small business Archives - The Coppola Firm

HR Alert: NY Minimum Wage Increases Are Here to Stay

Written by Lisa Coppola on December 5, 2025. Posted in Business, Compliance, Employment, Entrepreneurship.

As we head into 2026, New York employers have another compliance task to keep on their radar. The State minimum wage has increased again, and businesses outside the five boroughs need to make sure they’re ready. The changes...

HR Alert: Responding to Harassment Complaints

Written by Lisa Coppola on November 12, 2025. Posted in Business, Compliance, Employment, Entrepreneurship.

A recent dispute between musicians that found its way to the intermediate federal appellate court that oversees New York, Connecticut, and Vermont – called the Second Circuit Court of Appeals – has highlighted how...

HR Alert: PAID is Back

Written by Lisa Coppola on August 4, 2025. Posted in Business, Compliance, Employment, Entrepreneurship.

On July 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released new guidelines under the Payroll Audit Independent Determination program (PAID). Allegedly, PAID is designed to help employers avoid costly litigation by self-reporting...

New York Credit Card Fees

Written by Lisa Coppola on July 15, 2025. Posted in Business, Compliance.

Credit card fees are a tough burden for both businesses and consumers. For New York small businesses, every dollar counts. Yet the fees for accepting credit cards can choke a business. In 2024, New York updated its restrictions...

What’s the Rule of Law – and Why Should You Care?

Written by Lisa Coppola on April 27, 2025. Posted in Business, Compliance, Employment, Entrepreneurship.

In the day-to-day chaos of running a business – managing employees, meeting payroll, juggling clients, delivery hiccups and other deadlines – it’s easy to take for granted the legal system that underpins everything...

Corporate Transparency Act – Off AGAIN.

Written by Lisa Coppola on December 27, 2024. Posted in Business, Compliance, Entrepreneurship.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed itself late yesterday and is holding the district court’s nationwide injunction in place for now. This means the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) – and its requirement...

Corporate Transparency Act – It’s Back in Business for Small Businesses

Written by Lisa Coppola on December 26, 2024. Posted in Business, Compliance, Entrepreneurship.

As happens with legislation that’s making its way through the court system, sometimes a law is enjoined, and then other times, the injunction is stayed or held in abeyance. As we wrote about mere weeks ago, the Corporate...

The MWBE Series – #6 Other Criteria

Written by Lisa Coppola on November 21, 2024. Posted in Business, Compliance, Entrepreneurship.

We’re back with our final post in our series on gaining or recertifying your MWBE status in New York State. We’ve talked about the ownership requirement, the operation requirement, the control requirements, and the independence...

The MWBE Series – #1 Certification

Written by Lisa Coppola on October 12, 2024. Posted in Business, Entrepreneurship.

Welcome to our MWBE series. Over the next few weeks, we’re going to be taking you through each step of the process to obtain New York State’s Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) certification. The certification...

HR Alert: Voting Leave for NY Employees

Written by Lisa Coppola on September 25, 2024. Posted in Business, Compliance, Employment, Entrepreneurship.

Election Day this year is November 5, 2024. With the date rapidly approaching, it’s time to ensure that you’re complying with New York’s law requiring employers to provide employees with paid time off to vote. What Kind of...

Stay Informed!

Tag: small business