Small Business Regulations

A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a group that functions independently of any government. They are usually non-profit and may run budgets of millions or up to billions of dollars each year. They play a major role in international development, aid, and philanthropy. NGOs rely on a variety of funding sources, from private donations and membership dues to government grants. Some well-known NGOs include the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and Amnesty International.

NGOs rely on a variety of sources for funding projects, operations, salaries, and other overhead costs. Fundraising efforts are important for the NGO’s existence and success. Funding sources include membership dues; the sale of goods and services; private sector, for-profit companies; philanthropic foundations; grants from local, state, and federal agencies, as well as foreign governments; and private donations.

Many business owners sell ownership in their company through shares of stock. Different options for selling a business include selling to private investors or to employees. There are many steps to selling a business, including determining its value, what your shareholders want, creating a marketing strategy, and getting your business in order for sale. Different options for selling include going public, selling to large private investors, selling to smaller investors, and selling to employees.

A letter of intent (LOI) may be legally binding, depending on how it is worded and, in some cases, whether a court has determined it is legally binding. To determine whether the letter is legally binding, courts will consider the written expression of intent in the letter and what actions the parties mentioned in the letter take after the letter has been signed. If the two parties have a history of non-binding letters of intent, for example, the court would be more likely to dismiss the letter's validity as a legitimate contract.

Affirmative action is a policy to promote equal opportunity in the workplace or in education. The rules are intended to level the playing field for groups that have been historically discriminated against or overlooked in the workplace because of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and/or other factors. Affirmative action is often considered a means of correcting historical discrimination against these groups. Businesses that contract with the federal government are required to have affirmative action programs.