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Writing a Social Enterprise Business Plan

Writing a Social Enterprise Business Plan from The Startup Garage

Writing a business plan serves two main purposes: providing the guide for your business internally and communicating the value of your business externally.  The more detail and thought that is put into the business plan, the more it will help your business navigate the start up and expansion stages.  Consequently, the more your business plan […]

Registering Your Social Enterprise

Registering a Social Enterprise from The Startup Garage

Once you have decided on the proper entity type for your social enterprise, the next thing you need to do is file the proper paperwork with the proper authorities to begin the process. The best place to start is your state’s Secretary of State office.  You can find their contact information here. Register Your Name (State): […]

Social Enterprise: Choice of Legal Entity

Entity Choice for Social Enterprise from The Startup Garage

As of yet, a social enterprise is not its own legal structure, and a social enterprise company must consider its legal structure options and select the one most congruent with the company’s plan.  Below we explain the options available: Non-Profit:  A non-profit is the most common legal entity chosen by social enterprises.  However, a non-profit […]

Developing Your Social Enterprise Team

Social Enterprise Team from The Startup Garage

As a social enterprise prioritizes its mission to its people, a crucial step in forming a social enterprise is defining and developing your team of players.  Rather than emphasize shareholders, as with a for profit, a social enterprise considers all stakeholders who share a “stake” in the outcome of the enterprise.  The group of stakeholders […]

Defining Your Business Model: Social Enterprise

Social Enterprise Business Model from The Startup Garage

Now that you have a clearly defined mission and a set of guiding principles, it is time to start asking the business questions. How will your business work? How will it manage the tension between mission and margin? Let’s start with the margin: What is your product or service? Who is your target market? How will […]

Social Enterprise: Defining Your Mission

Social Enterprise Mission from The Startup Garage

A key part of a company’s business plan is the mission statement.  In particular for non-profits and social enterprises, the mission statement serves as a constant reminder of the social aim the organization is dedicated to.  Writing a strong mission and corresponding guiding principles is a key planning step to keep your social enterprise on […]

Social Enterprise, Non-Profit and For Profit: The Differences

Social Enterprise Profit vs Non-Profit from The Startup Garage

  While the most important difference between a social enterprise and any non-profit or for profit company is an emphasis on the balancing act between the mission and the (profit) margin, there are many specific business attributes unique to a social enterprise.   Corporate Accountability:  Along with traditional financial and legal accountability, a social enterprise […]

What is a Social Enterprise?

What is a Social Enterprise from The Startup Garage

You may have heard the term “social enterprise” being discussed in the business world — but what does it really mean?  A social enterprise is the joining of a social cause with a business activity.  It is easier to understand the concept of a social enterprise if you think of a business continuum with non-profit […]

Stock Option Plan Rule of Thumb No. 5

Solidify Relationships from The Startup Garage

This article was contributed by William W Eigner, Esq. & Brian Headman of Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP. Try Not To Jeopardize Relationships Up-front communication of a director or advisor’s term of service and duties helps to foster a healthy relationship and facilitate a potential termination without jeopardizing relationships. For start-ups, relationships can be an incredibly […]

Stock Option Plan Rule of Thumb No. 4

Stock Option Planning from The Startup Garage

This article was contributed by William W Eigner, Esq. & Brian Headman of Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP.   Set a Lenient Post-Termination Exercise Period When Possible If a director or advisor’s term is discontinued, a lenient post-termination exercise period may be very valuable to an option holder. I advise clients to draft the option grant […]