The number one reason that most startups never succeed is that they fail to recognize that the basic laws of business physics also apply to them. Whether as a startup or mature business, sooner or later you have to do a few basic things: You have to get clients or customers, you have to make … Read More
Most startup founders have a pretty basic understanding of how to split equity in their startup. “I want to split equity 70-30” or “I want to split it 50-50.” That’s an okay starting point, but it doesn’t get you all the way there. To get it right, you need to understand the little nuances. And … Read More
Some new entrepreneurs seek to jump start sales by buying an already-existing business. Some established businesses attempt to streamline their expansion by doing the same. If you’re considering buying a business, understand this is likely to be one of the largest purchases you, and your company, will ever make. Each business and industry is different. … Read More
When you’re under contract to buy a house, the last thing you’d skip would be the inspection. This is when you hire a professional to find out if the sewer is clogged, if the roof is leaky, if the floors are defective, and whether there’s carbon monoxide, radon, or mold in your hopeful home. It’s … Read More
Kickstarter alone has led to almost 3 billion dollars of funding to nearly 120,000 projects. Crowdsourcing has become a viable alternative to traditional funding sources, whether the focus is launching a specific project or building a business. The success stories of crowdsourced funding are as varied as the projects funded. However, the lessons from failed … Read More
There are plenty of savvy startup experts who will tell you that there is absolutely no reason to form your startup as an LLC. You should always be a Delaware C Corporation. If you talk to any of the major accelerators, that’s what they’ll tell you. Same for most VCs. But make no mistake, there … Read More
Could you imagine if someone went to a restaurant and said: “Hey, chef, I was looking on the internet and I found a bunch of recipes I liked. So I cooked a five-course meal, with appetizers, starters, salad, dessert, and the whole shebang. But I’m not sure it tastes all that great so I was … Read More
You don’t need to be an experienced attorney to file for a trademark. It’s not that hard. Don’t get me wrong: If you don’t know what you’re doing, there’s a good chance you’ll get it wrong. But it’s not that hard to do. You’ll have to spend a whole bunch of time online reading and … Read More
Conflicts with your business associate(s), particularly for start-ups, can be difficult. Most importantly, you want to address and resolve those conflicts before they interrupt your bottom line—building a successful company and promoting a solid venture. It cannot be said enough: Start-ups and any other business relationships should be grounded in written documentation. If you have … Read More
1) Working with the Wrong Kind of Investors There’s a saying in the startup world: “the first money that goes in determines how much money, if any money at all, comes in after.” Regular startup investors are an incestuous lot, and they’re usually a pretty sophisticated group, too. If you look at the resumes of superstar … Read More
