I was thinking back to the days when I owned an Internet company and encountered some women who decided they didn’t like me (we had never met). They set out to badmouth me to whoever would listen - including the press - as well as publishing false statements about me online. It was a very painful experience for me, especially since my entire business revolved around teaching and helping women and girls get online. I was floored that other women felt the need to put me down - as an author, as a businesswoman and even as a person - as a way of “competing.”

First, let’s define the difference between libel and slander. Read the rest of this entry »

Donna Maria Coles Johnson of Indie Business Media, LLC is the “Lifestyle CEO” who helps women manage home and business through the resources she creates including a radio show and the book The Lifestyle CEO: Break All the Rules, Build Your Own Corporate Ladder & Create the Life You Love. In addition to all of her other accomplishments, she is also a lawyer. Here is what she has to say about trademark issues around building a brand.

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My company Moonbow Productions, Inc. is an S-Corporation. What is yours?

I turned to Areva D. Martin, Esq, a managing partner and president of Martin & Martin, LLP to better understand the different ways a company can be formed.

Q: What are the main differences between a C and an S corporation that a new business owner should consider?

A: Most of the differences between a C corporation and an S corporation have to do with the tax consequences of revenue earned by the company. Before deciding on whether to form a C versus an S corporation, entrepreneurs should consult with a CPA and/or tax attorney. The main benefit of incorporating - limited liability for the owner - applies to both C and S corporations. There are limitations with respect to S corporations and generally S corporations are reserved for small privately owned businesses.

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