Does an LLC with One Member Need an Operating Agreement?

It’s important that you mentioned your LLC was formed in NY because they have special requirements for LLC. Unlike other states, New York’s law requires LLC members (you) to adopt a written operating agreement. It can be executed before, at the time of, or within 3 months of filing your Articles of Organization. Even if […]

2 months ago

What are easy mistakes to make when writing a real estate contract?

he biggest mistake is using a standard, boilerplate contract found online. Real estate law is not an area of law to mess around with as the implications can last for centuries. Your best bet? Have a real estate lawyer custom draft the contract. You can get that done at LawTrades, a revolutionary legal marketplace. Simply […]

2 months ago

If someone breaches the terms and conditions of my service, can I insert a clause that would allow me to fine/sue the user for a fixed fee?

Raad Ahmed After the fact won’t hold water, but if you insert the clause from the start (or for future users) then yeah, that’s pretty typical and could protect you in a lot of ways. However, keep in mind that liquidated damages clause (which is what we are talking about here) can have it’s advantages, […]

2 months ago

How hard is it for a co-founder (EU-native, residing in EU) of a US-based startup to get a visa to live/work in the US?

Raad Ahmed You have a few options to choose from. While I understand that you are wanting to live and work in the US, you could start out by looking into the Visa Waiver Program that allows you to come to the US for up to 90 days for tourism or business. It could help […]

2 months ago

How important do you think professional networking is necessary to get an employer to sponsor H1B visa?

Raad Ahmed You never know where a single conversation may lead. The internet is your friend when it comes to networking. You can connect with other employers or friends/family that may have a lead on positions. You can also use websites like LinkedIn that offer a portal to a variety of professionals and companies that […]

2 months ago

How A Company Can Sponsor an H-1B Visa

An H-1B visa are issued to non-immigrants in the United States to enable them to get temporary employment in specialty occupations. It is issued under the Immigration and Nationality Act section 101(a)(15)(H). It is a method commonly used by most employers to bring professional experts in different fields into the United States. It gives the employees […]

2 months ago

A Partnership That Makes Sense for Startups and Small Businesses

  As you know, starting and growing a business is no simple task. From the very beginning, you are being pulled in what seems like a thousand different directions. The goal is to focus on what you’re good at and if you are starting a business it’s unlikely that your specialty is human resources, yet […]

4 months ago

How to Register International Intellectual Property

In the United States, intellectual property law has its roots in our Constitution. Countries around the world have been protecting intellectual property since long before the American Constitution, yet there’s been little effort to consolidate the various individual application requirements and processes. So, what does that mean? That international intellectual property can get messy. Generally, […]

4 months ago

Top Immigrant Founders in the Startup World

Immigration is deeply intertwined with American startups as many highly successful companies were founded by immigrants. A 2016 study by the National Foundation for American Policy reported that over 50% (44 of 87) of American startups valued at over $1 billion were founded by immigrants. We wanted to touch on a few of the 44 […]

4 months ago

The Legal Basics of Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding, a new form of online financing, now allows individuals to harness the Internet’s potential while funding their startups.   Indeed, this novel financing method has already been used for many years by authors, individual borrowers, and philanthropists through portals such as Kickstarter, IndieGogo, and GoFundMe. Andrea Doshi, for instance, has fascinated thousands of young […]

4 months ago

Top Startup Accelerators to Apply for in 2017

Top startup accelerators have grown in recent years not only in number but also in relevance. Analysts define accelerators as “a fixed-term, cohort-based program including mentorship and educational components, that culminates in a public pitch event or demo day.” In short, an accelerator is a program that brings in multiple companies, puts them through basically a […]

5 months ago

What It’s Actually Like To Be On ABC’s Shark Tank: PupBox CEO Explains

We interviewed Ben Zvaifler, CEO at PupBox. On Season 8 of Shark Tank, Ben accepted a $250,000 offer from Robert Herjavec. PupBox is a startup that changes the way people raise puppies by delivering toys, treats, accessories and training information to new puppy parents every month. Talked about: How entrepreneurs can get on the show, what the sharks are […]

5 months ago

What Trump Means For Startups

Written By : Stephen Schlett   We can’t really be sure how everything will shake out as a new leader takes charge but here let’s focus on one important question — what Trump means for startups in America?   Immigration Drives the American Startup Culture One big area of concern that has been brought up frequently is immigration […]

5 months ago

David Hauser: How He Bootstrapped His Startup to $30M+ in Annual Revenue and Then Sold It

“Once a company has established a clear market need and ability to solve that need the rest is all execution.”     As Founder of Grasshopper (acq’d by Citrix) and Chargify, David Hauser was one of the youngest founders to lead a company to the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing U.S. companies. He took […]

5 months ago

How to Start a Business & Earn a Visa at the Same Time

Ah the American Dream – to open up a business. Foreign-based entrepreneurs have a few options here. Let’s go over them: If you have experience running businesses successfully, you may qualify for an O-1 visa. The 0-1 visa is for “individuals with extraordinary ability.” These are usually used by athletes (think Rory McIlroy) or performers […]

6 months ago

A Conversation with Elizabeth Yin of 500 Startups

We asked Elizabeth a few questions about raising venture capital in the Valley.   Elizabeth is a Partner at 500 Startups, investor in seed-stage companies & in charge of the Mountain View Accelerator. She’s a former CEO / Co-Founder at LaunchBit (acq ’14) and marketer at Google. She has a BSEE from Stanford and MBA from MIT […]

6 months ago

A Conversation with Jason Lemkin of SaaStr

Jason Lemkin The founder of two successful startups, Jason is now a Venture Capitalist and just raised a fund of $70 million based on his famous SaaStr brand. Jason Lemkin is a rock star in the startup world. Dubbed as the Godfather of SaaS, Jason has co-founded two super successful startups, and both acquired for […]

7 months ago

How to Negotiate Your Salary as an Employee

There’s no doubt about it – employers control the American workplace. From deciding when you have to arrive at work, what you have to wear, and when you must permanently leave, employers dictate most things. That’s why it’s important for employees to take advantage of the few things they have a say in. Negotiating your […]

7 months ago

5 Ways to Save on Legal Costs as a Startup

All startups have something in common: they’re always trying to save money. As a result, it’s understandable that startups are reluctant in hiring an attorney. Startups are constantly under pressure to succeed without losing money, and this makes it essential to utilize lawyers that are beneficial to your startup and worth the price you pay […]

7 months ago

When a Business Should Switch Lawyers

Finding the right attorney for your business isn’t always an easy task. For years, it’s been an annoying task. What starts out as a glowing recommendation from friends and family can turn into an utter nightmare. Also, a simple search for a lawyer on Google can turn into hours of researching and playing phone tag. […]

7 months ago

Planting the Seed: What to Expect in the First Round of Funding

Preparing for and getting through your first round of startup funding is exciting and terrifying all at the same time. Fortunately, there’s plenty of advice for making sure you come to the table prepared – and that you receive the funds you need to get things moving. Lots of Questions Firms and individuals who provide […]

7 months ago

How to Attract Top Talent to Your Company

Whether you’ve just started a brand new company or you’re looking to grow, hiring the right people to help you succeed is very important. Here, you can learn some valuable tips for attracting and retaining the best of the best right from the very start. #1 – Create an Employee Value Proposition (EVP) An EVP […]

7 months ago

Can a Foreign Citizen Start a Business in the United States?

One of the questions that many people ask about business ownership and startup companies is whether a foreign citizen can start a US-based business. The answer is yes, and the procedure for doing so is exactly the same as the procedure for an American citizen in many situations. Why Do Foreign Citizens Start US-Based Businesses? […]

7 months ago

What Startups Should Look for in an Attorney

Hiring a lawyer for any reason can be a confusing and often frustrating task, but hiring an attorney to represent and protect your startup is even tougher. Here are some things you should look for when hiring an attorney to make things simpler and ensure that your lawyer is the right fit. A Good Fit […]

7 months ago

What You Need to Know About Trademarking Your Company Name

Trademarking your company name protects your business’s right to use that name both now and in the future. As such, trademarking a company name is a very important step in building a successful business. Here is what you need to know about making sure you do it correctly – and at the right time. What […]

7 months ago

How to Guard Your Idea Against Patent Infringement

If you have a great idea for any kind of invention, you might ask yourself questions like, “how to protect my idea?” or “what can I do to prevent patent infringement?” The good news is that there are several steps you can take to make sure that your idea remains in safe hands. Understanding Intellectual […]

7 months ago

Business Immigration Compliance – What You Need to Know

When it comes to hiring employees for your business, you certainly have a lot on your plate. However, understanding the country’s business immigration laws can still save you a lot of time, money, and headaches. Here is everything that any business owner should know about business immigration laws. What You Are Not Allowed to Do […]

7 months ago

5 Reasons Why Delaware Is the Best State to Incorporate Your Business

There are many benefits associated with incorporating your business, but deciding where S corporation formation will give you the most benefits can be a daunting task. Delaware is one of the best options for S corp forming for a variety of reasons. #1 – The Laws Are Flexible S corporation formation requires some knowledge of […]

7 months ago

Four Lessons I’ve Learned Working With An Elite Startup Accelerator

There’s no shortage of discussion in the startup world about accelerators—why to work with one, how to get in, life after demo day, whether they’re sort of a scam, and so on, ad nauseum. But the bottom line—from my experience and in the opinions of many entrepreneurs—remains that if a good one lets you in, you […]

7 months ago

A Workaholic’s Guide to Happiness and Balance

A few months ago, I raised funding for my startup. After months of bootstrapping the business and burning through my savings, I finally got what I needed to push LawTrades into the stratosphere. My friends/family heard about the news and wanted to celebrate, but I just stayed in bed all day and ignored their calls […]

7 months ago

How To Create A Billion Dollar Monopoly According To Peter Thiel

A few days ago, Y Combinator’s How to Start a Startup course invited billionaire investor Peter Thiel to lecture Stanford students about business strategy and monopoly theory. Thiel is most notorious for investing $500,000 in Facebook in 2004, which turned into $500 million when the company went public in 2012. He is also a Founder of […]

7 months ago

How to Avoid Being Fired from Your Own Company

If you are both an employee and an owner, then the general answer is that – whether you’re a founder or not –  you can be terminated from the company as an employee, but you would remain a majority shareholder. As a majority shareholder, you’re entitled to BOD representation. The reality is often more complicated […]

7 months ago

How to Eliminate 90% of Your Regret and Anxiety by Thinking Like a Roman Emperor

Do you know what Steve Jobs, John D. Rockefeller, Amelia Earhart, and Ulysses S. Grant have in common? They each possessed the talent of turning obstacles into opportunities drawn from the Stoic ideologies of Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. While living our lives, it’s very likely that you will run into some pretty distressing events, and at […]

7 months ago