NFIB

Liability Insurance 101 for Small Business

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

One means of defending yourself against both warranted and unwarranted claims is by purchasing liability insurance, which protects your business against accusations of injury to people or other properties.

Trademarks: Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Business Owner

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Image can be everything. This is especially true for your business. Whether your business offers products or services, customers need to distinguish your business from the competition. A catchy name, phrase, logo, symbol, or design is frequently a business' most valuable asset and should be protected. If you obtain and protect your mark, you have taken the first steps to building brand identification with your customer and protecting an important business asset.

6 Legal Problems to Avoid (and How to Do It)

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Legal problems drain finances, time and the emotions. Anyone who has been involved with legal difficulties will agree that one of the most prudent things a small business can do is set up procedures to help avoid legal problems before they arise.

Tulsa Member is Regional Small Business Champion

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Three-time Oklahoma champion Larry Mocha has been named one of four regional Solveras/NFIB Small Business Champions.

H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu): Q&A for Small Business Owners

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

With all the talk of H1N1 these days, many small business owners are wondering what they can do to keep their workplaces healthy. NFIB has given you information about how to prepare for H1N1, but what can you do -- what are your obligations -- if one of your employees gets sick?

Copyright Basics: 4 Steps for Mastering Copyright Issues

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Copyright infringement happens all the time, although many perpetrators are unaware of their misdeeds. Unauthorized use of a copyrighted work can cost a business thousands in a civil judgment and legal fees. Even worse, if an employee sends a copyrighted work to a client or customer, that client could be named in a copyright infringement lawsuit. While large corporations often have corporate librarians to deal with copyright issues, small businesses have to navigate copyright issues alone. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the problem and create a copyright policy.

NFIB Small Business Legal Center Victory!

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

NFIB Urges SCOTUS to Protect Waterfront Private-Property Rights

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Judge Refuses to Apply Maryland's Cap on Non-Economic Damages in Malpractice Cases

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The National Federation of Independent Business Legal Center is urging a Maryland court to uphold the state's limit on non-economic damages in all medical malpractice lawsuits.

Fall Filing Deadline Looms for Special Refund Claims for Many Small Businesses

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

If you're hoping to take advantage of the expanded business loss carryback option included in this year's recovery act, time is running out. Eligible individuals have until Oct. 15 to choose this option; eligible calendar-year corporations have until Sept. 15.

Legal Center Win Will Help Illinois Firms Facing Unemployment Compensation Hearings

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Legal Center win will allow business owners in Illinois to avoid the cost of using attorneys at unemployment hearings if they choose.

Web Scams: Don't Get Ripped Off Online

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Internet can be an indispensible tool for small businesses, but it also makes it easier for con artists to find victims. Swindlers use e-mail and the Internet to reach more people than ever before. The vast number of e-mails sent and the increasing sophistication of schemes ensure that at least some of those who receive the enticement will take the bait. Small business owners are constantly inundated with solicitations, so it can be hard to tell which deals are for real and which are fraud.

Budget Increases Business Taxes

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Business interests dodged many, but not all, of the tax increases considered by the budget conference committee that agreed on a $11.6 billion balanced budget for the fiscal 2010-2011 biennium.

Independent Contractor Law Changed

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Independent contractors on construction projects will face new requirements under a new law with the support of building and construction associations, unions and Maine Employers Mutual Insurance Company.

NFIB State Director Bill Vernon on Business Talk

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

NFIB/Rhode Island State Director Bill Vernon was featured on the August 5 Business Talk with Frank Coletta in reaction to the Department of Revenue's threat to close nearly 1,200 businesses across the state.

Defining and Identifying Right-to-Work States

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

According to Wikipedia, prior to 1947, unions and employers covered by the National Labor Relations Act could lawfully agree to a "closed shop," which meant employees at unionized workplaces had to be members of the union as a requirement of employment. An employee who left the union for any reason at all could also be fired for any reason. A particular section of the Taft-Hartley Act -- Section 14(b) -- authorizes individual states (not local governments) to outlaw the union shop employees working in their jurisdictions.

Rest and Meal Breaks: What Every Employer Needs to Know

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Everyone has to eat. We all need a break. Such concepts are simple, but laws governing meal and rest breaks in the workplace are not. Federal law sets standards for rest and meal breaks, including whether those breaks should be paid. States add additional requirements.

How Not to Save on Healthcare

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As healthcare costs continue to rise, many small business owners are looking for ways to cut costs. Be careful. Some cost-saving strategies might lead to lawsuits and headaches. Avoid the following legal pitfalls.

How to Keep Your Employment Application Legal

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

There's a good chance that any application for employment more than four or five years old asks for information that can no longer legally be requested. Whether you designed your own application or purchased a generic form, if it's a few years old its use is risky. Yet it's not uncommon to find, especially in smaller companies that don't recruit often, that the same application has been in use for a decade or longer.

Small Business Wins Big on Age Discrimination

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Small business scored a big win when the U.S. Supreme Court found that in order for an employer to be liable for age discrimination, the employee has to prove that age was the actual cause of the adverse action. The Legal Center filed a brief in the case, lobbying the court to side with the employer.