Shareholders in a corporation are required by the law to hold a general meeting at least every 15 months but is generally done every year. Usually called an AGM or “Annual General Meeting”, it is the time of the year when corporations’ key persons see each other to discuss important business matters or make critical decisions.

Below is the usual agenda of AGM:

• Presentation and approval of the previous AGM minutes
• Presentation and approval of the company’s financial statements
• Shareholders’ approval of actions that are decided by the board of directors
• Approval of dividend payments
• Exercise shareholders’ rights to elect new members of the board or vote for or against a particular issue of the company

Aside from the above-mentioned agenda, an AGM is also a way for shareholders to express their opinions with regards the growth or future status of the business. As an AGM is critical to the success of every business, working with a skilled business attorney who would help you facilitate and oversee your company’s AGM is worth considering. Find out how an Austin attorney at Adam Pugh may work for you today by calling (737) 261-0602.

As in other states, individuals who are considering starting their own business in Texas should know they will need to pay several taxes in order to legally operate. Determining business taxes is an important facet of creating a business because individuals must find out if their finances can settle the taxes required of them. Below are the taxes required to run a business in Texas:

• Federal taxes that are required by the IRS
• State taxes that are required by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts for the benefit of the state
• Local taxes or business inventory taxes required by the local County Appraisal District where the business is operating
• Unemployment taxes required by the Texas Workforce Commission

Figuring out taxes while running a business is often difficult due to the legal technicalities involved. However, if you are planning to start a business, working with an attorney will give you an edge in your chosen venture. Find out how the attorneys at Adam Pugh in Austin may be able to work for you today by calling (737) 261-0602.

When setting up a new business, individuals should know the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recognizes two kinds of business structures, which determine how the business will be taxed by the government. An “S Corporation” is one of the two types of business structures an entrepreneur may choose.

Business owners who decide to make their venture an “S Corporation” are not mandated by the IRS to settle corporate income taxes based on their profit. Usually, individuals who decide to run small businesses are the benefactors of S Corporations because they are taxed only once, but they also receive the legal advantages enjoyed by other types of businesses. Individuals should know they need to file Form 2553 with the IRS, requesting to become an S Corporation, and they will need to comply with the standards set to acquire the status.

If you are required to make a decision for your business, seeking the opinion of a skilled business attorney is critical to safeguarding your investments. Get in touch with an attorney at Adam Pugh in Austin today by calling (737) 261-0602 to find out how we may work on your behalf.

A type of venture people could form in Austin is an LLP or Limited Liability Partnership as it has more advantages compared to Limited Liability Company (LLC) type of business.

In an LLP, business owners have a possibility of reducing any risks related to their venture as this type of business allows them to have many partners that could share its liabilities. Many entrepreneurs consider this a big advantage because any kinds of business have varying levels of risks along the way. Another advantage of an LLP that is worth considering is it gives every partner the right to make a decision on how they are going to participate in the business. Business partners who have other ventures may benefit from this. Then lastly, LLP-type-businesses are not taxed by the IRS because every partner of the business is required to file taxes by themselves individually. While there are many benefits in considering an LLP type of business, it also has some disadvantages for other would-be entrepreneurs.

If you are considering starting your own business, seeking help from an attorney is a viable option for you to understand the pros and cons of business types and help you decide what better suits you. Find out how a lawyer at Adam Pugh in Austin may help you today by calling (737) 261-0602.

Retail is one of the most common business models embraced by aspiring entrepreneurs due to the variety of options available regarding how they could operate. Individuals who are entering retail as an entrepreneurial venture should consider the following factors to determine if retail is the type of business that suits them.

• The ability to lead: Starting entrepreneurs are expected to be the captain of their own ship and be accountable in all of their decisions.
• The ability to multitask and work by yourself: Starting entrepreneurs should know they have to complete multiple tasks simultaneously to learn the process by themselves and to lower overhead costs.
• The ability to quickly respond to situations: Retail business, like any kind of business, is unpredictable and business owners should be proactive in such situations.
• The ability to make sacrifices: Business owners should understand that there will be a point in their business career when they will experience unsteady cash flow.
• The ability to interact with all kinds of customers: Prospective retailers should understand that they will deal with different types of customers and they should be prepared to handle that.

Individuals may consider running a retailing business if they are comfortable with the above factors that are expected from a retailer. However, if you want to know more about how to start your own retailing business in Austin, an attorney at Adam Pugh can help you. Find out how we could help you enter the exciting world of business today by calling (737) 261-0602.

Oftentimes, businesses are unpredictable in nature. Contracts are created between two or more business parties so they have the security that their business will not be compromised if an unfortunate situation occurs. Because businesses have secured a contract, they are allowed to file a lawsuit when a “breach” occurs.

In a signed contract, all parties have agreed to fulfill all the listed details that are critical to the business. A person who signs a contract and fails to follow one or more of the agreed obligations is actually committing a breach and therefore compromising other parties who have also signed the contract. As disputes often take place in a breach of contract, affected parties may seek damage claims, ask for a resolution, and potentially seek the recovery of their losses after the breach. As businesses are financial in nature, affected parties are given payments to help them recover from their losses.

Unfortunately, breach of contract is a complicated legal topic that is critical to the success of any business venture. If you are considering starting your own business in Austin, an experienced lawyer at Adam Pugh may be able to work for you. Call our office today at (737) 261-0602 to find out how we may be able to work on your behalf.

Before embarking on a new business venture, it is important for entrepreneurs to structure their business according to the specific goals of the company. The business model that an entrepreneur chooses will define several key components of the company. There are four major business models to choose from based on the type of company being created.  

• A manufacturing business creates products that are sold to consumers.
• Distributing is the type of business that buys products from a manufacturer and sells them directly to either consumers or other companies
• A retailer sells products that are bought from distributors or manufacturers.
• A franchise can follow any of the previous three models, depending on the company adopted

These four basic business models are flexible and can be integrated with one another. Running a business, though exciting, can also be a daunting task. This is why the attorneys at Adam Pugh are trained to help with the logistics. Call (737) 261-0602 to discuss your situation today.

Due to the simplicity of the structure, many people opt to run a sole proprietorship when they go into business. However, for an individual to legally operate a business in Austin, he or she should consider the following things:

• Possibility of getting a business license
• Business registration required by the state or the municipality where the company will operate
• Financial capacity of the entrepreneur to run a business
• Possibility of transferring business ownership
• Duration of business existence

People who decide to run their own business should seriously deal with the aforementioned things because the type of business you choose to pursue could make or break the success of your chosen venture. Though individuals can browse the Internet to educate themselves on how to become a sole proprietor, seeking advice from skilled business attorneys is essential because they are knowledgeable about the legal aspects of setting up a business. Speak with the attorneys at Adam Pugh today by calling (737) 261-0602 to learn more about your options.

A recent report revealed that more workers were hired in Texas last month as a result of continuous economic improvement in the state, an article of Dallas Business Journal reported on August 19.

The increase in workforce hiring was attributed to the improved economic improvement felt in Texas in the second quarter, veteran economist Keith Phillips said. A report of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas revealed that there were approximately 21,700 workers hired in July compared to the 16,700 recorded hires in June. Phillips also said that many employers are getting more active in advertising jobs as they open up job opportunities. The workforce in Texas this year is estimated to reach 96,200.

Starting your own business can be exciting as the economy continue to improve. If you want to know how you can run your business smoothly in Texas, an attorney at Adam Pugh may be able to help you. Call our office today at (737) 261-0602 to find out how we may work on your behalf.

No matter how promising your business idea is, you will need to figure out where to find the funding to turn your idea into a reality and start making money from it. While there are individuals who have enough money saved or decide to use their assets to start a small business, many business owners do not consider this approach because it will risk their personal financial health. Below are some other ways individuals could receive funds for their business.

• Consider getting a commercial loan offered by a private financial institution. There are banks and credit card companies that offer financial assistance for small businesses.
• Individuals may fund their business by looking for partners who are willing to invest in their business in exchange for a business ownership share. This option is worth considering if you have a poor credit history and cannot obtain a loan.
• Individuals may seek the help of the Small Business Administration (SBA) or another federal or state agency that offers financial support to small business owners.

If you are looking for advice on how to finance your small business, discuss your situation with an attorney at Adam Pugh in Austin. Call our office today at (737) 261-0602 to find out how we may help you start your small business.