The Entrepreneur's Guide From Start to Finish
A resource for smarter companies
1
Get Started
Assess current employment
- Employment agreements (if applicable)
- Restrictive covenants or provisions
Protect your idea
- Non-disclosure, intellectual property, and contribution agreements
- Patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, domain registration, etc.
- Technology licensing and development
Set up your company
- Structures (S vs. C Corp, LLC, Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, or Parents and subs)
- Tax considerations
- Name and location, jurisdiction
Draft governing documents
- Articles of incorporation, bylaws, and shareholder agreements
- Operating and partnership agreements
2
Move Up
Fund your company
- Bootstrapping/crowdfunding, friends and family, angels and VC’s
- Convertible debt vs. equity
- Securities laws – private placements, finder’s fees and valuations
- Preparation and diligence
Prepare agreements
- Customer and client
- Vendor and supplier
- Licensing and intellectual property
- Employees/contractors
Manage your team
- Employees/contractors
- Board of directors/advisors
- Incentive structures – equity and non-equity
3
Go Big
Extend your financing
- Additional equity rounds
- Loans/credits
- Securities laws
Manage hiring and growth
- Employment policies
- Immigration compliance
- Compensation and benefits
- Real estate considerations
Expand your company
- Strategic partnerships
- Mergers and acquisitions
4
Plan Your Exit
Create an exit plan
- Initial Public Offering (IPO)
- Equity vs. asset sale
- Liquidation and wind-down
- Estate and succession planning
- Preparation/house cleaning
Execute your plan
- Engage investment bankers/brokers
- Navigate the process (negotiation, LOI’s, deal documents, due diligence, etc.)
