By Nellie Akalp
The final homestretch is a busy time of the year for the small business owner, with your time pulled between trying to meet end of year sales goals and closing out Q4 projects to holiday planning and parties. However, it’s also a critical time of year for wrapping up any legal loose ends associated with your business.
There are a couple of steps to take to make sure your business is legally fit for 2014. By doing so, you’ll be making sure your business gets the right start in the New Year, and you won’t end up paying extra in administrative fees and fines. Here’s what you need to consider before the calendar hits 2014:
1. Incorporate or change your business structure
If you’re like many small businesses you may have started as a sole proprietorship or partnership. But many businesses eventually outgrow these business structures. If your business is not incorporated, you may want to incorporate (either by forming an S Corp or LLC) to shelter your personal assets and perhaps give you more flexibility and cost savings when it comes to your taxes.
If you choose to incorporate, you can look into a “delayed filing” option with a document-filing company. This option lets you get all your paperwork submitted now, then it will be held and filed on the first business day of 2014. This approach will simplify your tax paperwork, since your business will have the same business structure for all of 2014.
2. Close any inactive businesses
If you’ve ever registered a business with the state and are no longer operating it, you need to file a formal termination with the state as soon as possible. Why? Until that paperwork is in, you’re still going to be charged for any fees associated with the business, you’ll need to file an annual report, as well as submit any tax returns.
To close a business, you need to file an “Articles of Dissolution” or “Certificate of Termination” document with the Secretary of State where your Inc. or LLC was formed. Keep in mind that you will need to settle any owed taxes before you can do this (but again, the sooner you take care of this, the better…when it comes to taxes, ignoring the problem won’t make it go away).
Make sure to take care of these matters while it’s still 2013. There’s no reason to keep paying for a business that’s basically been retired.
3. Hold an annual meeting for your Corporation or LLC
If you’ve gone through the work to incorporate your business, make sure you keep it in good standing. If you haven’t held an annual meeting for your Corp or LLC this year, be sure to get one in before the end of the year. Along with the meeting, you’ll need to generate written minutes/resolutions to be signed by the shareholders (Corporation) or members (LLC). If this will be your first meeting, you can find free meeting minutes online to use as a starting point.
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