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Instituting a company-wide social media policy is one of the best ways to protect your business’s brand and image on the Internet. Disgruntled employees may say negative things about your business online, harming your reputation and putting your company at risk. A well-written social media policy sets reasonable restrictions on your employees’ use of the Internet. Here are 3 considerations to think about when drafting a social media policy.
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3 Considerations When Drafting a Social Media Policy
1. Read Other Policies

It’s important to do your research when writing a social media policy for employees to make sure yours is in line with current industry standards. You don’t want to institute a policy so unforgiving that you drive potential talent away from your business. Search for other social media policies and contact an experienced lawyer to make sure your policy is appropriate. Continue reading ›

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Are you thinking about starting a business? The success or failure of your business venture depends on your ability to plan ahead, take action, and respond to what happens after your idea becomes a company. Here are 4 actions to consider on your path to business success.
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Building a Successful Business: 4 Steps
1. Clearly Define Your Vision and Goals

Business success comes through hard work and dedication. Having a clear vision and measurable goals is the first step. Write down your plans for the future of your company, both short term and long term. It can also be helpful to scout out your competition to see if your plans will hold up in the market. This is known as market research, and it will allow you to identify whether a similar product or idea is already out on the market. Continue reading ›

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Crowdfunding is a great way for individuals and companies to fund new businesses, projects, and products through the Internet. With the advent of crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, it is easier than ever to fund your new business venture with the help of online supporters.

If you’ve heard anything about crowdsourcing money online as a source of achieving your startup dreams, you may have wondered what some of the legal consequences may be that are associated with taking “donations” from the public. Here are 3 potential legal issues that arise from using crowdfunding to support your business.

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Crowdfunding Sites: 3 Potential Legal Issues

1. Choose the Right Structure for Your Business

When you post your project on a crowdfunding website, if you haven’t formed a business already, you are now a sole proprietor by default. This type of business structure comes with its own benefits, but keep in mind that this might not be the type of business entity that’s best for you. There may be another business entity that is better suited for your business needs. Consider forming your entity with the help of a lawyer before posting your project to avoid being locked into the wrong type of business structure. Continue reading ›

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In any business venture, compliance with applicable laws and regulations is essential. These vary significantly depending on your industry and the jurisdiction in which you operate. In some cases, you may be subject to licensing and permitting requirements on the federal, state, and municipal levels. While many entrepreneurs are understandably excited to begin operations, failure to obtain the required licenses or permits can have serious consequences. In some cases, noncompliance with the applicable business regulations in your jurisdiction could even result in criminal charges or significant fines, potentially putting you out of business.

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Regulations regarding business licenses and permits are often voluminous and difficult for even sophisticated business people to understand. Anyone considering starting or expanding a business in California should contact an experienced attorney to discuss their circumstances.

In the meantime, here is some information about some of the more commonly required business permits and licenses. Continue reading ›

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Breaking away from the rest and forming your own business is a dream for many people. Business entrepreneurship can be a risky but rewarding venture, and it’s possible to achieve great success in your new company. Although running a business takes a lot of hard work and has challenges, you can reach a high level of success. Here are four keys to achieving great things as a business owner, as well as some advice from successful entrepreneurs.

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Business Entrepreneurship: 4 Keys to Achieving Success

1. Hire a Lawyer

“Surround yourself with great mentors.”-Thalej Vasishta, CEO, Immigration Lawyer

Sound advice and a strong team to lean on are essential for entrepreneurs. One of the first things you should do when starting your company is hire a lawyer. Choosing a business entity and licensing can be intricate, so have all paperwork looked over before making big decisions. A good business lawyer will be able to guide you through the whole process and assist you in protecting your intellectual property rights along the way. Continue reading ›

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Sometimes, avoiding litigation in a legal dispute is the best way to achieve a resolution. Mediation and arbitration may be viable alternatives to reduce the time and money spent litigating. Here are some pros and cons to choosing mediation vs. arbitration when deciding whether or not to opt for avoiding litigation.

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The Pros & Cons of Mediation
Pros:
1. Control

In mediation, you must sign in agreement of the final decision. This gives you control over your approval of the ruling. You also reserve the right to litigate if the mediation fails, making this a less costly alternative to heading straight to court. Continue reading ›

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Among the most important decisions a business owner or entrepreneur can make is determining what business entity best suits their needs. This decision can affect how much you pay in taxes, the amount of paperwork that you will need to do, your own personal liability, and your ability to raise capital by issuing stock. Additionally, some business formations require certain formalities in order to be in compliance with state and federal law.

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Of course, every business is different, and what may be an appropriate business entity for one venture may be completely inappropriate for another. Business ventures that anticipate rapid growth or are formed with the intention of being acquired by another company may choose an entity type that may be unnecessarily onerous at startup but allow growth and compliance with federal securities laws, preempting the need for a potentially costly reorganization down the road. For these and other reasons, it is best for anyone considering forming a business entity to discuss their goals and options with an experienced Silicon Valley business lawyer before filing any paperwork with the state.

In the meantime, here is some basic information regarding the some of the most commonly used business formations:

Continue reading ›

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Do you have a great idea but aren’t sure how to start a business? Creating a startup can seem daunting at first. There are many questions to consider when defining what type of business you want to start and figuring out what it will look like once your plan comes to fruition. There are also a few legal activities you need to complete before you can open up shop. Here are 4 steps to starting a business and some tips to help you get started.

iStock_000026890322Medium.jpg4 Steps to Starting a Business

1. Determine Your Market and Specialty

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Deciding to start a small business can be both exciting and stressful, and seeing your business succeed can be highly rewarding.

The reality of starting a small business is, however, that forming and running a business is generally far from a simple task. Business owners must have a viable idea, the necessary supplies to bring that idea to fruition, and a client base to keep the business afloat. Furthermore, small business owners in California must always ensure that they are in full compliance with numerous federal and state laws and regulations. This can be particularly daunting as many entrepreneurs may be largely unacquainted with all of the applicable laws, and may not have the time or expertise to familiarize themselves with such regulations.

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If you are a small business owner, a California business attorney can advise you on all the essential steps you must take in order to comply with all necessary laws.

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As much as you may want to avoid litigation when it comes to your business, conflicts arise and are sometimes unavoidable as a cost of running a successful business. While you and your business partners may have other philosophies on handling workplace issues, sometimes litigation is the best course of action to deal with messy company separations, distribution of assets, protecting your property, and sometimes even handling suppliers and consumers.

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As a business owner involved in litigation, you don’t need to resort to spending years in litigation or paying unreasonable settlement sums; you need to build strategies with a business lawyer so you can resolve conflicts efficiently and effectively, and maximize your ability to avoid future disputes. When litigation is initiated, it is important that it is done right to avoid unnecessary mistakes that waste all parties’ time and money.

Here are 5 common legal mistakes business owners can make when stepping into legal territory, and how to avoid them.

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