Blog

Your 5-Minute Guide to Trademark Maintenance By: M. Zane Johnson, Esq. Securing a trademark for your business is a big step in protecting your brand, but registration is just the beginning. In order to maintain the legal protections that come with trademark registration, you need to stay proactive. Proper trademark maintenance ensures that your rights remain intact and your brand ...

Customizing a Website Privacy Policy for your Small Business By: M. Zane Johnson, Esq. Each year, more and more business is done online. Research indicates that currently, one out of every six businesses is now entirely virtual. And  it’s estimated that by 2025 nearly one-third of all business will be conducted online. In response, an increasing number of national and state ...

MZA Legal 2024 Legal Wrap-Up By: M. Zane Johnson, Esq. We made it to the end of another year, and a celebration is in order!! 🥳🍾🥂 But before you start popping champagne, let’s make sure your business is ready to hit the ground running in 2025 with our end-of-year legal wrap-up. It includes essential reminders, updates, and tips to help ...

Cheap Trademark Registration: Saving Money and Protecting Your Brand By: M. Zane Johnson, Esq. As an attorney, I think every entrepreneur should invest in high quality legal services because I recognize the importance of protecting everything you’ve worked hard to build. But as a solopreneur, know what it’s like to operate a business on a tight budget. Every opportunity to ...

How to Get a Business License in PA By: M. Zane Johnson, Esq. When you’re in the early stages of launching your business, there’s no shortage of things on your plate. From nailing down your product or service to figuring out how to market your brand, every decision feels monumental. But before you can officially hang up your “open for ...

Is an LLC a Business License? By: M. Zane Johnson Esq. If you’ve been wondering whether your newly formed LLC is a business license, allow me to clear up your confusion. No, your LLC is not a license to do business. And if this tidbit of information leaves you with more questions than answers, then you’ll want read on. This blog piece ...

How Long Does it Take to Get a Trademark? By: M. Zane Johnson, Esq. So, you’re thinking about applying for a trademark and want to know what to expect from the process? Well, you’re in the right place. In this MZA Legal blog entry, I’m going to cover what you should anticipate after filing your trademark application, including: Let’s dive ...

Why Every Pennsylvania LLC Needs an Operating Agreement By: M. Zane Johnson, Esq. When it comes to small businesses, we often only hear about the success stories. But as a small business attorney, I frequently receive calls from those on the opposite end of the spectrum — folks whose entrepreneurial dreams have turned into nightmares. And in most cases, the ...

Building a Solid Foundation for Your New Business By: M. Zane Johnson, Esq. A solid foundation is critical to the success of your business. Not only does it provide protection from the risks that could derail your dreams, but it also puts you in position to take advantage of new opportunities that can help your business grow.  Unfortunately, many new ...

Do I need a vending machine license in PA? By: M. Zane Johnson, Esq. Operating vending machines is one of the most popular side hustles out there, and it’s not hard to understand why. They’re relatively inexpensive to set up, easy to manage, and can provide a solid stream of passive income. However, many aspiring operators get held up because ...

Avoid These Common Mistakes When Signing A Commercial Lease Agreement By: M. Zane Johnson Esq. When it comes to commercial lease agreements, 90% of entrepreneurs don’t call a lawyer until it’s too late. Instead of hiring an attorney at the beginning of the leasing process to help them understand and negotiate the agreement, they try to save a few bucks ...

Getting Paid On Time as a Freelance Solopreneur By: M. Zane Johnson, Esq. Freelancing offers tremendous freedom and flexibility. It allows you to be your own boss, set your own hours, and choose the projects that excite you. However, it also comes with its challenges. And getting paid on time is chief among them.  A survey conducted by the Independent ...

5 Trademark Truths Your Probably Didn’t Know By: M. Zane Johnson, Esq. If you’re thinking about protecting your brand with a federal trademark, considering these 5 common trademark misconceptions could help save you some time and money.   Filing a Trademark Application Before Starting Your Business Could Backfire This may sound odd coming from an attorney. Especially one who offers ...

Zane Johnson Shares Tips for Tax Season on Evening WURDs Attorney Zane Johnson, Founder and Managing Attorney of MZA Legal, joined guest host P.O.C. on WURD Radio’s Evening WURDs radio show on February 20, 2024. Zane shared his tips for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and gig-workers when it comes to successfully navigating tax season. Here’s a quick summary of what he shared. ...