Small businesses are important to Alabama’s economy, creating jobs, fostering innovation, and strengthening communities throughout the state. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses account for 99.4% of all businesses in Alabama and employ nearly half of the state’s private workforce, which equates to approximately 774,000 individuals.1 Whether you’re in the early stages of developing your business plan or seeking to expand your existing operation in Alabama, there are a number of free and low-cost programs to provide advice, resources, and ongoing support to help ..read more

A Louisiana Charter Number is a unique number assigned by the Louisiana Secretary of State to a business entity, such as a corporation, Limited Liability Company (LLC), or nonprofit.  This number is assigned after the successful filing of the business’s formation documents, such as the Articles of Incorporation for a corporation or the Articles of Organization for an LLC. This number will be used for various purposes, including: Identification: The charter number helps identify the business in the state’s records. Filing annual reports: Businesses are required to file annual reports with ..read more

One requirement of maintaining a corporation in South Carolina is filing an Annual Report. The Annual Report confirms and updates the company’s information each year with the South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR). Related: How to start a corporation in South Carolina Who Needs to File a South Carolina Annual Report? Domestic and foreign corporations are required to file an annual report every other year after the year the company was formed. Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) aren’t required to file an Annual Report. If you would rather use a service that guarantees the annual repo ..read more

Starting January 1, 2024, many U.S. companies will be required to report their beneficial owners’ information to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a U.S. Department of the Treasury bureau, under the federal Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). Beneficial owners are individuals who ultimately own or control the company. In this guide, we’ll provide you with the information to help you understand and comply with these new regulations. Who Needs to File the BOI Report? Companies required to report are called reporting companies. Your company may be a reporting company if it is: A c ..read more

According to a February 2024 report by CNBC, “Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the U.S. They make up less than 10% of the U.S. population, but they’ve emerged as the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs.” U.S. Census figures show African-American women have majority ownership in more than 1.5 million businesses with over $42 billion in sales. This ground-breaking entrepreneurial trend describes Cincinnati small businesswoman Shawnte Barker, owner of Stylish LeNese Boutique, located on the recently revitalized commercial thoroughfare of Whetsel Avenue in the hist ..read more

As a professional in the Healthcare/IT space in corporate management who holds a master’s degree in informatics, Jasmine Davis was advised by her doctor that the high stress of her commanding job was likely affecting her maternal fertility and that she may want to consider a career change if starting a family was in her future. Two weeks later, Jasmine made the decision to transition from the office to the kitchen to find her professional sweet spot. As a talented artist who also enjoyed baking, Ms. Davis decided to indulge her creative passions by developing Sweet Jazz Treats in her hometown ..read more

Photo credit: Maryellen Baker Photography It takes a lot to start a business, especially when it means leaving behind an established career in an entirely different field. Doubly so when your new venture has only ever been a hobby. But that shouldn’t stop anyone from trying, and it didn’t stop Daphne Subarz, the founder of Subarzsweets, LLC. After 26 years as an attorney, Subarz was inspired to open her own bakery by her daughter’s response to an elementary school project. Related Business Ideas Bakery Candy Store Cookies Cupcakes Dog Treats E-Commerce See the full library of business ideas ..read more

Decades of marketing experience combined with a solid business idea is a great start for any entrepreneur. But you’ve still got to get consumers to not only recognize your brand, but support it as well. Kim Turner, the owner of the fitness studio Fitness Snob said that’s been the unexpected challenge of launching an apparel line under the same name. “Our studio in Washington, D.C. has resonated deeply with our community. However, upon launching our sock line nationally under the same trademark, we realized that the name could be misinterpreted as being judgmental by those unfamiliar with our ..read more

Credit: Bloomers Intimates A commonly touted piece of advice for people starting their own business is not to mix family or friends with work. There’s always the exception that proves the rule, though. Such is the case with Shaula Yemini and Noa Arias, the mother-daughter pair that founded Bloomers Intimates in 2021. “It was a little difficult at the beginning because I had 300 employees and was the one telling people what to do. Over 30 years you accumulate a lot of experience, and I was sure I knew so much more than Noa in business, and she assumed that she knew much more than me in digital ..read more

“It’s easier to read a textbook than [it is] to know how to be creative,” Winston explained. “Creativity is a weapon that can be utilized when paired with traditional [analytical] thought processes. You’re in a [stronger] position than other people [without creativity] would be.” I arrived on time for my interview with the CEO of Danae 3D Industrial Printing, and within those few moments I was waiting to be let in, the young man who’d been parking his car joined me at the door and introduced himself: “Hello I’m Winston, chief executive, you must be Regi.” Mr. Frazer was warm and congenial, we ..read more