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7 Common Tax Mistakes Made by Startup Businesses

A common misconception among many entrepreneurs is that their startup will not face any tax filing requirements while in the early stages of the business. However, this is not the case. If you incorporate your business or form an LLC you have tax and other government filings that are due, even if you had little […]

Avoidable Legal Dilemmas Every Entrepreneur Should Know

Although the verdict is still out whether or not entrepreneurship can be taught there are a few legal problems that all entrepreneurs can avoid with some proper foresight. 8 Startup Situations Every Entrepreneur Wants to Consider 1) Founder’s Agreement: Most co-founders will have some simple planning conversations at the beginning of the venture. However, it […]

Legal Tech VC Funding Beginning to Stagger

Legal Tech vs Funding Stagger from The Startup Garage

Although the legal industry is massive ($300B), it is seeing a drop in funding by 16% year-over-year as investments are concentrated at the seed stage and exit activity is lukewarm. Funding to legal tech startups barely topped $100M across 30+ deals, with the largest deal representing 45% of total investments.   Deal Flow Oddly enough, […]

Hiring the Right Startup Lawyer

Hiring the Right Startup Lawyer from The Startup Garage

You own a young company that is seeking VC, angel or perhaps even seed funding.  You want to protect yourself with the right legal documents, ensure that you are taking the right steps and perhaps gain some legal counsel along the way.  You turn to your network circles for a recommendation on a good lawyer.  […]

The Importance of Copyright Assignments

The Importance of Copyright Assignments from The Startup Garage

A copyright isn’t a single right; it is a combination of rights. Copyright owners can transfer some or all of the rights. A full transfer of rights is called a copyright assignment. It’s important for start-ups to get a full copyright assignments for their logo, website, software, etc that is created for the company by independent contractors […]

How to Read a Patent – It’s All In the Claims

How to Read a Patent - It's All In the Claims from The Startup Garage

It may seem simple, but reading a patent and fully understanding what the patent actually covers can be rather difficult.  Let’s begin by reviewing the main sections of the patent.  First, we have the patent identification information: the patent number, title, patent holder’s name, owner of the patent (if different), the filing date, the issue […]

What to Consider When Starting a Company With Your Spouse

What to Consider When Starting a Company With Your Spouse from The Startup Garage

Starting a business can be a risky endeavor (quitting your job, spending your savings, good potential for failure, and the list goes on).  Starting a business with your spouse can be even riskier when you consider your shared finances, your retirement funds, your relationship, your mental health and happiness.  Before you risk everything, ask yourself […]

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 […]

Stock Option Plan Rule of Thumb No. 3

Advisor and Director Share Schedule from The Startup Garage

This article was contributed by William W Eigner, Esq. & Brian Headman of Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP.   Subject Director And Advisor Shares To A Two-Year Vesting Schedule Directors assume general corporate law fiduciary duties and potential liability from the very first day they serve on a company’s board. For this reason, independent directors expect […]