Tag: Legal

Fail fast is a catchy phrase intended to suggest moving on quickly if a business idea flops. It should not be taken as a license to recklessly trip over basic legal, regulatory, or fundraising Read more

The #MeToo era has created new challenges for entrepreneurs and startups. Cautionary tales abound of startups whose hard-partying culture resulted in sexual harassment, hostile work environments and Read more

A lawyer-director can help founders avoid costly legal mistakes, spot opportunities and connect the company with the right specialists when complex issues arise. In 1979, Personal Software began Read more

Help Students Understand LLCs, Partnerships and Corporations With This Exercise

A hands-on legal exercise asks students to compare business structures, research filing requirements and calculate the costs of forming an LLC. In 2011, I created a Law and the Entrepreneur course at Read more

A successful crowdfunding campaign can still end badly. This case shows how missed rewards, poor communication and unclear use of funds can destroy backer trust. Introduction In October of 2014, Read more

LegalZoom co-founder Eddie Hartman shares how a critical entrepreneurial mindset, failure and mentorship helped transform a traditional professional services market. Is it possible to transform a Read more

A study of more than 300 consumers found that knowing a company was an L3C did not make people more likely to buy its products. In the alphabet soup of corporate structuring, being an “L3C” says Read more

When Occupational Licensing Hurts Entrepreneurs and Competition

Some licensing laws protect consumers. Others mainly protect existing businesses. Here is how entrepreneurs can challenge rules that unfairly limit competition. Regulations can destroy even the best Read more

Trade secrets can be among a startup’s most valuable assets. This article explains how entrepreneurs can estimate the financial damage when proprietary information is stolen or misappropriated. Read more