In these tough economic times, many small businesses are facing decisions about severely limiting health insurance coverage, or dropping coverage all together. Recognizing that small businesses are the backbone of NH’s economy, and therefore a critical link in our health care system, NH enacted HealthFirst, an affordable, wellness-based health insurance plan for small employers. “We…
How NH’s Same-Sex Marriage Law Will Affect Your Business
NH recently became the 6th state in the U.S. (5th in New England) to enact a same-sex marriage law. Although NH has had civil unions since 2007, the amended law does away with the civil union concept and defines marriage as “the legally recognized union of 2 people… regardless of gender.” Civil unions will be…
NH Small Claims Jurisdiction Increased to $7,500; A quick, low cost alternative to collect business debts.
New Hampshire HB-281 increases the maximum amount of damages that may be claimed in Small Claims Court to $7,500. Originally established as a simple, speedy and informal process for lay people to resolve small disputes, the Small Claims procedure can be a useful tool for businesses to efficiently collect smaller business debts. Businesses often have…
Business and Commercial Dispute Docket Established in NH Superior Court
New Hampshire has now followed other states in the creation of its first ever specialized “Business Court.” Enacted in 2008, SB-378 creates a separate Business and Commercial Dispute Docket within the Superior Court. The aim of the new Business Docket is to alleviate overcrowded court systems by providing more efficient and specialized procedures for complex…
New Laws Affecting NH Business Owners
UPDATE – On Tuesday, November 3rd, I will be giving a condensed version of my presentation about recent legislation affecting NH businesses. So if you missed the original presentation, you have one more chance to learn how these new laws may affect your business. Here are the details: Program: Upcoming Legislation Affecting NH Businesses Date:…
Trademark, Trade Name; What’s the Difference?
The most valuable asset of many companies is its brand. Would Coca-Cola sell as well if they suddenly started calling it sugary-caramel-colored-tonic-beverage? Probably not. The legal term for a product brand is its trademark. The terms trademark and trade name are often used interchangeably, but they are actually quite different in their legal meaning. A…
What's in a Name? What it Really Means to be an Independent Contractor.
Many business owners insist on referring to their workers as “independent contractors” as if the name alone will somehow magically save them from having to pay employment taxes, workers compensation premiums and other costs associated with having employees. The true test, however, is in the actions and not in the words. To determine whether a…
Need Venture Capital? Try Speed Dating.
On Tuesday, October 28th, the NH High Technology Council and the NH Small Business Development Center will host the second annual “Speed Venture Summit” in Nashua, NH. The Speed Venture Summit is a speed-dating-style event for fast-growth businesses and investors in New England. It is an opportunity for small businesses and entrepreneurs to showcase their…
