eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.
Don't let business laws leave you confused. eHow's legal experts clarify everything from buying and selling businesses, to franchising and business planning. Learn the difference between partnerships, corporations and limited liability, as well as the laws guiding these topics. Interested in patenting a great idea? eHow's experts explain patent laws with step-by-step instructions on how to patent your great ideas. Are you a small business owner? Learn more about partnerships and sole proprietorships along with taxes, insurance and labor laws.
Showing 1-50 of 54 results
What Is the Corporate Opportunity Doctrine?
The Corporate Opportunity Doctrine dictates a fiduciary cannot take on a business opportunity that should be first reported to the corporation. Understand how the Corporate Opportunity Doctrine is...
What is Corporate Duty of Care?
Corporate duty of care states the board of directors must perform their functions and services, on behalf of business shareholders, in good faith. Learn the legal standard of the corporate duty of...
What are Corporate Mergers?
Corporate mergers happen when one business merges or combines with another corporation. Find out how corporate mergers are dictated by different state and federal statutes and learn how mergers...
How Do Corporations Make Acquisitions?
Corporations make acquisitions of other businesses by purchasing stocks and assets of another company. Find more information about corporate acquisitions by contacting the Securities and Exchange...
What Is a Short Form Merger?
A short form merger is when a parent corporation merges with a subsidiary business without a shareholder's approval. Contest short form mergers by employing the aid of an attorney who specializes...
What Is Insider Trading?
Insider trading is an activity where officers of a corporation influence the purchase and sale of business stock without making information available to the public. Seek legal services if aware of...
How do Shareholders Get Money?
Shareholders get money by a corporation earning profits, which increases stock value, or through dividends that are distributed to stockholders by a business when it earns profits. Learn the...
What Is a Closely Held Corporation?
A closely held corporation is a business or corporation where there is no ready market existing for the trading of shares. Find out more about how closely held corporations are treated differently...
What Is a Nonprofit Corporation?
Nonprofit corporations are businesses that don't allow ownership and do not have an appreciation of stock or dividend distribution. Discover the differences between a for profit corporation and...
What Is a Fiduciary Duty?
A fiduciary duty in business is a service relationship where an individual who owes a duty to a person empowering the trust, performs a service. Understand how a fiduciary relationship...
How to Pierce the Corporate Veil
Piercing the corporate veil in business is when a corporation performs an act through their officers or board of directors in good faith, so the company isn't doing the deed themselves. Find out...
What are Anti-Fraud Suits?
Anti-fraud suits in business regard health care costs and allegations, and shouldn't be filed without the services of an attorney. Learn more about anti-fraud lawsuits and how they are complex and...
What Is the Business Judgment Rule (BJR)?
The Business Judgment Rule reviews what boards of directors have done in specific conduct-related instances on behalf of a company to see if they are held responsible. Discover more about the...
What Is Indemnification?
Indemnification in business has to do with a corporation agreeing to provide legal council for directors for actions they engage in on behalf of the company. Learn how companies use...
What Is Corporate Duty of Loyalty?
Corporate duty of loyalty states that a board of directors must manage affairs of a business to the best of their ability and avoid conflicts of interest. Avoid buying stock in companies that have...
What is Agency Law?
Agency law in business deals with an agent, a principle, and the authorization of an agent or employee performing action with a third party that creates liability for the principle. Learn more...
How Does Agencies Within Scope of Employment Work?
An agencies within scope of employment works when an employee of a business does something on the job, like have a car accident, and the company is liable. Learn more about liability issues when...
How to Amend Articles of Incorporation
Amending a business's articles of incorporation involves checking a state's statute to determine what is required, but make sure the amendments comply with company bylaws. Change business articles...
What Is a Shareholder?
A shareholder is a person, company or other institution that owns at least one share in a business or corporation. Become a stockholder and earn dividends on company profits with advice from a...
How Do Shareholders Vote?
A business shareholder can vote at business meetings by attending them when they happen or by mail via proxy. Find out about financial information stockholders receive that contains information...
What Are Corporate By-Laws?
Corporate by-laws are used by businesses as a way to define how they are run and operated. Learn how corporate by-laws are different than articles of incorporation with insight from a lawyer in...
What Is a Corporate Officer?
In business, a corporate officer is typically the president, vice president, secretary and treasurer of a corporation. Become a corporate officer by getting elected to the board of directors with...
What Is a Corporate Board of Directors?
A corporate board of directors is a body of selected persons who jointly oversee the activities of a business. Elect a corporate board of directors, also known as a board of trustees or board of...
How Are Officers, Directors, & Shareholders Different?
In business, shareholders are the individual owners of a company and typically elect directors, who in turn appoint officers. Learn more about the corporate hierarchy and how each one affects each...
What are Corporation Issue Dividends?
Businesses sometimes issue dividends, which are part of a corporation's profits that are given to shareholders based on number of shares held. Earn dividends, but be aware they may be double...
How to Write a Partnership Form
Writing a partnership form determines who the partners are in a business and what they're responsibilities are going to be. Avoid future problems by seeking legal council when writing out a...
How to Write a Partnership Agreement
Writing a business partnership form requires considering state laws and should be done with the aid of an attorney. Find out more about partnership agreements and being a part of the Uniform...
How to Write Articles of Incorporation
Writing articles of incorporation for a business can be done with the secretary of state's office alone or with the help of an attorney. Be sure the articles of incorporation reflect the...
How to Register a Company Name
Registering a business or company name requires checking with state statutes and county ordinances for filing a fictitious name. File a fictitious name by putting an ad in a local newspaper or...
How to Set Up a Partnership
Setting up a business partnership involves contacting the local small business administration and asking about licenses and permits to be filed. Form a partnership, but file a federal tax...
How to Start a Corporation
Starting a corporation can be done with the assistance of an attorney or on one's own, but check with the secretary of state's office first for information. Download information about starting a...
Starting a Corporation
Start a corporation by first considering state laws regarding businesses and hiring an attorney for assistance. Generate business by starting a corporation with incorporation kits with advice from...
How to Start a Limited Liability Partnership
Starting a limited liability partnership (LLP) requires a business partnership agreement that determines the amount the limited partner invests. Learn more about how LLPs work by hiring an...
How to Incorporate a Small Business
When incorporating a small business, check with the secretary of state's office the company resides in and fill out all necessary paperwork. Incorporate a business online or with the aid of an...
Ways to Incorporate a Business
Ways to incorporate a business include filing paperwork with the secretary of state's office in the state the business resides. Learn about services that provide corporate kits when incorporating...
How to Make a Partnership Agreement
When making a partnership agreement, it may be best to hire the services of an attorney unless an agreement has been drafted that both parties are content with. Discover more about partnership...
How to File for Sole Proprietorship
Filing for a business sole proprietorship can require listing a fictitious name in the local newspaper, but rules can vary from state-to-state. Submit the appropriate licenses and permits for a...
How to File for Trademark Registration
Filing trademark registrations for business products is done with the Unites States Patent and Trademark office. Visit the U.S. Patent and Trademark office online, or enlist the aid of a lawyer...
How to Form a Board of Directors
Forming a board of directors is different from state-to-state and involves determining bylaws as to how many directors a corporation will have. Consider board director term limits, when meeting...
How to Form a Legal Partnership
When forming a legal business partnership, be sure to acquire an employer identification number and draft a written agreement that outlines the partnership. File necessary paperwork like a...
How to Form a Limited Partnership
Before forming a limited business partnership, hire an attorney that specializes in this particular field. Make sure business agreements reflect the vision of both business partners in a limited...
Forming a Partnership
Forming a business partnership involves filing a fictitious name statement, obtaining an employer identification number and creating a written agreement that outlines who the partners are. Contact...
Starting a Partnership
When starting a business partnership, be sure to research what that state requires for licenses and permits before moving forward. Begin a lasting business partnership by putting all legal pieces...
How to Form a Sole Proprietorship
Forming a sole business proprietorship requires checking with state and local county ordinances for license and permits. Learn how simple it is to form a sole proprietorship, which may only...
How to Incorporate a Business
Incorporating a business varies from state to state and involves checking with the secretary of state's office. Inquire about hiring an attorney if incorporating a business is too complicated with...
Forming an LLC
Forming a LLC, or limited liability company, requires contacting the Small Business Administration to find out what type of licenses and registrations are needed to be filed. File state articles...
How to Become a Corporate Lawyer
To become a corporate lawyer, one must obtain an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution and pass the law school admission test. Discover why clerkships are an important step in...
How to Create a Contract
Creating a contract should involve the assistance of an attorney and mapping out what each partner is intent on doing with the business. Draft out a contract, but make sure it is in writing with a...
How to Create a Sole Proprietorship
Creating a sole proprietorship involves filing a fictitious name and contacting the local small business administration for licenses and permits. Starting a sole proprietorship is simpler than...
How to Create an Operating Agreement
Creating a business operating agreement should involve legal consultation and determine the responsibilities and liabilities of each participant. Learn more about operating agreements and how they...