Resources for insight and
inspiration
Guides
Insights
Licensing Agreements for Startups: Turning Your IP into Revenue
Licensing your intellectual property - whether it’s code, brand, or content - can be a smart way to scale without manufacturing or selling yourself. But founders need to tread carefully: Licensing Agreements involve handing over rights to your most valuable asset.
Expanding Your Reach: What Startup Founders Should Know About Distribution Agreements
If your startup sells physical products or software, you may eventually need help reaching customers in new markets. A distribution agreement can be a powerful way to expand without building a large internal sales team.
Manufacturing Agreements for Startups: Legal Basics Behind the Build
If your startup builds physical products - hardware, wearables, or consumer goods - you need more than a handshake with your manufacturer. A well-drafted manufacturing agreement is essential to protect your product, control quality, and limit liability.
Getting Vendor Agreements Right: A Legal Checklist for Startup Founders
As your startup grows, so does your list of vendors - design agencies, cloud providers, contractors, and SaaS platforms. Every one of those relationships should be backed by a Vendor or Service Agreement that protects your interests and sets expectations.
FAQs
Open allYou may face fines, be barred from bringing lawsuits in that state, and raise red flags with investors during due diligence.
It allows states to require sales tax collection from businesses with no physical presence, if sales exceed state-specific thresholds.
Yes. Even one employee working from another state may create a tax or registration obligation in that state.
It means registering your company to legally operate in a state other than your state of incorporation.
Online applications are processed immediately. If you file by mail, it may take up to four weeks.
You should incorporate first. The IRS requires your legal entity details from your incorporation certificate to process your EIN application.
Yes. Even without employees, most banks, investors, and credit providers require an EIN to recognize your business as a separate legal entity.
Failing to complete essential post-incorporation documents can create legal disputes, ownership confusion, and tax complications. It may also discourage investors who expect proper documentation to be in place.
Yes. Employees, contractors, and consultants who contribute to product development or intellectual property should sign a CIIAA to ensure the company owns all IP rights.
The 83(b) election allows founders to pay taxes on stock at the time of grant, which can save significant money if the company’s valuation increases in the future.
Bylaws are critical because they establish how the corporation is governed and how decisions are made. However, other documents like stock purchase agreements and the 83(b) election are equally important for founder protection.
Yes. If your startup is registered to do business in multiple states, you must appoint a registered agent in each jurisdiction.
No. Federal tax treatment is the same regardless of where you incorporate. Only state-level taxes and franchise fees differ.
Yes, if you are not immediately seeking outside funding, your home state often provides lower costs and simpler compliance.
Delaware offers a specialized court system, predictable legal outcomes, and corporate governance flexibility that investors prefer.
Many startups begin as LLCs or C-corporations. The right choice depends on factors like your fundraising goals, tax strategy, and management style. A business attorney can help determine the best structure for your situation.
While you can wait, incorporating earlier protects you from personal liability and establishes credibility with customers and partners.
Yes. Most investors require a legal entity with clear IP ownership and equity structures in place before they will invest.
You should consider incorporation when you have created intellectual property, added co-founders, prepared for a product launch, started hiring employees, or plan to raise outside funding.