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| Introduction | |
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| What Is a Corporation? | |
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| Why Should I Incorporate? | |
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| For-Profit versus Nonprofit Corporations | |
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| Choosing Which Business Entity Is Best for You | |
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| Sole Proprietorship | |
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| General Partnership | |
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| Limited Partnership | |
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| Limited Liability Company | |
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| C Corporations | |
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| S Corporations | |
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| Comparison of Business Entities | |
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| Incorporating | |
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| Checklist for Incorporating | |
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| Choose a Corporate Name | |
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| Choose a Business Type | |
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| Choose a State in Which to Incorporate | |
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| Key Documents for Incorporating | |
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| Determine Stock Composition | |
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| Choose Corporate Directors | |
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| Choose a Registered Agent | |
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| Prepare Your Articles of Incorporation | |
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| Prepare Other Key Documents | |
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| File Key Documents | |
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| Federal Employer Identification Number | |
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| Shareholders Agreement | |
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| Organizational Meeting | |
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| Open a Bank Account | |
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| File Form 2553 for an S Corporation | |
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| Organize Corporate Records | |
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| You're Ready to Operate Your Corporation | |
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| Running Your Corporation | |
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| Role of Directors and Officers | |
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| Role of Bylaws and Corporate Minutes | |
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| How to Run Your Corporation | |
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| Hold Corporate Meetings | |
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| Special Issues for One-Person Corporations | |
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| Learning Basic Accounting and Finance | |
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| Financial Statements | |
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| Ratio Analysis | |
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| Managing Your Business | |
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| Accounting Systems | |
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| Basics of the Double Entry System | |
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| Why Keep Records? | |
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| A Business Checkbook | |
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| Getting Help from an Accountant | |
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| Filing Taxes | |
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| Accounting Year | |
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| Accounting Method | |
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| Tax Professionals | |
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| Forms to File | |
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| Minimizing Taxes | |
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| What Is Deductible? | |
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| Liability | |
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| Preventing the Corporate Veil from Being Pierced | |
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| Alternatives to Lawsuits | |
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| How to Find a Good Lawyer | |
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| Raising Capital | |
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| State and Federal Money | |
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| Funding through Loans | |
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| Funding through Venture Capital | |
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| Creative Alternatives | |
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| Summary | |
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| Managing Employees | |
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| Planning for Employees | |
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| Where Can I Look for Employees? | |
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| Other Hiring Considerations | |
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| Offering Benefits to Your Employees | |
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| Health Insurance | |
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| 401(k) Retirement Plans | |
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| IRA Retirement Plans | |
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| Fringe Benefits | |
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| Exit Strategy | |
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| Labor and Employment Law | |
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| Title VII | |
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| Equal Pay in Employment Act | |
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| Age Discrimination in Employment Act | |
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| Title I and V of the Americans with Disabilities Act | |
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| Sections 501 and 505 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 | |
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| Civil Rights Act of 1991 | |
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| Other Important Laws and Acts | |
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| Summary | |
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| State Specific Information | |
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| Articles of Incorporation | |
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| IRS Form SS-4 and Instructions | |
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| IRS Form 2553 and Instructions (S Corporation Election) | |
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| Bylaws Template | |
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| Minutes of Annual Meeting of Shareholders | |
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| Minutes of Annual Meeting of Board of Directors | |
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| Sample Business Plan | |
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| Index | |