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#consumer-protection

Consumer Protection

Consumer protection laws, unfair trade practices, and customer rights compliance

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NYC Banned Hidden Hotel Fees and Surprise Card Holds: A Compliance and Bookkeeping Guide

Since February 21, 2026, New York City requires hotels and short-term rental hosts to advertise an all-in total price including every mandatory fee, and to disclose credit card holds and advance deposits before the guest pays. Here is how the rule differs from the federal FTC junk-fee rule, what counts as mandatory, and how to keep room revenue, fee revenue, deposits, and incidental holds straight in your ledger.

mike

junk-feesall-in-pricingpricing-transparency

Elder Financial Exploitation: A Business Owner's Guide to Protecting Aging Parents' Money

Banks tied roughly $27 billion in suspicious activity to elder financial exploitation in the year ending June 2023, per FinCEN. A practical guide for business owners — the five scams draining parents' accounts, the warning signs to watch in their finances, how to get read-only visibility without starting a family fight, and the bookkeeping rules that protect you if you end up holding the power of attorney.

mike

fraud-preventionpersonal-financeestate-planning

California Is About to Regulate Franchise Brokers: What SB 919 Means Before You Sign

Starting July 1, 2027, California's SB 919 requires franchise brokers to register annually with the DFPI, deliver a standardized disclosure document — including how they are paid — before pitching any franchise, and keep five years of auditable records. Here is what the law changes, why broker commissions of 40–50% of the franchise fee matter to buyers, and how to vet a broker before the rules take effect.

mike

franchise-bookkeepingcaliforniaregulatory

Washington's Homeowner Recovery Program Is Live: How Contractors Should Reserve for Judgment Claims That No Longer Go Away

Since July 1, 2026, Washington homeowners can collect up to $25,000 of an unpaid contractor judgment from the state's Homeowner Recovery Program, after which L&I can pursue the contractor for reimbursement with interest on payment plans of up to 36 months. This guide explains the eligibility rules, the post-2024 bond levels of $30,000 general and $15,000 specialty, and how a residential contractor should log disputes, accrue probable losses under ASC 450, fund a separate cash reserve, and amortize a state repayment plan in a plain-text ledger.

mike

constructionsmall-businessrisk-management
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