Legal and Taxes

http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com - legal issues in business, written understandably

http://www.secretary.state.nc.us/corporations/ - NC Secretary of State website; search existing corporations, download incorporation forms and view North Carolina legal guidelines for corporations. Their toll free number is 888-246-7636. Use the telephone number to get a form to reserve the name of your company with the Secretary of State’s office.

http://www.nccommerce.com/en/BusinessServices/ - The NC Department of Commerce has useful links for entrepreneurs such as for copyrights and patents. This web page also has useful information on types of legal structure for businesses. Their toll free number is 800-228-8443.

http://www.dor.state.nc.us/business/index.html - The NC Department of Revenue website has extensive information about sales tax law changes and state/county rate schedules. This is an important page to look at frequently because sales tax rates change frequently such as for “tax holidays” etc., You can download forms for Sales Tax Registration Numbers as well as coupons for filing your sales tax payments. In addition, this website contains instructions and forms for filing individual and business tax forms. Their toll free number is 877-252-3052.

http://www.ncbar.org/ncleap/ –NC Bar Association’s NC LEAP project (North Carolina Lawyers for Entrepreneurs Assistance Project) and their volunteer attorneys offer a full range of civil and transactional legal services to low-wealth entrepreneurs including legal counsel and advice. This link takes you to a download of their PDF file describing these services. Their toll free number is 800-662-7407.

http://www.irs.gov/ - Type in search for such issues as “independent contractors or employees and also see many helpful booklets on small business accounting and other issues.

http://www.uspto.gov/ - The best site for trademark information.