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Thinking about starting a business? Learn how to form an LLC in New Jersey with this step-by-step guide from Peter J. Lamont, Esq. Understand the filing process, operating agreements, tax considerations, and when to hire a New Jersey business attorney to protect your company from day one.

Not every bad review is protected speech. Learn when a negative online review crosses the line into defamation under New Jersey law and what steps small business owners can take to fight back.

Verbal agreements are one of the most common sources of business disputes in New Jersey. Learn why handshake deals fail and what every small business owner should do instead.

When a customer refuses to pay your invoice, New Jersey law gives you options. Learn the legal steps to collect what you are owed, from demand letters to small claims court and beyond.

Employers and employees are now dealing with a fact pattern that would have sounded exotic a few years ago: a realistic, manipulated image o

Most business owners resist this practice. Some believe that imagining failure invites it, a form of magical thinking with no basis in how contracts, courts, or business relationships actually work. Others operate in a business culture that treats positive thinking as a virtue and any discussion of potential problems as negativity. Some simply find it uncomfortable to dwell on worst-case scenarios, preferring to focus on growth and opportunity. The resistance is understandabl

A small business owner cannot control the economy, interest rates, supply chain disruptions, competitor pricing, a customer’s decision to leave a negative review, the mood of a government inspector, the weather on the day of an outdoor event, or the fact that a trusted vendor suddenly goes out of business.

A policy printed only on the receipt is not enough. If a merchant limits refunds to exchanges or store credit, that limitation must be disclosed in a way the customer can see before paying.

Company parties are not a legal holiday. They are business events where New Jersey law still applies. Alcohol service, harassment claims, wage and hour questions, and injury exposure converge in a single evening. The risk does not come from celebration. It comes from a lack of planning and documentation.

Seasonal retail works when the legal groundwork is set before inventory and fixtures arrive. Pop-up shops and holiday markets create unique risks because control of the space is shared, timelines are tight, and customer volume is compressed. In New Jersey, the agreement between the venue and the vendor controls day-to-day rights and remedies.

I see this every December. Small business owners discover they're stuck with vendors they wanted to fire back in March. Or they get hit with surprise price increases they didn't authorize. Or they realize that "standard service" somehow morphed into something completely different from what they're actually paying for.

New Jersey bars expiration of the underlying funds during the first twenty four months and prohibits dormancy fees during that same period. If a dormancy fee is charged later, it cannot exceed two dollars per month.

Seasonal roles do not erase wage and hour duties. New Jersey’s Wage and Hour Law and the federal FLSA still govern pay, overtime, and recordkeeping. Classify workers as employees unless a true independent contractor relationship meets the New Jersey ABC test.

As fall approaches, many New Jersey retailers and small businesses experience an increase in customer traffic. The back-to-school season blends into early holiday shopping, and businesses that are unprepared can face serious liability risks.

While this is a routine practice, it is also a legal minefield if businesses fail to review and update their employment policies before hiring.

However, many business owners find themselves confused when selecting between claims-made vs. occurrence-based insurance policies.

In a landmark 3-2 vote on Thursday, the Federal Trade Commission moved to ban the use of non-compete clauses in employment contracts.

Time is the most precious resource for small business owners. Unlike money, time is finite and cannot be replenished.

Due diligence is an investigation or audit of a potential investment or product to confirm all facts, such as reviewing financial records

Explore the science of procrastination in this insightful article, offering strategies for overcoming it to boost productivity in 2024