Business Matters (Georgia)

Home Georgia Business Matters

Business Matters

Advertising	Your Intellectual Property Rights
Starting & Running Your Own Business	Search For Firms By Name, Industry, Subject Or Location
Dealing With Other Businesses	Where To Find Help
Salesman & Solicitations & Franchises	Misc. Legal
Employee Illness & Separations (Quits, Discharges, Insurance Benefits)	Free Background Checks (Sleuth For The Truth)

Advertising

Deceptive Advertising In GA (What Not To Do!)

How To Advertise Without Getting Into Trouble (Nolo.com)

Deceptive Advertisements (Federal Trade Commission)
Rules & Regulations against such.

Stopping Other Companies From False Advertising
Find out where companies advertise and contact their advertisers to put a stop to their false claims. This site offers a free 7 day trial membership where you can find information such as types of advertising media used, advertising agencies employed by the company, approximate dollars spent in each type of advertising medium, a breakdown of the products handled by each agency employed by the company, and e-mail addresses for key personnel.

The Applicability of FTC Law to Internet Advertising

Information On US & International Companies
Find the company behind the brand name, where they're located, their financial info, their officers, subsidiaries, who they advertise with, what media they use, and more.

Thomas' Food Industry Register can tell a company's name, address and phone number, the products it produces and the government agencies that regulate both the products and the company itself.

Dealing With Other Businesses
Can The Business Be Trusted?
Complaints
Money Matters
Scams
Forms

Complaints

Where To Complain Or Go For Help

Complaints The BBB Will and Will Not Handle

U.S. Tax Court (1986-Present)
Persons involved in litigation with the IRS may be found here. If a case is found, the actual court file may contain tax returns or other important financial information.

Find The Company Behind Textile, Fur & Wool Products (RN Lookup)
A registered identification number or RN is a number issued by the Federal Trade Commission, upon request, to a business residing in the U.S. that is engaged in the manufacture, importing, distribution, or sale of textile, wool, or fur products. Such businesses are not required to have RNs. They may, however, use the RN in place of a name on the label or tag that is required to be affixed to these products.

Where Else To Find Help (Consumer-SOS)

Money Matters

Demand Letter For Payment Of Debt
Generic fill in the blank form for demanding payment on an outstanding debt.

Bad Checks-How To Prosecute In Georgia

Obtaining Corporate Records In GA

Collecting A Debt-Legal Ways To Locate Someone's Bank Account If They're Hiding Money From You

How to Find Assets: 13 Public Record Sources to Find Assets
A checklist of free public records to find out what they own. Once you know what to look for, go to People Search property links to find it!

Business Forms (Consumer-SOS)
State specific and general business forms for all occasions.

Scams

Scam Proofing Your Business (BBB)

Scams Against Businesses (The Most Common)

See Also Scams & Cons

Forms

Free Business Forms A-Z

Business Sample Form Letters on 40 subjects

Business & Legal Forms (Not State Specific)
Business, Family, Financial, Legal, Life Planning, Real Estate and more. Free and downloadable in Word or as a PDF.

General Forms For All Occasions (The 'Lectric Law Library)
Scroll down their forms page for forms on general business matters, living wills, power of attorney, promissory notes, employment and contracting.

Small Business Tax Information & Forms (National)

General & State Specific Forms (Consumer-SOS/Lawyers)

See Money Matters

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Checking If They're Legitimate Or Trustworthy

Background A Business & Its Owners (Consumer-SOS)
Learn if a business or its owners can be trusted.

*Finding Out If A Business is Legitimate & Trustworthy

*Check List Of Things To Watch Out For

*Checking Up On Firms That Do Business In Metro Atlanta

*Firms Not Doing Business In Atlanta

*Obtaining Corporate Records In GA

Find Out Where A Business Is Incorporated (All 50 States)
Want to sue a business or just see if it's legit? Then you'll need to know it's registered agent and where it's incorporated.
Every Inc., Corp. or CO. must have a state of incorporation. To find such, first check the Secretary of State where you know the company is doing business. Next try The Secretary of State in Delaware, which is a very popular place to incorporate. Beware of any "Inc.", "Corp." or "Co." that has not incorporated. Chances are they're frauds.

Obtaining Corporate Records (On Specific Companies)
Comb through Securities & Exchange Commission fillings, trademark applications, and pending patents. Register here and the free site will stakeout up to ten companies of your choice and send you the information via email.

Finding The Company's Headquarters (Large List Of Addresses & Links)

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Salesman & Solicitations
Dealing With Salesmen/Spotting The Legitimate Offer
Things To Watch Out For When Signing Sales Agreements
Determining The Legitimate Business Opportunity (Includes Franchises)

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Starting & Running Your Own Business
Where To Begin
Loans & Business Development Centers
Corporations, Partnerships & LLCs
Your Business Name/Protecting Your Intellectual Property Rights
Salesman & Solicitations & Franchises
Other Legal Matters

Articles & Brochures From The U.S. Small Business Administration

Starting Up Your Business (SBA)
Has good general explanations of all you need to know plus helpful links to state & federal agencies as well as SBA programs.

Checklist For Going Into Business (SBA)

Starting Your Business-Most Frequently asked Questions (SBA)

Selecting The Legal Structure Of Your Business (SBA)

Online Brochures on over 100 Business Issues (SBA)

Where To Begin

Starting A New Business In GA (FAQs & Links to Helpful Agencies)

Georgia Employment Law Handbook from The GA Department of Labor
Employer laws and best practices when starting a business. Emphasis on federal law and Georgia unemployment benefits. Explains how employers are charged, who qualifies for benefits and common mistakes employers make. Federal law includes overtime and minimum wage laws, health & safety laws, time off, discrimination laws, illegal screening restrictions, drug testing, lie detectors, vacation pay, garnishments and required FLSA record keeping.

First Stop Business Information Center (GA)

Forming and Running a Nonprofit Organization (GA)
Several online brochures with Georgia specific resources.

Counseling & Training Resources (GA)

GA Small Business Resource Guide (Loans & Business Assistance Centers)
(211k doc. that takes about a minute to download).

The Georgia Center For Nonprofits (404) 688-4845
Stop in for free forms and advice on starting a nonprofit.

SCORE-Service Corps Of Retired Executives (All 50 States & DC)
Ex CEOs give free or low cost advice on how to start and run your business.

Business Forms (Consumer-SOS)
State specific and general business forms for all occasions.

Articles & Brochures From The U.S. Small Business Administration
Everything you need to know about starting and running a business.

Search Engine For Starting And Running A Business
Articles and Tips on What You Need To Know.

Steps to Starting Your Own Business (BBB)

Selecting The Legal Structure Of Your Business (SBA)

Internet Non-Profit Center
Frequently Asked Questions & Answers on Non-Profits.

Writing A Business Plan (Google Search)

Starting A Business, Business Plans & Marketing
Click here for samples from A to Z.

Fact Sheet on Record Keeping Requirements Under the FLSA
Under the the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers must keep detailed records on the wages they pay, the ages of their workers and the hours they work.

Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Businesses
This is an interactive system designed to help employers and employees understand and comply with numerous employment laws enforced by The Department Of Labor. Each elaws Advisor gives advice and provides information on a specific law or regulation based on the user's particular situation.

Handy Reference Guide to the Fair Labor Standards Act
Includes Employer guidelines for record keeping.

Find Your Secretary Of State (All 50 States)
Your Secretary Of State often has information on corporations, stated trademarks and licensing boards.

Why It's Good To Moonlight (Article)
(Don't quit your day job when starting a business.)

For More Resources & Great Tips, Check Out Nolo.com

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Loans & Business Development Centers

Loans & Start Up Assistance (GA & National Links/Phone#s)

GA Small Business Resource Guide (Loans & Business Assistance Centers) (211k doc. that takes about a minute to download)

Business Development Centers (GA)

The Facts About SBA Business Development Centers

Micro-Enterprise FAQs

Micro-Enterprise Dev Programs (50 States & DC)

SBA Borrower's Guide (The Ins & Outs Of Small Business Loans by The SBA)

Micro-loans ( Small Loans From Lenders in All 50 States & DC)

Articles & Brochures From The U.S. Small Business Administration
Everything you need to know about starting and running a business.

Find The SBA Office Nearest You (All 50 States & DC)

For More Resources & Great Tips, Check Out Nolo.com

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Employee Illness & Separations (Quits, Discharges, Insurance Benefits)

The Family Medical Leave Act (US Dept of Labor Wage & Hour Division)
Generally, employees don't qualify unless the employer has at least 50 employees within a 75 mile radius of where they work, and the employee has worked at least 1250 hours. But some states will apply the law to employers with under 50 employees.

Severance Agreements (Samples from Yahoo)
For state law, add your state to the search box.

10 Things Companies Want in Their Severance Agreements
Don't forget a mutual anti disparagement clause such as "The parties agree that henceforth they shall cease and refrain from making any disparaging or defamatory remarks or comments regarding one another, expressly or by implication, including but not limited to any parties' personal or business dealings and reputations."

Employer-SOS! How To Prepare For Your Unemployment Insurance Appeals Hearing With The Georgia Department of Labor
(Graham Firestone, Former GA Dept. of Labor Hearing Officer)

Unemployment Insurance (Consumer-SOS)
Pro-claimant but explains a lot.

See Also Insurance & Benefits (Consumer-SOS)

Your Business Name/Protecting Your Intellectual Property

Trademarks	Copyrights
Trade Secrets	Georgia Non-Compete Agreements
Patents	Other

Corporations, Partnerships & LLCs

Secretary of State-GA Corporations Division
For information on Incorporations, filings, forms, state trademarks, etc.

Schedule Of Costs For Formation (GA)

Changing The Name Of Your Georgia Corporation
Where to publish, what to file and the fees involved.

Business Forms (Consumer-SOS)
State specific and general business forms for all occasions.

Selecting The Legal Structure Of Your Business (Excellent!)

Online Incorporations (All 50 States)

Incorporation & LLC Fees (Lists All 50 States)

Which State Should I Incorporate In?

Articles & Brochures From The U.S. Small Business Administration
Everything you need to know about starting and running a business.

Find Your Secretary Of State (All 50 States)
Your Secretary Of State often has information on corporations, stated trademarks and licensing boards.

For More Resources & Great Tips, Check Out Nolo.com

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Where To Go For Help

GA Free Legal Help for Non Profits or Small Businesses Hurt By Covid 19
(If Small Business, must have less than 25 Employees)

Receive free legal advice during a 45-minute remote consultation with a volunteer attorney, helping small business owners and nonprofits navigate the CARES Act, or questions related to employment, commercial leases, contract enforcement, insolvency/bankruptcy and insurance.

Consumer Protection Agencies (GA)

Occupational & Professional Licensing Boards (GA)

GA Better Business Bureaus

Complaints The BBB Will and Will Not Handle

Secretary of State-GA Corporations Division
For information on Incorporations, filings, forms, trademarks, etc.

Links For General Business Issues (GA)

Better Business Bureaus (Links Throughout The U.S.)

Business Forms (Consumer-SOS)
State specific and general business forms for all occasions.

Find The AARP In Your State
The AARP offers legal advocacy for seniors and may also have state specific consumer brochures which are available to everyone.

Find A Chamber Of Commerce (World Wide)

National Help Orgs For A Variety Of Consumer Problems
Businesses, The Elderly, Environment, Families, Fraud, Health & Safety, Insurance The Handicapped, Medical Problems, Telemarketing and more.

Misc. Legal

Business Forms (Consumer-SOS)
State specific and general business forms for all occasions.

GA Free Legal Help for Non Profits or Small Businesses Hurt By Covid 19
(If Small Business, must have less than 25 Employees)

Bad Checks-How To Prosecute In Georgia

Other Legal Matters (Consumer-SOS)

Georgia Statutes

Georgia Case Law (1950-2002)
Enter case name in search box at top or To find your case, by year, just click on the appropriate year. Then find your case by holding down the the control button and pressing the letter "F" on your keyboard. Each case name is a link that will pull up the entire case.

Georgia Attorney General Opinions

United States Code

Code of Federal Regulations (CFRs)

Find Your City's Municipal Codes (All 50 states & DC)

Access State and Federal Cases & Statutes (GA State Bar)
GA attorneys get free access to law in 25 states by entering their GA Bar # and password.

Search Past Questions and Attorney Answers (All 50 States & DC) Attorneys give state specific answers to questions relating to family law, divorce, adoption, child custody, insurance law, product liability, landlord/tenant, real-estate/real property, traffic law, probate-wills, trusts-estates, workers comp, tax law and more.

Criminal Offenses and Your Rights In GA
See left hand index for information about drug possession, DUI license suspensions, , battery & fighting, arrests, traffic violations theft, and more.

Georgia Time Limits In Which To Sue
For contracts, injuries, malpractice, disaster, wrongful death & more.

Free Background Checks

Do Your Own Free Background Checks (Sleuth For The Truth)
Free Youtube videos on do it yourself background checks. Find out about their bankruptcies, felonies, misdemeanors, mugshots, arrests, convictions, and more. Verify if someone is telling the truth about their age, their past and their property. Also learn the things you never thought to ask but really need to know. Good for small business owners, investors, landlords, singles on the dating scene, single moms and parents.