Freedom And Responsibility On The Internet

 by Jonathan Gropper

 As this year draws to a close, it also brings down the curtain on what we could effectively call the first Internet decade. While the Internet has been around for much longer than a decade, in many ways 1995 was the year when many of today's biggest names on the Internet were founded.

What a dynamic 10 years it has been for the Internet, comprising both the flight to stratospheric heights and the crash followed by a more cautious approach to get back on the feet. Thankfully, we seem to be running again...

However, this article is not about the impact the Internet has had on all aspects of our life - that is far too well documented already. Rather, I'd like to reiterate and highlight the striking parallel that the Internet has to some of the core values that American society cherishes (and I suspect, most of humankind does too)--freedom, democracy, and unlimited opportunity.

Isn't that what the Internet is all about? Freedom to cut across geographic barriers and interact with people from any part of the world; the freedom and the democratic rights to voice opinions and comment on matters that affect you, and the unlimited professional and personal opportunities that emanate from the first two mentioned attributes.

Blogging is one example of how virtually anyone can become a writer, with the only obstacle to getting one's thoughts published being one's desire and willingness to write or voice an opinion.

For that matter, consumers rate products and companies, complain about customer service levels, frustrated employees let out steam against employers--quite literally making an individual so much more powerful, because in the hyperlinked world of the Internet, the significance of "word of mouth" gets on to a completely different level.

On the positive side, the Internet makes a person altruistic: review a song or music you have heard, a movie you saw or a book you read, or you rate the quality of service by a service provider, and lo- you are helping another potential customer like you in their decision making process. Amazon.com and a website like epinions.com have epitomized the benefits and powers of consumer recommendation.

Likewise, there are business and social networking websites, that are just getting recognized for the value they deliver to the participants and the immense potential to marketers looking to target a fairly engaged and Internet-savvy audience.

The Burden Of Responsibility 

Yet, with the freedom and democracy that empowers us with certain rights, comes the weight of ensuring that these rights are used responsibly. With the power to judge and rate that the Internet, and more specifically, sites such as the newly-launched Response Planet gives us, we almost become duty-bound to see that the power is used constructively.

Else, we run the risk of not trusting ourselves with the power of the tools we have at our disposal, and thereby failing to capitalize on the enormous opportunities offered by them. So, when we rate and post comments on sites that allow us to, there is an obligation to make a conscious effort not to be vicious or malicious. Or, as Google's stated motto was, "Don't be Evil"



About The Author:
Jonathan Gropper is President and Founder of Vortech Web and Business Solutions LLC and COO of OnlyOpenHouses.com, a comprehensive portal to list and find open houses in New Jersey. He is also a co-founder of ResponsePlanet.com, designed to be a place to read and rate everything on the planet.

Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/Freedom-And-Responsibility-On-The-Internet/5423

LLC vs. Subchapter S Corporation: Which Makes More Sense for Your Business?

by Melissa Gordon

For years smaller businesses used the structure of an S-corporation to benefit from �pass-through taxation� while avoiding the double taxation imposed on a C Corporation. Then in 1988 the IRS decided to get in sync with several states which had passed legislation allowing the formation of a legal entity called a �Limited Liability Corporation� or LLC.

It wasn�t long until other states began to pass their own versions of this legal entity. Today all fifty states offer the LLC as a choice of legal business entity formation alongside the traditional C Corporation, Subchapter S Corporation, General Partnership, Limited Partnership and possibly others.

Are the differences between the LLC and S Corporation significant enough to justify all the hoopla? Let�s take a look and you can decide for yourself.

� Forming an LLC is much less complicated than forming a Subchapter S Corporation. A Subchapter S Corporation requires forming a corporation with the state then making an election to be taxed as an S Corporation (pass-through taxation) with the IRS. Forming an LLC simply requires submitting Articles of Formation to the state and creating a written document declaring how the business will be managed and operated.

� Corporations have stringent requirements for how they are formed and operated and an S-corporation is not exempt from these.

- Corporations must hold a formal stockholder meeting each year. An LLC is not required to do this. It doesn�t have stockholders.

- Corporations have a myriad of legal requirements around the issuing of stock and dividends. Again, an LLC does not issue stock to its owners nor does it pay dividends.

� An S Corporation is limited to 100 owners. There is no such limit with an LLC.

� All stockholders in an S Corporation must be U.S. citizens or residents. LLC owners do not have to meet this criterion. In fact, even other business entities are allowed ownership in LLCs.

� Profits are split among stockholders in an S Corporation based upon the number of shares held by each. Profits from an LLC may be split among the owners disproportionately to each member�s percentage of ownership. What a concept!

As you can see, there are quite a few differences to consider. Your set of circumstances and the vision held for your company will determine which entity can best serve those interests and purposes. It is possible that the S Corporation structure will cost more to form as well as to operate to meet the additional state requirements of a corporate structure. However, each state varies in its requirements for formation and operation. The more obvious choice may not always prevail upon a more thorough investigation of all requirements and costs.

Before you embark upon forming your business as a Subchapter S Corporation or an LLC, be sure to seek adequate counsel from professionals who are well versed with each entity in your states of interest.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter.

Melissa Gordon is the publisher of LegalBuffet.com, a complete online resource that compares the legal services offered by various online companies. Find the best company for your LLC formation needs at http://legalbuffet.com/llc-services /.

Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/LLC-vs--Subchapter-S-Corporation---Which-Makes-More-Sense-for-Your-Business-/178871