CT Expert Insights

House Small Business Committee Chairman Rep. Steve Chabot explains how the recent tax legislation and federal efforts to roll back regulations are putting American businesses on a much stronger footing both at home and abroad.  Chabot also admits what could have been done better in the the tax bill and details what his committee is doing to beef up cybersecurity and what services the government of...

Jeannette McClennan, president and founder of the McClennan Group and author of "Innovators Anonymous: Seven Steps to Get Your Product Off the Ground," walks us through the keys to bringing a new concept to market while avoiding the grief, disorganization, and wasted money that is so often part of the process.  McClennan explains the value in studying your future competitors and understanding your...

Working on clients’ international deals can bring a host of unexpected challenges. Plan for success by anticipating the differences and building them into your deal timeline and workflow. Global Services Expert Bianca Erb discusses the importance of careful planning, respecting cultural differences, and working with an experienced team (on the ground) in multiple countries. A corporate service pro...

Jordan Furlong, principle at Law 21 and author of "Law Is A Buyer's Market: Building A Client-First Law Firm," explains the biggest challenges for law firms in 2018.  He says workloads are stagnating for law firms due to potential clients getting more and more routine work done through alternative legal services providers.  Furlong explains how law firms can win back that business, and it all star...

Lori Ann Fox, regional and government relations attorney for CT Corporation, joins us to discuss the most important factors in choosing a name for your business and the legal steps you must follow to secure and protect that name.  Fox explains the due diligence required to determine if a name is available and how to navigate naming issues when expanding to another state.

Tamara Kling, regional and government relations attorney at CT Corporation, explains the importance of establishing your formal business entity and how to determine whether becoming a corporation or a limited liability company is best for you and your business.  Kling also details how to formalize your entity, how to expand into other states, and to keep up with compliance requirements.

CT Corporation Senior Product Manager Jace Harker explains what organizational charts are and why they are so helpful to businesses.  Harker says the more complex a business gets with respect to subsidiaries and other developments within the organization, the more vital it is to have an up-to-date chart.  He also urges business leaders to take advantage of cutting edge tools to keep the charts acc...

During his last year in college, Tom Szaky began to question why garbage exists and why some products are recyclable and others aren’t. What he found was economics and the value of materials determined what could be reused. He founded TerraCycle in an effort to recycle the unrecyclable. He now operates in 21 countries and continues to grow without competition. By partnering with others to reuse ma...

Alexis Brachel, senior manager in business licenses at CT Corporation, walks us through the different licenses needed to open a restaurant and the lengthy process required to get those licenses before you open the doors.  Brachel also offers tips on the proper approach to licensing when opening new locations or undergoing a change in ownership.

Egg Marketing President Susan Guillory discusses the most effective way to attract new customers through social media engagement and providing articles or other content that demonstrate your expertise to prospective clients.

Alan Stachura, senior manager of government relations at CT Corporation, shares several reasons why it is advantageous for businesses large and small to set up shop in Delaware.  Stachura discusses the attractiveness of Delaware's business entity law, its unique and helpful court system, and the simplicity of compliance with state laws and regulations.  

Ian Bone, senior manager of strategy and innovation at CT Corporation, walks us through the most most important elements of successfully completing important deals, such as mergers, spinoffs, and financial agreements.  Ian explains how make your proposal attractive to potential partners, how strategic planning can make the dealmaking process go much more smoothly, and how to handle those last-minu...

Learn what SPVs and SPEs are, when to use them, and the benefits and risks associated with each.

Kindness Hall Founder Allen Hecht explains how kindness or "mindfulness" towards others can not only have an impact on society but on how employers interact with employees and how businesses treat customers.  Hecht also cites a tremendous amount of business research to confirm how simple but purposeful kindness can make a big difference in the successof a business.

Alexis Brachel, senior manager in business licenses, governance and risk compliance at CT Corporation, walks us through the steps of ensuring compliance is securing a construction business license.  She explains the compliance required when expanding a business, reorganizing at your existing site, and keeping up with changing rules.

Tungsten Branding President Phillip Davis offers his expertise on how to name your new business in a way that conveys a clear message and leaves people wanting to know more about it.  Noting that a business name should be a "conversation starter versus a conversation stopper," Davis walks us through his decision to name his own business and offers several tips on what to avoid when choosing a name...

National Association of Non-Profits President Blair Anderson tells us how starting a non-profit differs from launching a traditional business, the tax implications to keep in mind, and how to register your non-profit. Once your business is formed, Anderson explains how you’ll also need to consider your business plan, management structure, and roles and responsibilities.

Bill Moore, senior manager of transactional business consultants and law firm sales for CT Corporation, walks us through how to conduct due diligence before submitting a Uniform Commercial Code filing  Specifically, Moore explains how to find any outstanding liens that could complicate the deal and what business owners and lenders should do if they find some surprises

If you’re looking to expand your business beyond the U.S, Canada is an excellent choice, due to similarities in business regulations and ease of navigating the requirements necessary to set up shop north of the border. Traci Houck of CT Corporation talks about why companies should consider Canadian expansion and how to get started.

Small Business and Entrepreneur Council President and CEO Karen Kerrigan joins us to discuss how existing and aspiring small business owners should approach the regulations imposed on them by all levels of government.  Kerrigan explains how to factor the time and money needed for compliance and what resources will make your life easier.  She also details why she sees the federal regulatory environ...

Entity management is essential to the health of your business, whether you’re a small company or a large corporation overseeing multiple entities. CT’s Business Compliance Consultant Sharon Carroll explains some of the basics of entity management, the role it plays in an organization, and how to best manage compliance responsibilities. 

Jeff Williams, chief coach at Bizstarters, a company focusing on the explosive growth of baby boomers starting new businesses after age 50.  Williams explains why the number of new business owners who are 50 and older is soaring and why they tend to be more successful than their younger counterparts.  He also walks through some of the challenges unique to starting a business later in life and how...

When thinking about all you need to do to start your new business, researching the proper business entity might not be at the top of your list, but it should be.  Lori Ann Fox, government relations and regional attorney at CT Corporation, details why it is vital for new businesses to establish a formal entity.  Fox explains the different types of entities and how to choose the right fit for your b...

The good news is you can start an online business within hours.  The bad news is that anyone else can do it too, so how can you prepare for success?  Small Biz Lady Melinda Emerson explains why a good business plan is the best place to start and what priorities ought to be in that plan.  Emerson also points out where to find help for establishing your formal business entity and taking care of othe...

You've finalized a business merger, but how do you determine how successful it is?  CT Corporation Client Relationship Manager Mike Malkowski walks us through the process of evaluating the effectiveness of a new merger and explains how effective communication is one of the keys to a smooth transition.  He also explains how the right preparation before the merger makes the implementation less daunt...