Many entrepreneurs startup a new business venture full of excitement and enthusiasm, ready to jump in and work hard to make their dream a reality. However, all of the enthusiasm in the world cannot create success without a solid plan and strong foundation to build from. There are so many variables to think about, and so many unexpected situations that may arise, that we often don’t know what we don’t know.
It is very important, at the planning stage for a new business, for an owner to outline the strategies, and create back up plans, for the different challenges that a new business may face, and although nobody can ever anticipate every situation that might jeopardize the success of a new venture, having a solid foundation in place will help an owner to tackle these challenges when they do arise. It was the desire to help entrepreneurs navigate the waters of starting a new business, that prompted Nellie and Phil Akalp to create CorpNet.
As law school graduates, Nellie and Phil realized the need for a specialized service that would help small business and franchise owners with the maze of legal paperwork and documents needed to get their businesses off the ground. Today, CorpNet has offices in all fifty states that help business owners do just that.
CorpNet is sort of a rebirth of this concept for the Akalps. They started their first business in 1997, while they were both still in law school, and ultimately sold their company, mycorporation.com, to Intuit in 2005. Finding themselves “retired” at age 30, they felt compelled to get back into the business of helping other businesses get started. Nellie states that, “CorpNet is a company started by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs,” and they have become successful only by helping others to succeed.
Through their comprehensive needs analysis of a new business and its owner, CorpNet is able to help business owners understand exactly what type of business structure will be most beneficial. Many franchise companies require their franchisees create a separate legal business entity, but many don’t know how to do that. CorpNet will take into consideration the type of business being started, what the eventual customers will look like, and how to structure the foundation of a new business. They will also help the new business owner anticipate the types of issues that may arise as a business grows and expands, so that they will be ready to respond without jeopardizing the business down the road.
Will your new venture require you to establish an S Corporation or an LLC (Limited Liability Corporation), or will just registering your new business as a Sole Proprietorship be enough? These are questions that CorpNet helps new business owners tackle with their incredibly easy to navigate, and thoroughly comprehensive, Business Structure Wizard on their website. This application, along with their detailed Business Checklist feature, allows the business owner to answer the tough questions that they may not have thought about on their own, and it shows them the differences among the business structures available.
Once a new business or franchise owner has identified the ideal business structure to fit their needs, CorpNet then assigns a client liaison to outline the types of documents that will need to be filed, in order to create a legal business entity in the state selected. CorpNet offers different levels of service, based on the client’s needs and budget, and makes sure that all proper documents are filed correctly for federal and state governing bodies, as well as for tax purposes. Some businesses may only need help in establishing the business entity, and others may opt to have CorpNet continue to work as their legal partner, filing the necessary documents as needed each year to stay compliant with state and federal laws.
Nellie is passionate about CorpNet’s customer service and strives to create a workplace in which employees feel like a valued part of the team. She states, “To us, our brand is everything, so whoever works for us has to be an extension of that brand.” The company scouts new talent closely, and puts them through a rigorous and “collaborative training program”, including a “cultural fit interview.” Nellie goes on to say, “We do this so that we can know that we are aligning ourselves with people who have the same values and business ethics. We need to find those special individuals who will fit into our culture, and in turn, will be happy in their workplace.”
In fact, every new CorpNet employee receives intense and detailed training in the areas of customer service, phone support, order intake and social media engagement, while also requiring that the employee has a thorough knowledge of the CorpNet products and services offered to their clients. Nellie states, “The key is consistency, and how our people interact with our customers.” CorpNet offers training in three key areas, or “career categories”, which include Sales, Clerical Assistance and Marketing. Each category has its own training with 12 employees at their home office in Westlake Village, California, and in each of their state specific offices around the country.
“Every position has its own Position Profile, with growth factors and target goals that they must comply with.”
Promotions require a formal interview process, and they use a training system that includes role playing between the employee and client, so that they can identify areas where a client may need help, or may have simply overlooked, or not recognized, a need. Nellie and the team at CorpNet maintains a mindset that, “There is a solution to every problem,” and they adhere to this belief when troubleshooting with a client, and within the organization, on how to tackle an unforeseen challenge. Nellie states that, “It’s important to keep the systems and processes flexible, so that you can pivot when needed, without rewriting everything.”
One of the first of its kind, the CorpNet business model, works so well because of the dedication of its owners. They are passionate about helping new businesses succeed through proper planning, before the very first customer walks through the door. This allows the business owners to focus on what they do best, without having to worry about the legal issues and paperwork required to get a business off the ground. CorpNet is an indispensable partner for any new business, and will not doubt, continue to grow with a talented team trained to make opening a new business the joy that it is supposed to be.
About CorpNet
CorpNet, through its website, provides document filing services required for a variety of business needs such as forming your own Corporation or Limited Liability Company (LLC), filing a DBA/Fictitious Business Name, Foreign Qualification Filings, Registered Agent Representations, Corporate Compliance services and supplies in all 50 states. Using CorpNet saves both time and money with service that is fast, reliable, and affordable. CorpNet can successfully handle document filings in every state in the U.S. CorpNet’s experienced U.S. based customer support team provides the personal assistance needed to process document filing request quickly and efficiently, before, during and after the entity is formed - every step of the way
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