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Foreword | |
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Introduction | |
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First Steps | |
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Getting Started | |
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Business Ideas-and Funding Them | |
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Clearing the Decks | |
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Keeping the Legal Side in Mind Can Save Time and Money | |
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Do You Need A Lawyer? | |
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A Quick Guide to When You Need Legal Help-and When You Don't | |
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Choosing a Business Lawyer | |
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How to Find the Right Lawyer for Your Company | |
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Buying a Business | |
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The Basics, Including How You Can Maximize Your Advantage | |
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Is Franchising for You? | |
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Practical, Hands-on Tips for Evaluating a Franchise Opportunity | |
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Understanding and Negotiating the Franchise Agreement | |
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Don't Be Intimidated When Confronted by Those Bulky Legal Documents | |
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Setting Up Shop | |
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If Your Business is Ten Feet from the Kitchen | |
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Be Worry-Free by Taking Care of These Wrinkles Affecting Home-Based Businesses | |
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Location, Location, Location | |
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Your Guide to Protecting Yourself in Leasing Property-and More | |
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Buying Peace of Mind | |
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That's What Insurance Is for-but Don't Forget the Legal Dimensions | |
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Types of Business Organizations Which Legal Form Should You Choose | |
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Sole Proprietorships | |
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It's Easy. It's Popular-but Know What You're Getting Into | |
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Partnerships | |
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They Come in Many Flavors, Including General and Limited-Which One's for You? | |
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Is a Corporation for You? | |
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They're Persons Under the Law, Which Opens Up Many Intriguing Possibilities | |
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Limited Trouble-and Paperwork | |
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Find Out Why Limited Liability Companies Are Sweeping the Country | |
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So What's the Best Business Form for You? | |
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We Lay Out Your Options-the Choice is Yours | |
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A Section About People Dealing with Employees and Customers | |
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Hiring Employees | |
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Hiring Without Hassles | |
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Laws Affecting Employees | |
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A Short Course on Law in the Workplace-and How Knowing What's Up Can Benefit You | |
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Terminating Employees | |
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We Cover Everything from Tips on How to Let Someone Go to Noncompete Agreements | |
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Maintaining a Safe Place of Business | |
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For Your Employees, Customers, Business Contacts, and Other Folks on Your Premises | |
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The Legal Side of Dealing with Customers | |
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All You Need to Know About the Consumer Protection Laws | |
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Extending Credit | |
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Bottom-Line Tips on Accepting Checks and Credit Cards and Offering Your Own Credit | |
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The Check Isn't in the Mail! | |
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Collection Do's and Don'ts for Small-Business Owners | |
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Running the Business | |
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Contracts | |
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Understanding Legally Enforceable Agreements in Your Business's Transactions | |
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Special Contract Terms | |
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Some Tips on What those Strange Clauses Will Mean to You | |
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What If There's a Dispute? | |
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Keeping the Lid on Time, Hassles, and Costs | |
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Too Good to Be True | |
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Watch Out for These Scams Against Your Business | |
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Protecting Your Intellectual Property Rights | |
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The Lowdown on Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks, Service Marks, and More | |
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The Taxman Cometh | |
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Business Taxes 101 | |
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Knowing the Basics of Taxation Can Help You Plan-and Save Money | |
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Then There's the State and the City... | |
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A Quick Look at How You Can Owe Less | |
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Tangling with the Government | |
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You Have Rights-Know How to Use Them | |
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Various Endings ... Some Happy, Some Not | |
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Sink or Swim-Facing Financial Difficulties | |
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The Law, and Your Lawyer, May Be Able to Help | |
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Selling a Business | |
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There Are Plenty of Possible Arrangements-but You Want the Best | |
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Retirement Planning for the Business Owner | |
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The Law Gives You a Lot of Attractive Options | |
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Till Death Do Us Part | |
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What Will Happen to Your Family Business When You Die? Plan Ahead to Avoid Disaster. | |
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The World at Your Fingertips | |
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The Best Places to Turn for More Information-Including Sites on Doing Business on the Web | |
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Index | |
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About the Author | |