City Connect – Legal Lift for Small Businesses

Calling all local business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs! Join us for a FREE event designed to empower and help you navigate common legal concerns that all businesses face every day in Raleigh.

Meet Our Partners!

Smith Anderson

Smith Anderson is the largest business and litigation law firm headquartered in the Research Triangle. Smith Anderson is a combination of legal innovators with a culture and heritage that has been shaped for more than 100 years.

EisnerAmper

EisnerAmper services large enterprises, privately owned companies, governmental entities, and high-net-worth individuals that have complex short- and long-term financial and accounting needs. These clients rely on EisnerAmper for comprehensive audit, accounting, advisory, consulting and tax services, delivered with integrity, reliability, and expert insights.

City of Raleigh Small Business Development

The City of Raleigh Small Business Development team serves as an ally for small, minority, and women-owned businesses throughout our community. The Small Business Development team recognizes the challenges and rewards of starting or expanding a business, and is committed to offering a range of resources to meet the unique needs and promote equity in the business community.

***Legal Disclaimer***

Smith Anderson's involvement in this event and the information its professionals cover at the event will be provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The issues discussed at the event will be general in nature and do not reflect or address any specific individual situation. Involvement by Smith Anderson, its professionals, the City of Raleigh, and your attendance at the event, will not create any attorney-client relationship between you and Smith Anderson or any of its professionals. The City of Raleigh and its staff are not, in any way, engaged in the practice of law at this event.

Info: This session will provide a primer on the fundamentals of choosing the appropriate entity for your business and basic tax effects of each. In addition to learning about differences between corporations, limited liability companies, and other entities, you will also receive an introduction to key tax and compliance concepts and certain best practices to keep your business running smoothly.

Info: This session will provide some insight into the accounting dos and don’ts for small businesses.  We will cover topics such as accounting basics, accounting software, 1099 compliance, an overview of sales tax, how and when estimated payments play a part, and some of the tax consequences of choosing various entities.

Info: This session will cover employment law issues about which start ups and growing companies must be aware, with a particular focus on employee count thresholds for various employment laws and the implications of hitting those marks. We will also explore key employment documents you should consider using – even if you have not yet triggered the previously discussed employment laws. Finally, we will discuss key considerations for employment versus independent contractor arrangements, noncompetition and non-solicitation agreements, and wage and hour considerations that apply to all employers, regardless of size.

Info: Hear about City of Raleigh resources available to you and learn about other entrepreneurial support organizations.

Info: This session will offer a primer on intellectual property and data privacy considerations for businesses. We will cover a broad overview of the types of intellectual property and take a deeper dive into brand protection through prosecution and maintenance of trademark rights. Further, in an era where data breaches and privacy violations dominate headlines, the significance of robust data privacy and security practices cannot be overstated. We will not only explore an overview of relevant laws and real-world examples of data breaches but will also discuss best practices for data protection and how your business can foster an organizational culture that prioritizes privacy and security.

Info: This session will discuss common ways of funding your business from bootstrapping and bankrolling to loans, non-dilutive grants and outside investments and special considerations – particularly when trying to navigate federal and state securities regulations.  We also discuss common exit strategies and succession planning issues for small businesses. 

Host or Publisher City of Raleigh