Starting and Operating a Business in Pennsylvania

Starting and Operating a Business in Pennsylvania is the most complete tax and legal guidebook in existence for Pennsylvania small businesses. The author, a retired attorney and CPA and a Harvard Law graduate, provides you with a detailed but easy to read explanation of the tax and legal "ground rules" you need to know to navigate successfully through the complex maze of federal and Pennsylvania tax and business laws and regulations. The roughly 500 pages (if printed) of each state edition in this e-book series offer far more than a dry description of the applicable business laws and taxes, however. The lively text is peppered throughout the book with key points to consider, including "Cautions," "Planning Points," "Important Points," and "Update Notes" that are highlighted to get your attention.FEDERAL LAWS AND TAXESFederal tax and legal coverage includes individual income, self-employment, estate, gift, and excise taxes, federal payroll taxes, withholding of various taxes; securities laws and regulations; the Americans with Disabilities Act; environmental laws; minimum wage/overtime and child labor laws; anti-discrimination and HealthCare Reform laws that apply to employers; immigration laws affecting hiring; OSHA job safety and health requirements; ERISA (employee benefits) compliance; the Family and Medical Leave Act rules; mail order sales and telemarketing regulations; Internet taxation and regulation; and much more. UPDATED FULLY FOR THE 2010 EXTENSION OF THE BUSH TAX CUTS.PENNSYLVANIA LAWS AND TAXESPennsylvania tax and legal coverage includes the Pennsylvania state income tax, state corporate income and/or franchise taxes, Pennsylvania sales and use, property, and unemployment taxes, withholding of employment taxes, and other state and local business taxes; state fair employment laws, which may differ from federal; the Pennsylvania minimum wage, overtime, and child labor laws; mandatory workers' compensation insurance and new hires reporting; wage payment requirements; when/if registration of fictitious business names (trade names) is required; and much more.OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND ADVICEIn addition to extensive, up-to-date coverage of federal and Pennsylvania business laws and taxes, you will also find this e-book to be a gold mine of other useful information and advice for running your business. Topics include an entire chapter on site selection for your business; guidance for obtaining financing and choosing accounting methods; do's and don'ts when buying an existing business, acquiring a franchise, or signing a lease; pros and cons of corporations, LLCs, and other business entities, as well as Pennsylvania filing fees and taxes for each type of entity. Other chapters deal with subjects such as how to protect your assets from creditors; whether to incorporate in a state other than Pennsylvania; international ISO-9000 standards and certification of your business; use of Universal Product Codes and RFID tags; electronic data interchange; how to classify workers as either employees or independent contractors; advice about joining a multilevel marketing program; exporting tips; cash flow management and fraud detection; and estate planning, to name a few covered topics.FREE STUFF!The e-book also contains a link to the author's web site, where purchasers of this publication can download (FREE!) the Small Business Advisor software program (Windows), which will create a customized version of this book on your PC, based on a series of questions it will ask you about your business. The software also creates a customized "Small Business Checklist" on your computer, listing various federal and Pennsylvania tax and business regulations that will apply to your particular business. In addition, it contains "consulting sessions" that use artificial intelligence to help you answer technical tax questions like whether you can deduct office-in-home expenses or elect S corporation status.