Posted: November 4th, 2011 | Author: admin | Filed under: Business, Health and Fitness | No Comments »
You may be obligated to find insurance for your employees under federal and state laws. Good job candidates also factor in employee benefits when deciding which job to accept, and you may need to find insurance to hire and retain them. It’s important to compare plans so that you can meet your legal requirements at the lowest price possible. Here are 5 ways to find insurance plans online and offline:
1 – Your Insurance Agent
You should begin your search with a call to your insurance agent, and for good reason. Insurance companies reward customers with multiple policies by awarding them with discounts. If you have business insurance with your insurance company, that’s even better. You should still call your agent if you only have personal insurance products, such as homeowner’s or renter’s insurance.
2 – Local Insurance Agents
If you don’t have an insurance agent that you’ve worked with in the past or are not happy with the discount offered, try other local insurance agents. Give them a call to discuss your need to find insurance for your employees. Those agents often have a network of agents who they work with in case they are unable to provide a specific product. You also may feel more comfortable meeting in person with an agent to discuss your needs in more detail, rather than with an online insurance broker.
3 – Online Insurance Brokers
One of the quickest ways to find insurance for your employees is to submit a request for a quote with an online insurance broker. You can get quotes for group and individual rates and easily compare benefits. The problem is that some online insurance brokers are not trustworthy and it can be difficult to determine who to submit your information to. You should always check the Better Business Bureau’s website at www.bbb.org before sharing personal information. It’s also important to use your discretion when it comes to the type of information you’ll submit to get a quote. For example, you may want to withhold your social security number, and submit your employer identification number instead.
4 – Chamber of Commerce
You should check with your local Chamber of Commerce to see what options are available to your for small business group health insurance. The Chamber may offer excellent group rates for employers who want to provide health, disability or life insurance to employees. You have to be a member to access those benefits, but the cheaper insurance rates may be worth it.
5 – National Association of Health Underwriters
You can find health insurance agents that are reputable and held accountable through the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU). You can also get help from NAHU with the enrollment process as well, with purchasing decisions. You can learn more at www.nahu.org.
It’s important to do your homework when you want to find insurance for your employees. Don’t just compare the premium price, but also the policy terms. Not all policies are made equal, and you don’t want to end up paying the same price for fewer benefits.
Posted: October 28th, 2011 | Author: admin | Filed under: Articles, Business | No Comments »
Learning how to get incorporated will help you to create a separate business entity and a shield for your personal assets. A corporation offers business owners several benefits, but the most popular one is the ability to protect against personal liability. If a client sues you for negligence as a result of the graphic or web design services you provide, then they are limited to the assets that your corporation owns. They cannot, in most cases, successfully sue you for your house and personal property because these are not owned by your corporation. Here’s what you need to know to get incorporated and to take advantage of the benefits of incorporating:
Do-It-Yourself
The least expensive way to get incorporated is to file your own paperwork. The thought of creating your own legal entity can be intimidating, but it’s easier than you think. The tough part is deciding whether to incorporate in the first place, and what type of corporation is best for your business. There are many legal resources on the web that have great information on the subject, including www.findlaw.com and www.nolo.com. You can also consult with a small business attorney, but still incorporate your own business. The steps to get incorporated are:
- Choose your state of incorporation
- Select directors for your board
- File “Articles of Incorporation” or “Articles of Organization” with the Corporations Division in the state or the Secretary of State’s office
- Pay the fees of incorporation
Once you take these steps, your business will be incorporated. These are only the first steps though, because you’ll need to work on getting licenses, writing bylaws for the corporation and the major legal agreements that you’ll need to operate your business.
Incorporation Services
A more convenient option is to get incorporated through a business filing or corporation service. These companies hire paralegals, legal assistants and other professionals to file the necessary paperwork for you. Some incorporation services are founded by and run by attorneys, which has some advantages. For example, you won’t have to figure out the appropriate paperwork that you need for your corporation type, because they will file what you need. You can also incorporate in another state a lot easier when you let them do it for you. The advantages of using these services include:
- Fill out an online form instead of paperwork that you’ll file with a state
- Get guidance on the proper paperwork to file
- Incorporate from the comfort of your home
- Have a registered agent for your corporation
You’ll have to pay for the convenience, but many incorporation services offer competitive prices. Consider all of the bonuses and perks that each service offers to help you make the best choice.
Small Business Attorney
The best way to get incorporated is to let a small business attorney do it for you. It’s also the most expensive option. Lawyers know that they are competing with incorporation services and many have seen the light and offered a lower fee to clients. What you should avoid is an attorney who wants to charge you by the hour to incorporate your business. Find one who will take care of your paperwork for a flat fee, so that you know what to expect. The primary benefit of using an attorney is the advice you’ll get along with getting incorporated.
It’s important to understand the legal obligations associated with launching and maintaining a corporation. You need to determine whether it’s a good idea to get incorporated, and then decide on the best method of incorporation based on your budget.
Posted: October 21st, 2011 | Author: admin | Filed under: Contests & Events | No Comments »
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