Maryland Small Business

A nonprofit is an organization that does not distribute profit among individual people, such as owners or shareholders. Instead, the income of the organization is used to further the organization’s commitment to public service. There are many kinds of nonprofits - some are exempt from paying taxes, some are not.

This article provides an introduction to cooperatives, as well as an overview of the considerations involved in creating a cooperative. A cooperative is a business or nonprofit organization owned and operated by the people who either use or provide its services. Cooperatives exist in nearly every sector of the economy and employ millions of people each year.

This article explains what a Community Development Corporation (CDC) is and sets forth some of the steps to starting one in Maryland.

If you are a non-profit organization thinking about 501(c)(3) tax exempt status, but are concerned about the costs and paperwork, or if you are not yet in a position to apply, then a fiscal sponsorship may be an alternative option for your organization.

One or more people may form an LLC. This article will be most helpful to a single owner, also called a “member,” who wants to form an LLC.

When structuring a business it is important to choose the right entity for your needs because legal responsibilities and protections will differ based on the type of business entity chosen. This article focuses on how to form a stock corporation in Maryland.

501(c)(3) non-profit organizations that have secured tax-exempt status from the IRS often ask for donations from supporters. These organizations must file certain forms with the state of Maryland if they wish to ask people or other organizations to donate money.

Most businesses operating in Maryland must file a report by April 15 each year to maintain "good standing" with SDAT, the State Department of Assessment and Taxation. Without "good standing," a business may lose limited liability or other legal protections associated with being a corporation, limited liability company (LLC), limited partnership (LP), limited liability partnership (LLP), or certain types of trusts or farms.

Benefit corporations are formed to create a public benefit, in addition to creating profit for its shareholders. In Maryland, a company can be recognized by the state as a benefit corporation by stating in its corporate charter that it is a benefit corporation, getting certified as providing a public benefit, taking into consideration more than just profit, and submitting an annual benefit report to each stockholder.

This article explains what sales and use taxes are, who must pay them, and how to file them with the state.

This article describes how to create a nonprofit organization.

If a person invents a new product or process, that individual may consider applying for a patent.

Many charitable organizations rely heavily on volunteers to carry out their missions to offer much-needed services and resources to communities.  Federal and state law encourage people to volunteer by providing some protections from lawsuits, in case of accidents or negligence.

This article covers what a small family child care provider must include in a contract with parents under the Maryland regulations known as Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) Title 13A, Subtitle 15.

A tax-exempt organization that receives income from an activity that is unrelated to the organization’s exempt purpose may have to pay Unrelated Business Income Tax, or UBIT.

To garnish is to take property, most often a portion of someone's salary, by legal authority. Garnishment is a proceeding by a creditor to collect a debt by taking the property or assets of a debtor.