Purchasing a small business can be the fulfillment of an entrepreneurial dream. In Silicon Valley, the tech industry has given rise to numerous service and support businesses that have seen tremendous growth in recent years. Buying into one of those businesses can be a great investment, but before you put your hard-earned dollars at risk in a new venture,…
Patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets; these terms are often used interchangeably when discussing intellectual property (IP). However, they are very different legal vehicles for maintaining your rights over an idea. Misunderstand them, and you could easily end up undermining your IP rights; and consequently, the health and future of your business. Before getting into the details of each type…
When a new business is formed, there are high hopes and great expectations about the future. At the time of formation, the owners of the business are typically on the same page. Over time, however, the business evolves and circumstances may arise in which one (or more) of the owners wants to sell. To prepare for such scenarios, a…
Here in the Silicon Valley, startups are commonplace. In the beginning stages of a startup, there is always uncertainty about how the product or service will be received in the marketplace. Of course, it is every entrepreneur’s dream that the business will grow and prosper. However, if the growth comes too quickly and the company…
Selling a business is a major life decision. There may very well be a lot of emotional and financial attachment tied up in a business you have built from scratch. To ensure a successful sale, it is important to take proactive steps to maximize the value of your company and find the right buyer. Here…
Starting a business in the San Francisco Bay Area can be the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. There are numerous potential rewards for those who are willing to put the time and effort into getting a business off the ground. During the startup phase, there are many important decisions to make. Among the most critical…
From the perspective of everybody except the IRS, C-corps and S-corps are very similar; they are “corporations”; and in almost all respects both follow the same rules under corporate law. The IRS rulebook, however, is large and complex, and it enforces quite a few rules in order to separate a “closely held” S-corporation from a…
There are a lot of “interesting” startup names in Silicon Valley these days. Following in the footsteps of bit.ly, Flickr, Spotify, Hipmunk and Lyst is leading to a staggering amount of startups with names such as Naborly, Phiinom, Naytev, and NamastHey. Choosing a name for your business is not just about finding a name that…
Buying into a franchise can be a great way for Silicon Valley entrepreneurs to go into business for themselves and not by themselves. Franchises offer the ability to leverage an established business model and draw on the training and support of a home office that has a vested interest in your success. Though franchising can…
The Bay Area has more startups than virtually any other region in the world. Many entrepreneurs in this area start with a home office. For others, telecommuting has become the norm, allowing a large number of their employees to work from home. Whether you are operating a business from your Silicon Valley home or you…
