September is National Service Dog Month! As we celebrate and commemorate these incredible animals and their teams this month, it is important to think beyond the fluffy-tailed cuteness to have a discussion regarding some of the everyday realities that service animal teams experience, and how this impacts your alcoholic beverage business. What Do Service Animals…
An unprecedented or unexpected event or set of circumstances can throw a wrench into our contracted relationships and expectations. COVID-19 is just such an event and his having just such an impact.
Recently we had a potential client contact us because the NC ABC threatened to shut down his alcohol establishment. Sounds sad, but we discovered a major compliance issue. The man, let’s say his name was George, was part owner of a nightclub in Downtown Raleigh. He received a letter from the ABC on Friday morning.…
*This information can be found here. Start the new year off right by filing your TTB reports! Below is a couple of reports to be aware of (and ones you probably should be filing if you received your Brewers Notice). Quarterly filing of operations report Fill out form TTB F 5130.26 Only file out that…
The majority of this information can be viewed here and here. In the trademark world lots of symbols are associated with a lot of different meanings. For example, the TM symbol (TM), the copyright symbol (©), the service mark symbol (SM)and the R symbol (®). What do these marks mean and are you using them…
*Please keep in mind that this is information is specific to North Carolina law. Contact an attorney in your state to find out specific information about this. *This information is provided by the NC Craft Brewers Guild. Read the original article here. The information for this blog is found on Brewer Advisory: Legislature Passes ABC…
*The information for this blog can be found at: https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/uspto-videos/trademarks/tm-newsflash-15-assignments-and-ownership-changes What happens when the ownership of your trademark changes? This is a common occurrence caused by a business changing its name, selling your business, or assigning your trademark rights to another individual and/or company. Three common types of ownership changes are (1) change in name,…
*This information is taken from the North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC). To read the entire packet, click here. *We also have a blog post on how to finance your business. Buying an Existing Business Always evaluate the business by reviewing its history and its operations. Learn the business’s marketing strategies, how…
*This information is taken from the North Carolina Rural Entrepreneurship Development System and the NC Department of Commerce Business ServiCenter. The packet is entitled “Fueling Your Business in North Carolina: A Guide to Financing for Small Businesses” and can be viewed here. How do you Plan on Financing your Business? Many people use the…
The information for this blog post can be viewed here. This information pertains to North Carolina. Important tips to practice: Know the difference between an employee and an independent contractor. Always have a written agreement for independent contractors that details his or her service. Keep records of your employees. Employee records should have the…
The information for this blog post can be viewed here. This information pertains to North Carolina. Some Dos & Don’ts of Businesses: Do NOT sell stock, membership interests, bonds, etc. without consulting an attorney. Stock, membership interests, bonds, etc. may be considered securities and regulated at the state and federal level. You do not want…
*The information for this blog post can be viewed here. Information viewed here also supports this blog. Once your label receives TTB approval, you can change certain items on your label without submitting a new COLA label. Any changes you make to your label must be in compliance with federal regulations. You CAN: Delete non-mandatory…
Part 7 *This information is taken from the Small Business Center Network (SBCN), part of the North Carolina Community College System, and full packet, entitled “How to Develop a Business Plan” can be viewed here. *This blog is Part 5 of a series on small business guidance. Stay tuned for more blogs. Check out Part 1, Part…
Part 6 *This information is taken from the Small Business Center Network (SBCN), part of the North Carolina Community College System, and the full packet, entitled “How to Develop a Business Plan” can be viewed here. *This blog is Part 5 of a series on small business guidance. Stay tuned for more blogs. Check out…
Part 4 *This information is taken from the Small Business Center Network (SBCN), part of the North Carolina Community College System, and full packet, entitled “How to Develop a Business Plan” can be viewed here. *This blog is Part 4 of a series on small business guidance. Stay tuned for more blogs. Check out Part…
Part 3 *This information is taken from the Small Business Center Network (SBCN), part of the North Carolina Community College System, and full packet, entitled “How to Develop a Business Plan” can be viewed here. *This blog is Part 3 of a series on small business guidance. Stay tuned for more blogs. Check out Part…
*Please keep in mind that this is information is specific to North Carolina law. Contact an attorney in your state to find out specific information about this. *This information is provided by the NC Craft Brewers Guild. Read the original article here. North Carolina now allows breweries and distilleries to be featured on highway road…
*The information for this blog can be found here. If your mark includes a name, portrait, or signature that is of a living individual and you want to register the mark at the USPTO, you must provide the USPTO certain information regarding that individual. The USPTO requires: A statement that the name, portrait, or…
How to Start: *the Internet hosts a plethora of valuable resources on starting a winery. Specifically, Cornell University has a detailed mock business plan guide that can be found here. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Science produced a basic outline of the pertinent steps to take if/when you want to open…
We receive SO many questions about specimens. When do I submit one? How do I submit one? What type of specimen? And even, what is a specimen? Have no fear! Let’s break it down. Taken from the USPTO website: a specimen is a sample of how you actually use the mark in commerce on your…