take up personal liability insurance to protect your personal assets from personal injury claims. You never know when an employee may decide to sue you for damages. For example, an employee can get injured at work due to their negligence, but choose to sue you for the accident. If you’re still in the process of building your commercial property, then take steps now to ensure that your construction company follows regulatory requirements for the structure. This will ensure that your property is up to code in terms of health and safety. Some additional precautions that you can take to avoid such a scenario are to section off dangerous areas and to install safety signs in places with heavy machinery. Ultimately, your business carries the duty to prevent personal injury for both the customers and employees on your premise.

4. Keep Your Files Safe

In the cloud computing era, it’s perfectly normal for your business to store information on the cloud since it minimizes costs and guarantees operational efficiency. However, before you select a storage system, ensure it’s safe to prevent the theft or misplacement of your client’s personal data and files. A customer can sue you for data breach and win if he or she discovers that you lost their personal information or it fell into the wrong hands.

5. Maintain Separate Accounts

You should not mix your business and personal accounts. An employee or an interested outside party can easily sue you for misappropriation of business funds if they discover that your accounts are not separated. Even if you don’t misuse company funds, it may be hard to support your claim due to constant withdrawals from your personal account.

Wrapping Up

Try incorporating the above strategies into your business operations to minimize costly lawsuits. Additionally, have a well-defined code of conduct in an employee manual to ensure employees know how to conduct themselves while at work.

For more information on how you can secure your business against common lawsuits, or if you have any questions on how to handle a lawsuit that’s been brought against you, contact us now. At Lum Law Group we help our clients form and protect the businesses they’ve built from the ground up.

What You Need to Know Before Expanding Your Business Overseas

By Lisa October 5, 20182

Expanding your business overseas is an exciting development for entrepreneurs. Developing economies are the new frontier, and only the industrious can hope to take advantage of it. Of course, where there are unique opportunities, there are also unique challenges. Expanding your business abroad comes with several legal concerns that can be critical. When considering expanding your business abroad, here are a few important points for you to consider.

The Business of Exporting

Expanding your business gradually is often the best practice. One of the simplest ways to enter an international market is by exporting goods. Compared to opening a business locally, exporting will allow you to tap into the international market while avoiding heavy taxation, depending on the market and product. Generally, your business will only have to pay nominal customs fees.

As your engagement overseas intensifies, you might decide that it’s time to hire distributors. You’ll need to be familiar with local laws, especially regarding taxation. Before you hire distributors or localize your operations with a branch office, consider hiring a consultant. A local business consultant will have specialized knowledge of applicable laws and regulations. A thorough understanding of these issues can help business leaders avoid costly mistakes.

Related: Entrepreneur.com

Patents and Property Rights

U.S. patents and intellectual property laws only protect businesses within the United States. Although European countries have a history of respecting US intellectual property registrations, the same does not apply to many countries in Asia and Eastern Europe. There are international and local intellectual property organizations with which you can register your intellectual property. It’s up to business leaders to protect their intellectual property when expanding to new markets.

Contracts

Contracts in the United States work according to common law derived from judicial precedent. Whereas, contracts in several countries abroad operate according to civil law. Learn the difference and understand how it affects your agreements. How are commercial agreements made and disputed? What are the relevant regulations? What kind of records are you required to keep? These are all vital market-specific questions to which you should have the answers before you set sail.

Related: ACC.com

Learning About the Marketplace

Successful entrepreneurs know how important it is to understand the market if they want to be successful in their enterprise. A product or service that is popular and well-received in one market may be offensive and destined for failure in another. Have customers who are engaged with your customer services agents helps learn more about the culture and the market. Reading reviews and communicating with customers is another way.

Related: Podium.com

Culture Matters

It’s easy to take the cultural causes of previous successes for granted. Even what is considered a common greeting in one country can be thought of as deeply offensive in another. Rely on relevant experts and local market experts to avoid a misstep that will leave a poor impression. Remember that although you may be an expert in your industry and market, it doesn’t always lend itself to new markets.

Determine whether competing products or limitations in related technologies will be a challenge to your success. Target markets that will facilitate future expansion. Hong Kong and Singapore, for example, are excellent places to start because of their financial and business footholds in the world, and their location to many other economic and global powers. Think of a new market as a hub which will grant you access to increasingly distant opportunities.

Related: E-Sandhurst.com

The Logistics of Doing Business Abroad

Make sure you can scale your business appropriately. Early success has been disastrous to many businesses which were not prepared for a sudden explosion in demand. Expect to grow slowly, but be prepared for rapid expansion by developing a business plan and the resources to scale in advance. Understand the organizational patterns which are common to businesses in the markets you wish to explore and don’t take for granted that they work the way you’d expect.

Making Connections

Part of the benefit of doing business abroad is learning about new cultures and people. Getting to know the entrepreneurs in a market can be rewarding both for you personally and as a business strategy. By forming contacts with local business leaders in transportation, supply or other related enterprises, you can help bridge the gap between theoretical and practical knowledge. This can become the positive difference in your business’ success. Always enter business relationship with an optimistic view–after all, those local contacts can also become critical in navigating through any potential legal pitfalls that might entangle the unwary.

Related: Mashable.com

Franchising Overseas Should Be Done Very Carefully

For businesses that are a franchise, the prospect of expanding overseas especially since successful franchises often get the attention of investors across the world. But don’t jump into an offer too quickly, you need to stick to your core model, while being as adaptable as needed. And there needs to be caution as well, as things you might have originally have had down pat – such as franchise royalty fees – may be up to debate in other countries. Just do research as you need, and take it slow.

Related: FranchiseGator.com

Fortune Favors the Well Considered

Moving into the international marketplace is a big jump, even for big companies. Make sure you consult the relevant experts to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible. Being well-informed is the first step to being well-prepared for success.

Have questions about expanding your business abroad? Or did you have questions about how your patents or trademarks will hold up in the international market? Contact our office and speak directly to an experienced attorney!

What You Need to Know About Business Franchises

By Lisa September 14, 20180

When looking into starting a business, you may consider franchising. Buying a franchise means buying the rights to a particular company and own a “satellite location”, a smaller business at a separate location.

As a franchise owner, you could be in the position to run a well-known business with the help and support of the parent company. Companies offering franchising opportunities include, but are not limited, McDonalds, Subway, and School of Rock.

Before buying into a franchise business, you must do your homework. Do look into the type of business , the industry, franchise prices, market saturation, financing options, and new worth requirements. By considering these items, you will have a better idea of what franchising involves and whether it is a good fit for you.

Legal Definitions

The franchising industry is one of the fastest growing industries across all business sectors. Legally, a franchise is the right an entity has to operate a store or sell products or services under the franchise agreement. In other words, a franchise is where a person has the right to offer specific products and services from a larger parent company.

Another definition of a business franchise is a business agreement where a trader allows another to use their business expertise. They are also allowed to use the goodwill of the business and share its intellectual property in return for fees and commissions or a flat rate.

The legal implications and documents of a franchise differ depending on its type. If you want to “buy into” a franchise, you will pay the usual start-up costs. You can

In all cases, the franchise does not have to possess as many business skills and expertise as a first-time startup entrepreneur.

How It Works

The way in which a franchise works is straightforward. A person agrees to operate an established business in exchange for an upfront payment as well as any subsequent fees or royalties.

In a typical scenario, a particular company will offer a product or service and a business owner will agree to buy the rights of this company to operate as a business. The business owner uses the business name as well as offering the products and services to the public.

During the duration of ownership of the business rights, the person who bought the franchise will need to pay certain fees or royalties on an ongoing basis in exchange for the naming rights, training, and support.

In many franchises, the franchise will have the advantage of having ongoing training and support. This will allow them to get any help they need in terms of starting up the business and operating it.

At times, the franchise may need to attend regular meetings at the franchiser headquarters to get updates on new policies and requirements.

Should You Get Involved

A franchise is not for everyone. Having said that, there are circumstances when you would benefit from owning a franchise.

If you want to own your own business, selling a certain type of products or providing a certain type of service, you may benefit from franchise ownership. Buying a franchise will allow you to have a more credible, recognizable name, saving you from branding and marketing efforts of your own. The reputable name of the franchise will help attract customers for the small business owner. Though it doesn’t mean you can let up on marketing and public relation efforts. Google reviews increase trust and reliability, but only positive ones. This means you still need to keep an eye on any negative reviews, even though you might own a franchise. People, regardless of where they are going, are going to trust reviews from verified strangers as they would for friends and family.

While many think of the restaurant industry with franchise businesses, franchising lends itself well to the service industry as well. Instead of a carpet cleaning professional running an independent operation, they will be better off with a franchise. Other professionals such as accountants may also benefit from using a franchise, such as Liberty Tax Service, instead of operating their own firm. The reason is that professionals providing professional services have a skill or talent to focus on, and many would rather not think about learning entrepreneurship, business, and marketing. For such individuals, a franchise will provide the training, materials, and support to meet their individual needs. However, keep in mind that sometimes success and franchise decision-making all depends on timing. See how the market is and how well your business is standing on your own before jumping in blind.

Starting a business can be a very exciting experience for anyone seeking financial independence. When looking to start up a business with limited experience, buying a franchise is helpful. If you have questions on how franchising might affect your business, franchise contracts, or the intellectual property costs associated with some franchise contracts, please do reach out! We’d love to help clear things up for you.

5 Challenges Los Angeles Businesses Face

By Lisa September 7, 20180

Every business faces many different social and financial challenges. But it is larger cities with millions of people, such as Los Angeles, that pose the greatest challenges to businesses. Here are five common challenges with any business striving to make it in Los Angeles.

1. Multiculturalism

Diversity and multiculturalism are considered to be positive assets in American culture. Los Angeles is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse cities in the U.S. Even so, there are many problems are associated with multiculturalism.

Racism and discrimination are two of the biggest problems that affect businesses. There’s also the problem of language barriers between native English speakers and immigrants without strong English skills. A good number of companies solve this problem by hiring bilingual employees who can cater to both groups.

2. Overcrowding

Los Angeles is notorious for its large amounts of traffic. With millions of people traveling on the road, it’s easy for an accident to occur and cause major delays. Technology may have many advantages, but it’s actually leading to an increase in auto accidents since drivers tend to be distracted by their phones and other devices. For businesses, problems may arise when a city is overcrowded with residents and tourists.

Having a large population is beneficial to businesses because there are many potential customers. On the other hand, more customers mean more competitors, requiring entrepreneurs to outsmart each other in order to remain in business.

3. Pollution

Pollution seems like the least of any busy professional’s worries, but it could be a bigger problem in the future. Los Angeles city’s smog seems harmless in the air, but it can combine with moisture to pollute the ground. The government may require businesses to invest more in green energy or eco-friendly products. Think of the new plastic straw ban and the plastic bag ban. These bans were instituted because low-value plastics often end up in landfills or in the environment rather than being recycled.

4. Crime

Crime is a well-known side of Los Angeles that will never disappear. Every week, there are new thefts or assaults that occur on the streets and inside people’s homes. L.A. business owners have to deal with thefts, burglaries and armed robberies, and if they cannot, they must close down. Small businesses cannot simply rely on locks on the doors, but need to have high-security systems installed in order to protect their assets, employees, and customers.

5. Earthquakes

In California, earthquakes are common occurrences. Californians learn to deal with earthquakes and its aftermaths. Earthquake insurance is made for businesses that need to cover property damages. In addition, workers’ compensation insurance covers employee injuries, and auto insurance covers the damages to company vehicles.

Doing business anywhere is a challenge. In L.A., there are more people and more competitors around. Overall, it’s important for business owners to know the types of challenges that your business has before finding the solutions. In that respect, Lum Law is on your side. We are practiced attorneys with specializations in business law; if a challenge ever arises that you’re not sure you can face alone, turn to Lum Law Group!

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Can an Immigrant purchase a home?

By Lisa August 31, 20180

Home ownership is an integral part of the American Dream, which we are encouraged to work hard towards. Home ownership is a great source of pride in the U.S., and a huge source of gratitude for immigrants. Striving towards home ownership can be considered a way of life for Americans born and raised in the United States.

Immigrants Can Buy A Home In The US

Image Credit

There is good news for immigrants that want to own a home, too. It has long been said that America is the land of opportunity. Any realtor can tell you from experience that you do not have to be a U.S. citizen to buy a home in the States. With some hard work and with the right resources, the opportunity of home ownership awaits everyone. Immigrants can obtain homes in the US just like anyone else. There are millions of undocumented immigrants who already own homes in the United States. One obvious way to purchase a home as an immigrant would be to buy the house all in cash, without taking out a mortgage. Then, with the equity of their first home purchase, one can work up to a bigger, better home in the future.

If one does not have the cash to buy a home outright, there are mortgage programs that are set up to help an undocumented immigrant qualify for a home mortgage. Immigrants who do not qualify for social security numbers must apply for an Individual Tax Payer Identification Number (ITIN) through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Some financial institutions can offer a mortgage to ITIN holders.

Green Card Holders Can Buy A Home In The US

Image Credit

A green card holder is a legal permanent resident (LPR) of the United States, so they can purchase a home just like a U.S. citizen. They can apply for a traditional mortgage through a bank or credit union. Of course, they will be required to meet the down payment requirements and of all of the documentation that would be expected from all applicants. Like all mortgage applicants, everyone is required to qualify financially and must present proof of income, proof of residency, etc. to qualify.

Due to the time it takes to obtain a mortgage, it is strongly suggested to begin the process of applying for a mortgage before beginning to look for a home. Residential real estate is a fast-moving industry and many home sellers and realtors prefer to work with pre-qualified buyers only. Fortunately, immigrants can buy homes in the US just like anyone else.

If you, or someone you know, is interested in purchasing a home in the U.S. and have questions, feel free to contact Curtis Lum Team for real estate.

If you have additional questions regarding what immigrants can and cannot do in the United States, do contact our office.

10 Perils of DIY Estate Planning

By Lisa August 17, 20180

You might be wondering why, for decades, lawyers everywhere have been insisting that you consult their services when planning the will of your estate. Many people don’t understand what kind of input a lawyer has to give on estate planning or why it is important, and they try to plan their own estate and write their own will without understanding that doing so puts their assets and finances at risk. The following are ten perils of do it yourself (DIY) estate planning.

Taxation Challenges

Estate owners and other people who own different types of properties are always complaining of the high taxes they are charged. Taxation in estate planning has been uncertain, sometimes causing a lot of confusion in the industry. Reports have even suggested that lawyers are struggling to cope with the changing taxation rules when they want to help keep their clients from paying too many taxes. Doing it yourself could end up complicating your taxation benefits by fixing you in a situation where you are supposed to pay taxes, but you could have avoided that by using the services of a person who is knowledgeable in taxation industry.

Ambiguity in the Legal Language

Legal language is a complex means of communication; lawyers go to law school specifically to learn how to read, understand, and apply laws. The documents produced in estate planning are legal documents and can be used in the court of law for the settlement of disputes. However, to those who are not trained to read the law, the language used in the document might be ambiguous. This ambiguity might cause you or your children to lose their property or pay exorbitant tax rates. To eradicate the likelihood of ambiguity in the legal language, you will need to hire a person with qualifications in the legal background to prepare your estate planning document.

Lack of Contingency Measures

Preparing an estate plan is not a natural process, especially if you do not have a legal background that can help you to predetermine future problems. People end up preparing an erroneous plan that has ‘holes’ all over it. For example, when writing your will without the guidance of an expert, you may fail to write clauses which guide the execution if your children predecease you. Other unforeseen circumstances such as divorce and the birth of new children may occur which further complicates the implementation of your document.

Failing to Update Your Document

Although addressing contingencies might be seen as a way of updating your legal document, other important factors need to be updated. An ordinary person may fail to understand why a change in their bank account should be updated in their will. There are other situations where you can acquire more assets, and you assume that everything has been covered in your will. Attorneys help you to understand the terms and conditions of a valid will, part of which includes updating the will whenever there are changes in your life and properties you own. Doing this yourself could lead to loopholes where some assets, such as liquid cash in the bank, are not allocated to any person.

Lack of a ‘Third Party’ Member

There are many court disputes out there concerning estate plans. Children are fighting one another in trying to take more of the property by justifying using phrases like, ‘I was the one caring for our mother.’ Moreover, there are instances where there is more than one will, or the parent is coerced by a child to favor him or her. Using an attorney is an essential strategy because he or she will act as a third party in the courtroom and will eradicate the chances of hearsay or coercion of a parent.

Blank Spaces

Do-it-yourself wills may accidentally have blank spaces where the owner of the property has not indicated the ultimate beneficiary of the estate. This creates an opening to unethical individuals who might fill in their names, unknown to or against the will of the deceased. Moreover, the court may decide that the closest relative in law has the right to inherit the property, which might not have been the intent of the deceased. A legal expert helps you to avoid such scenarios by filling the document thoroughly.

Procedural Deficiencies

Although writing your estate plan may save money and time in the short-term, it may cost you more in the long run if you fail to follow the due legal process. This means that you may not have the necessary attachment documents and the signature of your witnesses. This may render your plan null and void in most of the United States. A legal expert will solve this problem by ensuring the required procedures have been followed, and all the necessary support documents are available.

Lack of Knowledge When Law Changes

From time to time, the rules and regulations that govern wills and estate planning are changed. For you to prepare a comprehensive document that is considered legitimate under the court, your plan must be consistent with current laws governing estate planning. Lack of knowledge could lead to the formulation of a void document. Consulting experts is necessary because they are updated on legal issues.

Document Revocation

Estate planning rules and regulations require that you give your will to a custodian so that he or she will produce it upon death. However, doing it yourself could lead to a situation where you die while still in possession of the will. The court assumes that such document does not exist and thereby the document is revoked. To avoid revocation of your estate plan, it is essential to consult an attorney who will help in preparation and will act as the custodian of the original copy.

Same-Sex Couples and Cohabiting Partners

Same-sex couples and cohabiting partners have limited rights when it comes to the properties of the deceased. You may not be able to prepare an estate plan if you are in this situation. Consult a legal practitioner for guidance in such scenarios. A proper and comprehensive will needs to be formulated for same-sex couples and cohabiting partners to access the properties of the deceased.

It may seem expensive to seek the services of an attorney when drafting an estate plan, but it will cost much more if you decide to write a will without consulting an expert. People have lost their assets while others have left their families in court disputes just because they wanted to save a few bucks.

Protect your assets and your finances. Talk to a qualified attourney about what to do to set you on the path to financial security.

References:

Money.usnews.com | The Dangers of DIY Estate Planning

Wsj.com | DIY Estate Planning Has Its Risks

Aanestadlaw.com | The Pitfalls Of “Do-It-Yourself” Estate Planning

Practicalplanning.com | 7 OVERLOOKED RISKS OF A DIY WILL

Forbes.com | The Case Against Do-It-Yourself Wills

5 Things Startups Need to Know About OSHA

By Lisa August 3, 20180

Every business should be concerned about employee safety, whether you are part of a large organization or a fairly small one, including startups. And even offices have occupational hazards, so don’t be lulled into thinking that only jobs involving physical labor need to be aware of OSHA regulations. If you’re part of a business, then you need to know and be able to implement workplace safety. To help you better understand OSHA, here are five things that businesses should know.

1. What is OSHA?

OSHA stands for Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and is under the United States Department of Labor. The OSH Act was created to ensure the safety of employees while they are at work. OSHA is a government agency that regulates workplace safety practices, ensuring that all employees have a safe place to work.

2. What and Who is Covered Under OSHA?

According to the OSH Act, employers are required to provide a safe work environment that is free of known hazards. This covers all potential hazards such as dangers from chemicals, trips and falls, workplace violence, and almost all other potential workplace hazards. One of the few exceptions to this is any hazards that involve food with workplaces that sell it. Private sector businesses are required to be in compliance with OSHA regulations, but self-employed individuals who do not have employees are not. It is critical that if you are thinking about starting a business or have already started a business that you comply by the OSHA rules and regulations.

3. What Services Does OSHA Offer?

OSHA offers training, education, and outreach programs for businesses. These services are designed to equip businesses and their employees with necessary knowledge in order to work safely. Among these opportunities are classes and grants to help non-profit organizations become more knowledgeable about workplace hazards and how they can be avoided and minimized.

4. How Are OSHA Regulations Enforced?

One of the ways that OSHA regulations are enforced is through inspections. These are conducted without advance notice, and businesses with higher incident rates or worker complaints are more likely to be inspected. Businesses that have had catastrophes and fatalities are most likely to undergo OSHA inspections.

5. Do Injuries and Illnesses Need to be Reported?

As of January 2017, organizations are required to report injuries and illnesses electronically. Many of these injuries and illnesses are ones that were already required to be recorded on-site.

Employee safety is a concern for all businesses, both large and small, including startups. Those who are seeking further clarification can visit the OSHA website, which explains the mission and recent changes more thoroughly.

Resources:

About | OSHA.gov

How OSHA Rules Apply to Startups | NBC Chicago

Personal Injury Case Law | Craigswapp.com

Why Is OSHA Important in a Company? | Chron.com

5 Game-Changing Business Tips For Entrepreneurial Immigrants | Lum Law Group

How to Spot a Pyramid Scheme from an MLM

By Lisa June 22, 20180

Numerous opportunities are available for entrepreneurial individuals who are interested in making some extra money. Unfortunately, it can be all too easy to fall into too-good-to-be-true traps that could actually end up costing you money, or even your freedom (if they’re illegal). Understanding the differences between a pyramid scheme and multi-level-marketing (MLM) can help you make informed decisions while avoiding the dangers of illegal money-making schemes.

Pyramid Schemes vs. Multi-level Marketing

One of the first things to understand about the differences between pyramid schemes and multi-level marketing is that pyramid schemes typically require individuals to purchase massive amounts of inventory to become involved in the business opportunity. Individuals entering this type of business may also be encouraged to purchase other items or services they do not need or want to stay involved with the company. Additionally, your income is usually not based on your sales of products but rather the number of people you recruit.

Take the time to conduct some research before you consider joining any new business venture. Due to the illegal nature of pyramid schemes, these types of businesses usually close down after they’ve turned a profit. Therefore, the companies aren’t usually in business for very long. By researching when the company was founded, and the history of the company, you can better decide whether the company is offering a genuine opportunity or not.

Compensation

It’s also important to investigate the structure of the company. Multi-level marketing companies can sometimes appear similar in structure to pyramid schemes; however, the key difference between the two is often in the compensation. While pyramid schemes are often based on contributions of incoming members, MLMs earn profits from their sales. It’s not uncommon for a pyramid scheme to only give a broad overview of the amount of money you would make at the lowest level. Instead, they tend to focus on what you can make at the higher levels. If you are suspicious, do not hesitate to ask for more concrete details regarding the average earnings of entry-level members.

Refunds

You should also get details regarding the company’s refund policy. Pyramid schemes usually do not have verifiable refund policies. In fact, you will usually find a no returns policy in the fine print of the contract.

Whether you are in the market to make some extra money on the side or you are looking for a legitimate work-at-home business, it’s important to ask important questions to ensure you do not become involved in a scam. If you think you may be the target of a pyramid scheme or some other type of illegal business practices, contact our attorneys today.

Sources

Investopedia

ASEA Scam

Better Business Bureau

5 Game-Changing Business Tips for Entrepreneurial Immigrants

By Lisa June 8, 20180

In the U.S., you have already seen plenty of active businesses everywhere. What you may not notice is that many companies fail and are replaced on a regular basis. Entrepreneurial immigrants frequently do very, very well in business-friendly locations, but they aren’t immune to harsh market forces either. Here are five essential tips for immigrants who want to start a business in a new country.

Learn the Customs

Personal hobbies and interests are different in every country. Some countries promote spending time with family, while others support more self-centered independence. Learn more about Americans to create products and services that they will need and want.

Learn the Laws

American business owners have many rules to follow if they want to remain in business. They need to obtain and renew licenses, follow safety regulations from the OSHA or FDA, and pay their taxes every year. If you’ve worked in another country, you may find hundreds of additional rules to learn and follow.

Other rules pertain to the specific type of industry. Construction workers are required to wear protective clothing, while medical professionals need certain immunizations. For every rule, also learn about the penalties, such as fines or imprisonment, for not complying.

Improve Communications

Communication is the most important field to study in business. You cannot find customers if you cannot communicate with them effectively through advertising. Furthermore, as Franchise Gator advises, you will be unable to understand the important business paperwork that you will need to read and file.The first step is to read, write, and speak better English.

There are classes for people learning English as a second language along with online learning software. Wordcounter.io includes free grammar tools that will help your written communications sound like native English. Correct all spelling and grammar errors before you advertise to customers.

Focus on Marketing

Getting in contact with customers is one of your most important tasks as a business owner. Work with American marketing professionals from the beginning. They already understand the culture, and can offer advice on everything from creating websites to building SEO content.

Get Help

There are several small business loans available specifically for entrepreneurial immigrants through the US Small Business Administration — which might be one of the reasons why 48% of overall growth of US business ownership between 2000 to 2013 was attributed to immigrant business owners, and the number of self-employed immigrants more than doubled between 1994 and 2015.

If you find yourself having difficulty securing a loan due to low collateral or other challenges, signing a “comfort agreement” may be helpful. This is an additional contract between the borrower and the lender that provides the lender with wiggle-room or recourse in the case you default on your loan.

You may have the money and resources, but if you don’t have basic knowledge about doing business in America, you won’t succeed. Come up with a plan on how you will gain this knowledge. Then, learn the tips that are proven to help countless entrepreneurial immigrants.

Are SEO citations infringing on intellectual property?

Are SEO Citations a Violation of Intellectual Property?

By Lisa June 1, 20180

An SEO citation is a reference to any business within a website or blog. It typically includes the business’s name, address, and phone number. Although citations help users find local businesses and can positively impact search engine ranking, SEO citations on a national scale are virtually useless. Google, however, uses citations to confirm the legitimacy of a local business.

What Does a Citation Mean?

When a business is cited repeatedly and accurately it increases Google’s confidence that the business in question is real and reliable. Citations are important for local SEO as they determine which data is displayed in the “local block,” that snippet of map imagery with noted listings that comes up on any local search engine results page (SERP).

Although SEO citations are generally categorized as NAP (Name, address, phone number), they are not limited to local information. A citation may include any plain text reference to a business’ site, product, brand, or content. More often than not, an SEO citation is simply a weak back-link in plain text.

Do Citations Violate Intellectual Property?

An SEO citation, like most references to someone else’s ideas or content, lies within a gray area. Unlike a backlink, a citation may directly quote pieces of a business or person’s intellectual property without much accreditation. For example, snippets of music, video, written content, and images can be used as a citation as long as the larger piece of content in which the citation is included is original content. Youtube videos are great examples of SEO citations as no intellectual property is violated because embedded Youtube videos always link back to the original source. Here’s general rule of thumb for preventing the crossing of intellectual property boundaries: as long as the overall content is original, your SEO citation should be in the clear.

Has Your Business been Cited?

It’s important to keep track of all of your local SEO citations, but it’s also important to check on the citations of competitors. How can one find out if a website or business has been cited? Simply type the business name inside quotation marks into Google, along with the site name. Excluding the business’s original website, count the top five to ten results where the business’s name, address, phone number or other SEO citation content is located. Established websites can have hundreds of citations listed from each URL, so make a note of exactly where every citation is located.

Resources

/portfolio-galleries/intellectual-property/

https://searchengineland.com/local-experts-say-relevance-citations-important-authority-216537

https://www.thehoth.com/local-seo-tool/

https://www.searchenginejournal.com/citation-building-customers-find-local-businesses/166649/

How to Improve Focus and Superpower Your Startup

By Lisa March 2, 20180

If you have a startup, then you know how much work it takes to make it successful. With so much competition today, you need to have strong strategies at work to win and compete. Focus is key in this adventure to grow your company. Here are some tips to stay on top of your game:

Marketing

No startup can succeed without focus in the marketing department. The best way to get this is to set specific goals as to what you are looking to achieve. If you have the best marketing in the world but no solid game to capitalize off of it, you could be in for a world of hurt. Make sure that you are bringing your team in regularly to review your goals and that your marketing is accomplishing what you need it to.

Hiring

If you want to have focus and superpower status in your business, your talent is going to be very important. Without the right team to bring your goals to the forefront, you risk not having the competitive edge your deserve.

Schedules

If you have no schedule, it is easy to let focus get away from you and not have the results that your startup needs. If you don’t have specific meeting times, creative time, and rest time, then you might spin out of control.

Smart Drugs

Just a few years ago, it might have been uncommon to hear about CEOs and others taking smart drugs to improve their performance. However, these drugs are not illegal. These are focus and power drugs that give business people an extra edge. For instance, according to Mind Lab Pro, nootropics change the brain in a way that lets you access more neurons and thinking power. This can range from intense prescription medications like Adderall to simple caffeine supplements, to vitamins. Not every one of these substances is right for everyone, but many of them can aid your creative problem solving.

Standards

Improve your startup by having a standard that must always be met. When people know what they must meet to stay a part of the team, it will help improve their focus all around. Don’t just write it down, but review it daily to ensure you’re getting the most out of every member of the team.

Iteration

There is always room to improve. Constantly iterate and check your results. One tweak could mean the difference between profit and loss.

In the world of startups, the ones that move with the most focus and speed win. Don’t risk falling behind. Use the tips above and watch your results grow day by day.

Are There Restrictions on Who I Can Hire?

By Lisa February 9, 20180

When you want your business to succeed, you need to start by looking at the people that you employ. These people are the ones who will help you make or break your business, so you want to find the best people possible. When hiring new employees, it can be difficult to make sure that you have the very best candidates possible, but you also need to make sure you stay within legal requirements. So what are those legal requirements and does the government care who you hire?

Discrimination Law Requirements

You want to make the best decision when hiring an employee to work at your company, but the decision-making progress is not just about the “best hire.” You also need to consider federal law requirements when hiring employees. Under the law, no employer can discriminate against a person during the hiring and application process. Specifically, federal law forbids discrimination or retaliation against a potential employee with regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.

I-9 Compliance

You also need to make sure that you are I-9 compliant, or that all of your employees are authorized to work in the United States. Each employer must ensure that Form I-9 is completed for all employees whether the person is a U.S. citizen or a foreign national. I-9 compliance does not keep you from hiring foreign nationals, but it does make sure that you won’t get in trouble with the government for hiring someone who can’t legally work here.

Prohibited Policies and Practices

The discrimination laws enforced by the federal government apply to various aspects of employment practices. The practices include job advertisements, recruitment, and application and hiring. Any job advertisements you post internally and externally cannot discourage people of certain ages or other discriminatory factors from applying for a job. These same practices also apply to people, who are trying to be hired by a business through recruitment (such as a college fair) or using a job interview by the potential employer.

Conclusion

While it may make the hiring process a little more difficult, you need to take all precautions when hiring an employee and not resort to discriminatory practices. You may not mean to discriminate, but if someone can make a case against you, it doesn’t end well for you. Court litigation, heavy fines, and poor publicity are just some penalties that you may suffer. To avoid this, make sure you fill out the required documentation promptly and eliminate any targeted language. It may take some effort, but it is worth it.