When someone leaves your company, founders often want to just “move on” - but whether the departure was voluntary or involuntary has lasting legal and financial consequences. From unemployment claims to final pay rules, the details matter.

Firing an employee is one of the most difficult parts of running a startup. Whether due to performance issues, role redundancy, or a strategic shift, termination is not only a business decision but also a legal one. If handled poorly, it can lead to lawsuits, damage team morale, and affect your ability to attract future hires.

Not all employees are treated the same under wage and hour laws. One of the biggest distinctions? Whether someone is exempt or nonexempt. Misclassification is a common startup mistake - with costly consequences.

You’ve made your first hire - congrats! Now what? Onboarding isn’t just about handing over a laptop. It’s your chance to set expectations, build culture, and cover legal bases. Here’s how to do it right from day one.

Startups thrive on flexibility, and independent contractors often feel like the perfect solution. But the distinction between contractor and employee carries real legal weight. Get it wrong, and your company could face IRS audits, back taxes, wage penalties, and even personal liability.

When your startup is strapped for cash and focused on growth, compensation can feel like a puzzle. But how you pay yourself and your team sends a signal - to investors, regulators, and employees. Done wrong, it can cause legal headaches, tax issues, and cultural tension. Here's how to navigate early-stage compensation the smart way.

When you’re building a startup, employment law may not be your first priority - but it should be close to the top of your list. Mistakes in hiring, classifying, compensating, or terminating employees can trigger lawsuits, fines, and reputational damage. Here’s a practical guide to the employment law issues every founder should get right from day one.

With increasing global data privacy laws, a Privacy Policy isn’t just good practice - it’s the law. Whether you’re collecting emails or processing personal data, you need a clear, compliant policy on your site or app.

If you run a website, app, or platform, your Terms of Service (TOS) are more than just boilerplate - they’re your shield. They limit your liability, set ground rules for users, and give you power to enforce your policies. Skip this, and you open the door to chaos.