Legal Tips Entrepreneurs Need to Know to Start a Business

If you’re thinking about starting your own business or if you’ve recently done so, then you probably already know that there are things that need to be considered. More specifically, legal issues that need to be decided in order to protect what you are growing and creating.

In this episode, Nellie Akalp, CEO of CorpNet.com, joins Anita Campbell to share her advice on issues such as various forms of legal entities, what business structure goes best with which business and why forming an LLC or an Inc. is necessary.

Below are the questions we asked Nellie:

• (3:53) Nellie, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?


• (7:40) So you and your husband are trained as attorney’s, but you sound like quite the entrepreneur.  Was there that lure of business that was always driving you? 


• (9:29) For anyone who doesn’t know, a service like CorpNet.com provides a document preparation service, not an actual legal service like a law firm provides, correct?


• (11:27) Say I’ve decided to start a business and I have a business name, how do I make sure that someone else is not already using that business name?


• (14:56) Let’s talk about why you should create a corporation or an LLC (Limited Liability Company).  Why should you go to the extent of creating a legal entity?


• (18:22) Given the choice, how do we know which one to choose?  LLC, S Corp or C Corp?


• (24:44) You mentioned venture capital backed businesses.  If they incorporate or go with the LLC structure, they are very particular about what state they go under.  Where should you form your corporation or LLC?  In your home state, or is there some advantage to picking a particular state?


• (29:23) Where can people learn more?

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Listen to Nellie’s full interview NOW by clicking the red and yellow player below

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Tips to Keep Your Business Afloat During a Personal Crisis

Small businesses are particularly vulnerable when a crisis strikes close to home.  And crisis can come in many forms – illness, death, divorce, fire, flood, a move.  Trying to keep everything afloat during a personal crisis in a small business, all while managing seriously heavy stress loads, can be quite a challenge, even for the best of us. 

Tony Cole, President and CEO of the Anthony Cole Training Group, and co-author of “Resurrecting Anthony: A True Story of Courage and Destination,” joins Anita Campbell to discuss the aftermath of son Anthony’s cardiac arrest at the age 12, in which he suffered brain damage.  Tony shares what it took to keep their family and business together, offers coping skills, ways to focus on work - and hope for anyone going through a personal struggle while trying to keep on top of their game in the business world.

Below are the questions we asked Anthony:

• (2:17) Anthony, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?


• (3:30) What was the day like when your son was struck down by a heart attack?


• (5:44) How long was he in the coma, Tony?


• (8:21) You wrote the book with your wife Linda and you are life and business partners.  What impact did this have on your relationship?


• (10:49) Can you offer some tips and advice to business owners that may be going through a crisis of their own?  What would you recommend that business owners think about and do, if the situation ever arose.


• (14:12) What about after getting through the initial crisis?  What about weeks, months and years afterwards?  What do you need to know then?  Does everything change or are things basically the same?


• (20:13) Did you ever consider just giving up at this time?  Or were you hanging onto that business as a type of life line?


• (21:57) How has thing changed your business philosophy or has it?  How would you describe the impact on your business?


• (25:30) You and your wife, Linda, co-authored this book.  Can you tell me, why did you choose to write the book from your perspective, Tony?


• (27:14) Where can people find out more?  (Resurrecting Anthony on Facebook)

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Listen to Tony’s full interview NOW by clicking the red and yellow player below

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Group Buying: Tips on Growing Sales

The Wall Street Journal has referred to Office Arrow as the “Groupon for business.” It’s a fact – the group buying phenomenon looks like it’s here to stay.  And why not?  After all, the economics make sense and your small business can truly benefit from it.

Robert Ball, CEO of Office Arrow, joins Anita Campbell and Brent Leary to discuss the ins and outs of the group buying phenomenon.  From selling through group buying situations to actually using group buying when it makes sense for your company. 

Below are the questions we asked Robert:

• (2:19) Robert, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?


• (3:39) Can you give us some examples about what group buying really is?


• (4:59) Is the name Office Arrow of any particular significance?


• (5:46) Is Office Arrow more about selling at a discount if you’re trying to reach a business to business market?  What’s behind this?


• (8:07) So you should look on it as the cost of acquiring a customer?


• (9:06) As a buyer, how do you get started looking for deals?


• (10:50) Let’s assume small business owners are not familiar with deal sites.  What’s really involved?  Do we have to sign up for an account?  Do we have to visit a site like yours everyday?


• (12:00) Are there any insider tips about being a buyer and what you should look for on a deals site?


• (12:50) If I’m a buyer and I go to a site like Office Arrow, how many deals can I expect to see?


• (14:08) What are some of the expectations a company should expect when using a site like yours?


• (15:35) What are some of the industries that seem to do pretty well right out of the gate with this?


• (17:16) What are some of the other ways you help your clients get the biggest bang for their buck?


• (18:34) Do you help them keep that interaction going to become a long term customer rather than a one time customer?


• (19:40) Can you give us an example of a small business you worked with recently and how that worked for them?


• (20:56) How are the developments in mobile technology having an impact on these kinds of services?


• (21:56) Are we going to see targeted offerings based on locations anytime soon?


• (23:02) Are small business owners that are listening able to get started with your services?


• (23:59) What are some of the pitfalls that should be avoided right out of the gate regarding using your services?


• (25:22) If you had to peer out a year into the future, how do you think companies are going to be using services like yours?


• (27:19) So you see interaction being a big part of this as well?


• (28:07) Where can people find out more? 

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Listen to Robert’s full interview NOW by clicking the red and yellow player below

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Tips on Facebook ad campaigns

A couple of weeks ago Webtrends analyzed 11,529 Facebook ad campaigns representing 4.5bn impressions to see what conclusions they could draw. It’s worth reading their short white paper on Facebook Advertising Performance Benchmarks and Analysis. Some highlights include:

• Click through rates steadily increase with age up to 65


• State by state CTRs are relatively flat with the exception of North Dakota and Wyoming being substantially higher than the other states


• Fun/entertainment focused campaigns work better than other types of topics


• People who didn’t attend college click more than people who did


• People who attended college use their friends as a filter to determine who to click on more than people who didn’t attend college


• FB ads need new creative after three to five days

I’d urge you to read the whole thing. It’s only seven pages long.

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