New year, new innovations! If “file a patent application” made it onto your 2026 goal list, congratulations, you’re thinking like a business owner who understands that intellectual property can be a serious asset. But if you’re staring at that goal wondering what your first move should be, you’re not alone. Patent law is complex (that’s why I went to law school and took an additional bar exam for it), but the starting point doesn’t have to be scary.
Let me walk you through where to begin when you’re ready to protect your brilliant idea.
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For most small businesses: Start with an LLC. It provides liability protection and flexibility without excessive formalities.
Choose C-Corp only if:
• You’re raising venture capital,
• You’re planning to go public, or
• You need multiple classes of stock.
Consider S-Corp election when:
• You’re profitable (ask your tax professional),
• You work full-time for the business, and
• You want to reduce self-employment tax.
The post Fortress or Castle? LLC vs. Corporation (Which Do You Need?) appeared first on King Patent Law.
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What does “piercing the corporate veil” mean, and why should you care? Your LLC or corporation creates a legal shield between you and your business. If your business gets sued, only business assets are at risk, not your personal house or savings.
But courts will “pierce the veil” of liability and hold you personally liable if you: mix personal and business finances, pay personal expenses from the business account, don’t maintain separate bank accounts, fail to file annual reports, don’t keep proper records, undercapitalize the business, or commit fraud.
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S-Corps and C-Corps offer maximum liability protection, but they come with formalities, costs, and tax implications most small businesses don’t need. What is a corporation? A corporation is a separate legal entity with the strongest liability protection. But it requires extensive formalities: board of directors, annual meetings, corporate minutes, bylaws, stock certificates. There are two main types based on tax treatment: C-Corp and S-Corp. C-Corporation: This is the default corporate form. The key issue: Double taxation.
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The LLC is the most popular business structure in America for good reason. But the fortress walls of an LLC only protect you if you maintain them properly.
A Limited Liability Company creates a legal separation between you and your business. If the business gets sued or incurs debt, generally only the LLC’s assets are at risk, not your personal house, car, or savings.
Why do most small businesses choose to be LLCs?
Liability protection. This is the main reason. An LLC can shield your personal assets from business liabilities.
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You’re starting a business, and everyone’s throwing entity acronyms at you like curses in a dark ritual: LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, sole proprietor, partnership. It feels like one wrong move could haunt you forever. Pick the right entity and you don’t lose any sleep over it. Pick the wrong entity and you could face double taxation, unlimited personal liability, or bureaucratic nightmares that drain your time and money. Here’s the truth: There is no single “best” business structure. But there IS a best structure for YOUR specific situation, and it depends on your liability risk, your tax profile, your growth plans,…
Continue Reading The Entityville Horror: Choosing Which Legal Structure Is Best For You (LLC, Corporation, Sole Proprietor, or Partnership)

If you have an innovation, you face a choice: patent it or keep it as a trade secret. I walk through some advantages and disadvantages of protecting innovation through patents and as trade secrets. Then I tell you the strategic question to ask yourself and how your answer will help determine which is the most appropriate protection.
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If your business has innovations or business secrets, this beginning-of-year trade secret self-check could save you from losing valuable rights. What qualifies as a trade secret for your business? Are your business secrets truly secret? Do you have all the NDAs in place you need?
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If you have patents or trade secrets, this audit could save you from losing valuable rights. Utility patents require maintenance fees at 3.5 years, 7.5 years, and 11.5 years after grant.
If you don’t pay them, your patent expires and enters the public domain. Once it’s gone, you can’t get it back.
Check the status of all your granted patents on the USPTO website. Set calendar reminders for upcoming fees.
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Your brand might not be as protected as you think. I’m Julie King with King Patent Law, and today I’m showing you how to audit your trademark protection in 2026. Let’s walk through five critical questions you need to ask about your trademarks. These five questions will help you identify gaps in your trademark protection.
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This week, I’m talking about something potentially even more valuable that EVERY business has: your intellectual property.
ALL businesses have intellectual property, and for many businesses, intellectual property IS the business. Your brand name, your logo, your proprietary processes, your creative content; they’re often the most valuable assets you own.
Despite all that truth, most business owners have no idea (1) that they have IP, (2) what IP they actually have, (3) whether their IP is protected, or (4) when critical deadlines are coming up.
That changes today.
By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly how to audit…
Continue Reading Beginning-of-Year IP Checkup Checklist: The Annual Exorcism of Business Horror, Part 2

Three contract red flags every business owner should check right now.
Red flag #1: You’re operating under an expired contract. A one-year contract ended, but both parties kept performing. You’ve created legal ambiguity that could blow up in a dispute.
Red flag #2: You have an auto-renewal contract and missed the cancellation deadline.
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What does “good standing” actually mean for your business?
If you formed an LLC or corporation, your state requires you to file annual reports and pay fees to stay active. If you don’t, your business falls out of “good standing.” Why does this matter? Operating while not in good standing can void your liability protection, prevent you from filing lawsuits, and create problems when you try to get a loan or sell the business.
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