22 May

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The Mistake of a Business Owner Who Does Not Consult an Attorney

Impulsivity, urgency, or trusting without making sure you are protected can result in a mistake for a business owner. Like most things in life, some mistakes are small and have minimal consequences while other mistakes are catastrophic and have civil and/or criminal consequences. Hypothetical #1: Gwen and Blake have been friends for decades. Blake is a blacksmith who has his own business, Blacksmith for Life. Times are difficult for blacksmiths, so he asks his friend Gwen to join the business because two owners have to be better than one, he thinks. Gwen wants to help out her friend, and readily, without...

24 April

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Misclassification in Construction

Posted by Evon Spangler

in Uncategorized

Regardless of the industry, it is illegal for employers to misclassify workers as independent contractors when they are actually employees. It is also illegal for employers to ask a worker to complete documents that misclassify them and to ask workers who are employees to register as a construction contractor. Minnesota changed its worker classification test for construction effective March 1, 2025. This new 14-factor test is for commercial or residential construction or improvement services provided or performed on or after March 1, 2025 (prior to March 1, 2025, a nine-factor test is the law). The now 14 legal requirements are: “(1) was...

27 February

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Beneficial Ownership Registration Currently Due March 21, 2025

Posted by Evon Spangler

in Uncategorized

After ups and downs in the court system, beneficial ownership registration with the federal government is again required. After being paused again by the courts, the new reporting deadline is March 21, 2025. Most businesses are required to file their beneficial ownership with the federal government. This requirement is for businesses that were formed prior to 2025 (regardless of the year in which they were established) and those that were already formed in 2025. If you form a business in the future, you are subject to this reporting requirement. Beneficial owners are those individuals who ultimately own or control the...

06 February

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Domestic Violence Survivors Rights as Employees

Posted by Evon Spangler

in Uncategorized

Domestic violence does not discriminate. It impacts every race, religion, socioeconomic class, age, disability, occupation, gender, sexual orientation, family type, rural communities, urban communities, and education level. Its economic impact just in the United States is more than $8 billion dollars per year. Employees who are victims-survivors of domestic violence have rights under Minnesota and federal law. This article focuses on the rights under Minnesota law. Minnesota’s paid sick and safe time (ESST) covers employees who are victims-survivors of domestic violence. One of the six categories that employees can use ESST for is absences due to domestic abuse, sexual assault or...

20 December

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Minnesota Secure Choice Retirement Program

Posted by Evon Spangler

in Uncategorized

Starting January 1, 2025, private employers, including non-profits, with five or more employees that has been engaged in business in Minnesota for at least a year and who do not currently offer a retirement plan will be required to allow employees (18 years of age and older) to participate in Minnesota’s Secure Choice Retirement Program (“Retirement Program”). The option for employees is to participate in either a pre-tax IRA or after-tax Roth IRA. However, employees can opt out of participation. With an opt-out provision, it is important that the employer has documentation in writing from the employee that the employee...

27 November

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Estate Planning Pitfalls

Posted by Evon Spangler

in Uncategorized

An estate plan generally consists of a will and/or trust, a health care directive and a power of attorney. In estate planning, you want to make certain that you are planning for how your assets are managed and your bills are paid during your lifetime, and also planning for the possibility of incapacity or incompetency. As part of putting together an estate plan, it is important that your estate planning goals are not contradicted by other documents that you have completed. Hypothetical #1: Your goal is to have all of your assets being transferred to your children upon your death. Your...

13 November

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Employment Laws

Posted by Evon Spangler

in Uncategorized

Are you aware that certain employers in Minnesota starting on January 1, 2025, will be required to state, amongst other requirements, salary ranges or fixed hourly rates in job postings? Are you aware that certain employers in Minnesota starting on January 1, 2025, will be required to state a general description of all benefits and other compensation and salary ranges or fixed hourly rates in job postings? Are you aware that the legislature in 2024 made changes to Minnesota’s Earned Sick and Safe Leave? Are you aware that the legislature in 2024 made changes to Minnesota’s Earned Sick and Safe Leave including allowing...

24 October

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Federal and State Business Registration

Posted by Evon Spangler

in Uncategorized

Time is running out on registering your business beneficial ownership information with the federal government. Beneficial owners are those individuals who ultimately own or control the business entity. Currently, you must register this information on or before January 1, 2025 for businesses that were in existence prior to January 1, 2024. For businesses formed in 2024, the business entity has 90 days from the date of registration with the Secretary of State (SOS) office (or a similar office under the law of the State or tribal nation) to report beneficial ownership information. The website to report this information is www.fincen.gov/boi. In...

26 September

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The Mistake of a Business Owner Regarding Failing to Plan

Posted by Evon Spangler

in Uncategorized

Life can change in a split second. An unexpected heart attack. A serious car accident. A fire. A natural disaster. Cognitive impairment. Those are all examples that happen every day. We like to believe it isn’t a reality for any of us. Until it is. With the every day issues that come up in a business owner’s life, where sometimes we feel overwhelmed, it is difficult to make planning for natural disasters, “acts of God,” incapacity or incompetency, or death a priority. It is important to make it a priority. Doing so, will give you, your family and your employees...

11 September

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Piercing the Corporate Veil – Business Owner Tips

Posted by Evon Spangler

in Uncategorized

Are you aware that under certain circumstances, a court can pierce your corporate veil, which means that your personal assets are subject to being used to pay your business debt? Are you aware that there are several factors that a court looks at in determining whether or not your corporate veil will be pierced? Are you aware that failure to observe corporate formalities, nonfunctioning officers and directors and absence of corporate records are some of the factors the court looks at in determining whether or not your corporate veil will be pierced? Are you aware that insufficient capitalization, nonpayment of dividends, and siphoning...