Do I Need a Certificate of Authority to Do Business in NYC?

Certificate of Authority. A close up of startup employees reviewing figures and paperwork with a tablet and laptop.

New York State’s Department of Taxation and Finance issues Certificates of Authority to businesses which authorize them to collect sales tax from customers. This also allows them to honor the tax-exempt status of non-profit agencies with whom they do business. You might be wondering when and if you need a Certificate of Authority for your startup or business to do business in New York City; especially if you are a foreign (whether U.S. or international) entity.

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Are DIY Legal Services Helpful or Harmful?

A miniature statue of lady justice holding scales in front of a stack of legal books. DIY legal.

Companies like LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer, Mama Bear, and ZenBusiness promise fast and inexpensive access to legal forms. They cut out the “middleman”—in this case, an attorney—to keep costs down. These DIY legal services allow people to do everything from filing for divorce to creating a will to incorporating a business. But do these companies do more harm than good?

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