Posts by Bill Wortman
Consultant’s Corner: Employee Cell Phone Use Policy
Q: I am looking for a basic policy for the use of personal cell phones by employees on company time. This is a major problem affecting productivity in our business. A: Increasingly, cell phone usage is becoming a problem in the work place. Usage of cellular devices takes focus away from the day-to-day operations of…
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Consultant’s Corner: Marketing Plans for Financial Advisors
Q. What are the best marketing strategies for financial advisors? Financial advisors and similar professionals use customer referrals, local Chamber networking, other professional networking, lead groups, direct mail, newsletters, a business website, social media networking websites, direct sales, and other methods. The best marketing plan will be the one that effectively reaches your defined target…
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Consultant’s Corner: Transferring Business Ownership to a Spouse
Q. I am currently the sole member of an LLC. I would like to transfer sole ownership of the LLC to my spouse. How would I do this? The transfer of the LLC ownership to your spouse will have to be properly documented for legal and tax purposes. In addition to the proper legal documents…
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Consultant’s Corner: Hiring Your First Employee
Updated January 2020 Question: I’m growing and am thinking about hiring my first employee. What should I do? When growing a business, entrepreneurs typically reach a point in the process where they must consider the prospect of adding staff. There are several important things to consider when hiring employees, which include: labor laws, compensation structure,…
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Consultant’s Corner: Do I Have to Pay Employees When Bad Weather Closes the Business?
Q. Are employers required to pay employees for days they could not come to work due to inclement weather and the building was closed? While you may want to consult your local labor lawyer to confirm your employee compensation requirements for particular business closure situations, as a general rule, exempt employees will need to be…
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Consultant’s Corner: Do I Need Liability Insurance?
Question: How do I know if and what type of liability insurance I need for my business? Essentially, every business needs some amount of property, liability, and vehicle insurance depending upon the business activities and other factors. Business insurance is generally based on the business activities and risks and not whether, for example, it is…
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Consultant’s Corner: Finding Angel Investors
Question: I am beginning a new business and would like to secure funding through angel investors. Where should I start? Of course, the angel investor category can include family, friends, and business associates. Also, the type of business venture and amount of capital needed can influence where to look for angel investors. For example, your…
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Consultant’s Corner: Do I Need a Website Privacy Policy?
Q: If we do not collect customer data on our website, do we need to have a privacy policy? We have provided legal reference information and general business comments below for your consideration; however, since your GSB general business consultants are not lawyers and do not provide legal services, you should plan to consult your…
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Consultant’s Corner: Business Name and Domain Name Change
Question: What is the best way to transition from our existing domain/company name to a new one? There are several things to consider when transitioning from one company and domain name to another. Business Name Change A business that changes its name can notify the IRS of the name change by following the procedures described…
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Consultant’s Corner: Employer Protection Considerations
Q: What do I need to do to protect myself from any wrongful termination claims or unemployment claims against my company? From a general business perspective, the basic ways to protect a business and owner (and management staff) from employee claims and other labor law issues are identification of the applicable federal and state laws, effective recruiting procedures, written company personnel…
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