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When you start doing business for yourself, it is all too easy to operate as a sole proprietor for a period of time. After all, this does not require you to register your business with the Secretary of State or take other formal steps, and you can file taxes on your personal returns. However, such […]

Any time companies engage in mergers and acquisitions, they also perform due diligence. “Due diligence is an expression used to describe a process conducted to ensure that the combination of two companies makes business and financial sense. Many factors are considered, and due diligence is conducted by both parties to a merger or acquisition. Obviously, […]

A limited liability company (LLC) offers many advantages as a business form, but perhaps none is more critical than shielding owners from legal liability in the event that the business is sued. If you are looking to invest in real estate, then protecting your personal assets should be a priority. At Startup Company Counsel, our […]

Getting investors is critical for many startups. One tool that can encourage investors to continue to participate in funding is called a “pay to play provision.” This is a relatively new provision popularized since the beginning of the 21st century. While the provision may seem harsh to some, many investors will agree to it, which […]

3 Strikes and a Mulligan What do a Palo Alto garage, Harvard dorm room, and Stanford University Campus have in common? They launched Silicon Valley. I know, bad joke, but the impact of Facebook, Google, and Apple have done for Silicon Valley and the world, is certainly no joke. The problem with their home run […]

Starting a new business venture is an exciting prospect. You select a business name, register your company with the Secretary of State, and begin developing your idea into a reality. It is not long before you have to start making critical decisions that lead your company to success. Making decisions can be difficult, especially for […]

Often, selling a company can be a lucrative decision for owners, and purchasing a company can help expand a business’s reach in the market or diversify its industries. An acquisition agreement is a critical contract when one company decides to purchase another company. Each merger and acquisition transaction will have unique terms and can vary […]

A limited liability company (LLC) offers many advantages as a business form, but perhaps none is more critical than shielding its owners from personal liability in the event that the business is sued. If you are looking to invest in real estate, then protecting your personal assets should be a priority. At Startup Company Counsel, […]

Crowdfunding has become a very popular way to fund a new business enterprise, as owners do not have to pay back any of the funding. Many new businesses use sites such as Kickstarter,  or AngelList to get their companies up and running. Perhaps the most commonly used type of crowdfunding is called “rewards-based crowdfunding,” in […]

Silicon Valley is a hotbed for innovation and the birthplace of many high-value companies. Inventors, innovators, and companies alike are all seeking to protect their intellectual property, and one of the best protections for inventions is a patent. Below you’ll find an overview of patent basics, how to determine if your invention is patentable, and […]