#compliance
Compliance
Navigate regulatory compliance and maintain audit-ready financial records
Women-Owned Small Business Certification, Explained: The 51% Test, Annual Attestation, and Set-Asides Worth Billions
WOSB certification requires unconditional, direct 51% ownership and genuine control by women who are U.S. citizens, and must now come from SBA or an approved third-party certifier — it unlocks set-aside competition in 733 industries and sole-source awards up to $6.5 million.
401(k) Alternative Investments Are Coming: What the DOL Safe Harbor and Trump Executive Order Mean for Your Plan
Executive Order Aug 7 2025 and DOL March 30 2026 safe harbor would let 401(k) plans add private equity, crypto and real assets — risks, fees, and fiduciary checklist.
The Rule That Can Make Companies Look Riskier Overnight: What a Fix Would Mean for Your Financial Ratios
A pending accounting fix could stop companies from looking riskier overnight when short-term obligations roll — how to prepare ratios and disclosures.
Could Your AI Content Land Your Business in Court? Copyright, Hallucinations, and Disclosure Traps
AI content risks in 2026: copyright suits against AI trainers, hallucinated citations sanctioned by courts, and securities claims for overpromising AI.
The Silent Guest in Every Client Call: The Legal and Privacy Risks Small Businesses Must Weigh Before Turning On an AI Notetaker
AI notetakers can violate two-party consent laws, waive privilege, and create discoverable records. Learn the consent, notice, and data-handling controls small businesses need before the next meeting.
Auto-IRA Mandates Just Expanded to Utah, Mississippi, and Philadelphia: A 2026 State-by-State Guide for Small Employers Without a 401(k)
Utah, Mississippi, and Philadelphia joined the auto-IRA wave in 2026 — Philadelphia as the first city. Learn which employers must auto-enroll, the 2026 deadlines, and how a 401(k) exempts you.
Building Business Credit in 2026: How Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, and Equifax Scores Actually Work, and What the SBA's SBSS Sunset Means for Your Next Loan
Business credit is not one score but three bureaus plus FICO SBSS. Learn how PAYDEX, Intelliscore Plus, and Equifax Risk scores work, why the SBA sunset the mandatory SBSS for 7(a) small loans on March 1, 2026, and how to build all three profiles before you apply.
Business Email Compromise Cost Small Businesses Over $3 Billion Last Year: The Payment-Verification Controls the FBI Says Actually Stop Wire Fraud
The FBI attributes over $3 billion in losses to business email compromise. Learn how BEC wire fraud works — vendor impersonation, CEO fraud, payroll diversion — and the verification controls that stop payments before they leave.
California Just Legalized DTC Spirits Shipping: What AB 1246's One-Year Pilot Means for Craft Distillers
AB 1246 creates a Jan 1 2026–Jan 1 2027 pilot letting qualifying craft distillers ship spirits direct to California consumers — permits, limits, and bookkeeping.
California's Delete Act Deletion Deadline Arrives August 1, 2026: What Data Brokers and Small Businesses Must Do About DROP
The Delete Act's DROP platform went live Jan 1, 2026; brokers must process centralized deletion requests starting Aug 1, 2026 every 45 days, with 90-day determinations and 2028 audits. Learn the obligations.
California Pay Data Reporting Due May 13, 2026: What SB 464 Changes for Employers With 100+ Workers
Pay data reports for 2025 due May 13 2026 — 100+ employee employers must file pay, demographic and new work-pattern data with CRD; SB 464 adds 23 job categories from 2027.
California's SB 216 Workers' Comp Mandate Was Delayed to 2028: What Contractors Must Still Prove by January 2026
SB 216 would have required every licensed contractor to carry workers' comp by Jan 1, 2026, but SB 1455 pushed universal coverage to Jan 1, 2028. Learn who must still prove coverage now and how to stay licensed.