Business Laws

Businesses are subject to a host of laws and regulations, governing everything from employment and intellectual property to taxes and insurance. The following resources provide overviews of business laws, state-specific guides to business laws and information from the Small Business Administration.

Essentials:

• Contract Law - Guide to writing an enforceable contract, a checklist of common contract terms, how to negotiate and more.
• Employment Law - Articles about hiring, wages, discrimination, job termination and related matters.
• Environmental Law - Overview of air pollution, hazardous waste, EPA regulations and other environmental law topics.
• Insurance and Liability - Explanation of why you need business insurance, how to avoid costly litigation and more.
• Intellectual Property Law - Resources to help you better understand copyright, patents and trademarks.
• Tax Law - Tax timeline for small businesses, how to prepare for an IRS audit and related business tax issues.

Tools & Resources:

• FindLaw Cases and Codes - Comprehensive resource for researching federal and state laws.
• Corporation Laws: State Guide - State-by-state guide to laws governing business entities.
• Licenses and Permits - Various resources covering business licenses and permits, including a state-by-state guide.
• SBA Office of Advocacy - Relays small business concerns to Congress, the White House, federal agencies, federal courts and state lawmakers.
• Small Business Laws and Regulations - List of federal laws and regulations affecting small businesses (SBA).