National Association for the Self-Employed
The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) aims to provide informational support, benefits, and consolidated buying power to entrepreneurs and micro-businesses. It also represents the interests of the self-employed on key legislative issues.
Phone: 1-800-232-6273
Web: www.nase.org

Entrepreneur's Notebook
This book offers a practical guide to starting a business and begins with advice on coming up with new business ideas and finding the right business for you. It also stresses the importance of finding a good business attorney, creating a business plan, and looking for investors.
Stephen K. Gold. Learning Ventures Press. 232. Paperback. Cost: $15.95

Protecting the Brand: A Concise Guide to Promoting, Maintaing, and Protecting a Company's Most Valuable Asset
This short, practical guide to the rules of trademark law provides clear definitions of important terms, excellent examples of influential court decisions regarding uses and abuses of trademarks and useful tips on how a company can defend and keep a trademark.
Talcott J. Franklin . Barricade Books. 160 pages . Hardcover. Cost: $19.95

Start Your Own Business, 4th Edition
From the editors of Entrepreneur magazine, this book has takes you step by step through the startup journey and guides you through the first three years of business ownership with dozens of work sheets and checklists you can use to measure your progress along the way.
Rieva Lesonsky. Entrepreneur Press. 700. Paperback. Cost: $24.95

The Entrepreneur's Guide to Business Law
This guide looks at the many legal issues associated with entrepreneurship and small business ownership. It reviews such issues as selecting and working with an attorney, incorporation and business structure, raising money, human resources, intellectual property, e-commerce sales, and going public or selling your business.
Constance E. Bagley and Craig E. Dauchy. Thomson South-Western West. 730. Paperback. Cost: $47.95

The Small Business Bible
The Small Business Bible attempts to cover all aspects of operating a small business -- from developing a business plan and branding your business to bookkeeping, legal issues, and operating on a shoestring budget. It also offers a range of tips and checklists.
Steven D. Strauss. John Wiley & Sons. 436. Paperback. Cost: $19.95

DMA Law of Direct Marketing Seminar
Market rules and regulations are constantly changing, maketing it difficult to keep marketing practices within legal bounds. This one-day seminar from the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) simplifies the complex and confusing regulations and rulings. A valuable workbook packet is also included. Non-Member: $1,800, DMA Member: $1,500.
Producer: Direct Marketing Association
Venue: DMA Seminar Center - New York
Location: New York, NY, USA
Phone: 212.790.1500
Website: http://www.the-dma.org/seminars/law/

PMA Marketing Law Conference
This Promotion Marketing Association (PMA) conference provides an overview of the myriad laws and regulations that affect promotion marketing. The conference is a great opportunity to network with leaders of the industry, and should be attended by anyone interested in the legal implications of utilizing any promotion and integrated marketing devices.
Producer: Promotion Marketing Association Inc.
Venue: Chicago Marriott Downtown
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Phone: 212-420-1100
Website: http://www.pmalink.org/

Entrepreneur Magazine
Entrepreneur Magazine covers the whole range of issues that might be encountered by an entrepreneur or small business owner. A typical issue might include articles on networking, starting an e-business, financing your business, identifying insurance needs, hiring strategies, technology, and more. Its website also offers a variety of small business checklists to download.
Web: www.entrepreneur.com

Inc.
Inc. magazine bills itself as "the daily resource for entrepreneurs." It offers articles on marketing, financing, business growth, technology, business development, and frequent case studies of successful entrepreneurs. The Inc.com website also offers a variety of other downloadable resources.
Web: www.inc.com

A Fight or Flight Reaction
Frivolous litigation is a fear that strikes the heart of every business owner. Here's what you can do about it.

Are You Zoned to Work at Home?
Don't run afoul of local ordinances that could shut your business's doors.

Basic Privacy Issues in the Workplace
Generally speaking, privacy rights are granted (if at all) by specific laws, rules, or regulations. Some of those rights apply in the workplace and some don't.

BizFilings.com
BizFilings.com, a unit of publishing company Wolters Kluwer, is an online service committed to helping entrepreneurs and small businesses learn about incorporation and to file the necessary forms. It also offers a variety of articles on business incorporation issues and online support via Internet chat.

Business Startup Checklist
You've decided to start a business. This is both an exciting and demanding time. The checklist below is meant to help new business owners by providing a list of the most common startup steps. Depending on your particular industry, additional steps may be required for your business.

Control in a General Partnership
For many entrepreneurs, a partnership makes more sense than going solo. Yet with partners comes a slew of issues to consider, including how to overcome voting deadlock, whether votes should be based on financial contribution and what happens when somebody wants out. Read on to find out how a partnership agreement works and what you should make sure yours includes.

Deadly Legal Mistakes
When raising early-stage investment capital, avoid these errors that could lead to the death of your company.

Deductions and Your Small Business
Taxes are an inevitable - and painful - part of every business owner's life. But there are ways to reduce, if not eliminate, your company's tax burden if you know how to use business-expense tax deductions to your advantage.

Don't Fall Victim to Electronic Abuses
By developing an electronic communications policy, you could keep your business out of trouble.

Evaluating a Franchise's Fine Print
Be sure the business you're buying is a strong, profitable brand with an untroubled history.

Fighting Frivolous Litigation
Worried about potential lawsuits from customers, clients or employees? Here's what you can do about it.

Hidden Gems: The 100 .edu sites every Entrepreneur Should Read
Whether you're an ivy-leaguer or a high school dropout, chances are you still have quite a bit to learn from others. Why not learn from the people who do learning best? Check out these .edu blogs and other informative sites for strategies, theory, and concrete resources for building and growing your business.

Hire Your Spouse and Save
Employing a spouse, or a child, can be a great way to save on health benefits and taxes. Here's what you need to know.

House Rules
Don't assume your home-based business is exempt from taxes and labor laws -- even if you hire your teenager.

How do I become an LLC?
Lawyer and FSB editor Adriana Gardella helps unravel the legal issues that vex business owners.

How to Choose a Business Partner
Evaluate based on skills and personality, not emotional ties. Then define roles and formalize the agreement with the help of a lawyer.

How to Manage Independent Contractors
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently assessed Federal Express with $319 million in penalties for failing to pay taxes and benefits for drivers whom they called "contractors" but treated like employees. The practice is tempting: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the cost of hiring a contractor is as much as 30 percent lower than that of hiring an employee. But it's also illegal - and costly if you get audited.

How to Manage Independent Contractors
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the cost of hiring a contractor is as much as 30 percent lower than that of hiring an employee. But it's also illegal - and costly if you get audited.

IS IT TOO LITTLE TOO LATE TO HELP WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS?
It took the federal government almost seven years to finally submit a proposed rule that would help women-owned small businesses get a level playing field when it came to the federal contracting procurement process.

Lawyers.com
This site provides a range of news and articles related to legal issues and allows visitors to search for an attorney by location and legal specialty.

Misleading Marketing Copy
You may be tempted to use them, but avoid these phrases in your advertising and marketing materials.

MoreBusiness.com
The MoreBusiness.com website provides a variety of useful resources for entrepreneurs, including start-up advice, templates, checklists, business plans, and marketing plans.

Securing Insurance in Risky Industries
For self-employed people who work in fields perceived to be high-risk, we offer expert advice on worker's comp, disability, and health insurance.

Setting Up a One-Person Corporation
Sole directorships are legal in some states, but you don't have to incorporate just to be able to offer employees a stake in the company.

Sharing the Cost of Business
Labor laws vary from state to state when it comes to passing along certain business expenses to your employees. Be sure to know when and where it's legal to do so.

Starting Up? Avoid Classic Legal Missteps
You've dedicated your sweat and hard work, your industry knowledge, your savings and energy to your new business. Every last detail is taken care of and you are ready to throw open the doors to the marketplace. But wait. Have you thought through what kind of business entity you might want down the road? How is your business legally structured? What happens to you, your partners and your business in the event of a lawsuit?

StartupNation
The StartupNation website offers the practical information and resources -- including articles, blogs, podcasts, forums, seminars, and success stories -- that you might need to start your own business. It also includes checklists and a marketplace.

Stop Clients From Becoming Delinquent
Make them sign a contract, or insist they pay a retainer upfront.

Strategies: Some taxing questions
"Internet Tax Ban Extended." That was the good news for entrepreneurs this week, as Congress passed a seven-year moratorium on Internet taxes. After all, the Internet has been an amazing platform for the creation of small businesses - but anything, including taxes, that might limit the number of people with Web access could hinder small-business growth.

The Attorney Store
This site offers legal information and services and includes a directory of attorneys that can be searched by legal specialty and by geographic location. It also includes a legal dictionary and online legal forms.

The IPO Adventure, Part I
Preparing for an initial public offering is a massive undertaking. This overview, the first of a series, will help you understand the process.

The Law of Contracting Electronically
Is your agreement through e-mail legally binding? Find out what kind of online communication constitutes a legal contract.

The Perils of Partnership
Agree on your goals and your roles in writing before you start your business.

The Wisdom (or Not) of Non-Compete Contracts
Here are some things to consider before hiring your first salesperson.

Tips for Preventing Tax Audits
A tax audit is an experience every sane businessperson strives to avoid. Unfortunately, there's no way to guarantee that the IRS won't pay you an unwelcome visit; the government's exact formula for choosing who is audited remains a well-guarded secret.

Your 'Contractor' Might Be an Employee
The amount of control you have over your workers affects their legal definition.

Legal Matters
Depending upon the type of business you want to start, the U.S. has a relatively friendly legal environment. Unless your business involves food items, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, health care, wines and liquors, transportation, children, or any kind of regulated product or service, you will not face much in the way of government burdens.