{"id":78,"date":"2011-12-03T23:48:30","date_gmt":"2011-12-03T23:48:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/colorninja.com\/minton\/?page_id=6"},"modified":"2024-11-21T16:52:06","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T16:52:06","slug":"minton-law-group-p-c-in-the-news","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.mintonlawgroup.com\/?page_id=78","title":{"rendered":"Minton Law Group, P.C. in the News"},"content":{"rendered":"

12 Best Strategies for Vetting Potential Investors and Venture Capital Firms<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ascertain Their Sophistication<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhile VC firms are by definition sophisticated investors, not all angel investors understand the space.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How to Talk to Investors About Your Competition<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

3. Portray competitors as exit opportunities.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhile many founders dream of someday ringing the bell at NASDAQ the day of their IPO, most exits are done as private sales. Each competitor in your<\/span> field, especially the major players, is a potential acquirer of your<\/span> business.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

9 Incentives to Offer Execs for Joining Your Board of Advisors <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

5. Future Opportunities<\/strong><\/p>\n

From SBT: \u201cWhile on day one you may not have a lot of options for incentives<\/span> for executives<\/span> to join your<\/span> board<\/span> of advisors, they should be sophisticated enough to know that opportunities will arise as your<\/span> company grows.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

13 Surefire Tips for Attracting Your Ideal Investor<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Know Your Risks<\/strong><\/p>\n

From Startups.co: \u201cSophisticated investors understand that investing in a startup or early-stage company is a risky venture. No investment is a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153sure thing,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and while confidence is appreciated, hubris is not.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

16 Entrepreneurial Books Successful CEOs Swear By<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Venture Deals<\/strong><\/p>\n

From Small Business Trends: \u201c[\u2018Venture Deals\u2019] is accessible enough that people who are not attorneys or professional investors can understand the basics of the transactions we focus on, while\u2026 [also] a worthwhile read for my attorneys.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

10 ways to use competition to your advantage<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Use the association of professionals<\/strong><\/p>\n

From Time: <\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153As fellow professionals, other attorneys are actually one of my best sources of clients and can be great resources for my practice and clientele.<\/em>\u201c<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

8 Ways to Prepare for Your Startup\u2019s Next Board Meeting<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Prepare Discussion Items Regarding Company Strategy<\/strong><\/p>\n

From ReadWrite.com: \u201cThis is your chance to get advice and input from a room full of very experienced individuals who are highly invested in seeing your company succeed.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ten ways to use competition to your advantage<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Use the association of professionals<\/strong><\/p>\n

From The Chicago Tribune: <\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153As fellow professionals, other attorneys are actually one of my best sources of clients and can be great resources for my practice and clientele.<\/em>\u201c<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

7 Things to Consider When Raising Money from Family or Friends<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

4. Have Objective Third-party Advisors<\/strong><\/p>\n

From Bplans.com: \u201cBy having an arms-length negotiation, professionals can protect their client\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s interests and even the relationship by acting as the bad guy when necessary.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

10 Things You Should Never Do While Pitching an Investor<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

6. Not Knowing Your Risks<\/strong><\/p>\n

From Business.com: \u201cKnowing the risks specific to your venture and being upfront with your investors is a strong way to show your understanding of your business and its industry, as well as your honesty and integrity.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

12 Things You Should Do Before Entering a Business Partnership<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Do a Background Check<\/strong><\/p>\n

From ReadWrite.com: \u201cTo protect your company or investment, do a thorough job diligencing the backgrounds of anyone who will be in a position of power within your company.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

8 Reasons Equity-Based Crowdfunding Isn\u2019t the Answer<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

5. Legal Expenses<\/strong><\/p>\n

From Business2Community: \u201cA large portion of whatever you raise will immediately go out the door to your professional advisors.\u201d<\/span><\/em>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

9 Books to Read Before a Fundraising Round<\/strong><\/p>\n

7. What Every Angel Investor Wants You to Know<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

From Vergestartups.com: \u201cWritten by Brian Cohen, Chairman of the New York Angels, early investor in Pinterest<\/a> and current cofounder of Launch.It<\/a>, the book \u2018What Every Angel Investor Wants You to Know<\/a>\u2018 gives great insight and concrete advice to startup founders on how to find an angel that is a good match for their company\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

8 legal documents every startup needs<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Assignment of Intellectual Property<\/strong><\/p>\n

From Startup Business Journal: \u201cEvery person who works in any manner for the company, including the founders, should execute an agreement assigning all intellectual property they create to the company.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n

11 Tips for Avoiding Startup Legal Battles<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

6. Invest in Liability Insurance<\/strong><\/p>\n

From Small Business Trends: \u201cAlthough it may not keep you out of court in our litigious society, a general business liability insurance policy may mitigate your exposure when you end up there.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

How to Get a Partnership Deal for Your Business<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

11. Have a Strong and Clear Deadlock Provision<\/strong><\/p>\n

From Bplans.com: \u201cThere must be a strong and clear provision in the contract on what will happen if there is deadlock on a key matter\u2026 it is essential that both sides know what happens when they cannot agree on something fundamental.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Revenge of the Interns: Why More Interns Are Suing Businesses<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

From Amex: \u201cAt its heart, the question is, who is getting the most out of the internship relationship? \u2026 If the intern is getting the benefit of the bargain even without being paid, the company is on the right track. But if the company is getting more out of the relationship, the intern needs to be paid to balance the scales.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

12 Ways to Legally Protect Your Brand<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

4. Create a Distinctive Mark<\/strong>
\nFrom Business2Community: \u201cTrademarks in the U.S. are subject to varying degrees of protection based on the distinctiveness of the mark. A generic name will receive less protection than a name that is unique.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

7 Questions to Ask Your Startup Lawyer<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

4. What Is Your Focus?<\/strong><\/p>\n

From GeekWire: \u201cIf you are working in a metropolitan area, the answer to the question, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s your focus?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d should never be, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m a generalist.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d In any startup ecosystem, there should be practices (both large and small) that focus on entrepreneurship.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n


\n<\/a>
\n<\/a><\/strong><\/em>What\u2019s one way that early-stage entrepreneurs can minimize the risk of employee theft and fraud?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

3. Be Careful in Your Hiring<\/strong><\/p>\n

From Yahoo! Small Business Advisor: \u201cThe best protection is to avoid the situation in the first place by thoroughly vetting your employees, creating and maintaining a strong oversight regime and putting the kibosh on any undesirable behavior as soon as it is spotted.\u201d <\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n


\n<\/a>21 Books That Will Change the Way You Sell<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cGetting to Yes\u201d by Roger Fisher and William Ury
\n<\/strong>
\nFrom Business 2 Community:<\/em> \u00e2\u20ac\u0153First published in 1981, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Getting to Yes\u00e2\u20ac\u009d by Roger Fisher and William Ury shows that a good in-person sale is really nothing more than a negotiation in which everyone comes out ahead.<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

7 Ways to Cut Costs at the Office<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

2. Negotiate a Flat Fee<\/strong>
\nFrom Under30CEO.com: \u201cSome spaces will tempt you with a low rent and then nickel and dime you on everything. Negotiate a flat fee for electricity, telephone, Internet, conference rooms, copying, faxing, answering services and the myriad of other amenities your landlord provides.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Drafting Your First Employment Agreement<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Decide: Employee or Independent Contractor
\n<\/strong>From Business on Main: \u201cThere is a major difference in the way the law treats employees and independent contractors. Decide which category fits your worker, and then tailor the agreement to that relationship.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n


\n<\/a>12 Tips for Crowdfunding Your New Business<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Understand the Downsides
\n<\/strong>From Yahoo! Small Business Advisor: \u201cCrowdfunding is not a panacea for first-time entrepreneurs. While it can reduce the regulatory burdens of initial capital raising, it comes with downsides.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

12 of the Hardest Questions Venture Capitalists Will Ask You<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Debt or<\/strong> Equity?
\n<\/strong>From AlleyWatch: \u201cMany investors will know going into a deal whether they want preferred stock or a convertible note. Sometimes, however, they will leave it up to the company.\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

How Do You Identify Speaking Gigs That Boost Your Brand?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Look at Who the Event Targets
\n<\/strong>From B2C: \u201cLook at who the event is advertising itself to. Are these your customers, colleagues or thought leaders?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

13 Ways to Stay Productive on Your Darkest Days<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

4. Take a Step Back
\n<\/strong>From LifeHack: \u201cRemember why (and for whom) you are working so hard, take that deep breath and attack that next challenge.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

8 Things to Include in A Startup Confidentiality Agreement.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

3. Have a Set Termination Date<\/strong>
\nFrom KillerStartups.com: \u201c[I]t is important to have a set termination date and clear provisions regarding what the party\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s rights and responsibilities are once the agreement has terminated. A gray area here is bad news all around.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

6 Legal Requirements For Unpaid Internship Programs<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

From Forbes: \u201c[T]here are some very serious legal considerations every for-profit company \u2013 including startups \u2013 must be aware of before attempting to use unpaid interns.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

13 Surprising Startup Challenges<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

There\u2019s too many options<\/strong>
\nFrom FreeEnterprise.com:<\/em> \u201c\u201cLeaving the large law firm to go out on my own, I was inundated with possible revenue streams to chase and spread myself too thin. However, once I picked a few narrow customer bases and focused my marketing efforts, I really started getting traction.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

11 Ideas for Financing Your New Company<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

10. Incubators and Accelerators
\n<\/strong>From KillerStartups: \u201c[T]he access they provide to industry experts, startup attorneys and venture capitalists greatly improve the chance of your startup becoming a success.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

7 Things to Consider Before Selling Your Company<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

5. Practice Due Diligence
\n<\/strong>From ReadWrite.com: \u201c[P]eople looking to sell should practice due diligence on their own companies before handing things over to a prospective acquirer.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

13 Top Traits of a Great Boss<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

7. A Team Orientation
\n<\/strong>From Monsterthinking.com: \u201cKnow that every project is a reflection of you and your team. To create the best product, learn your team\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s strengths and weaknesses.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

In Business, You Need to Adapt and Overcome<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

There are too many options
\n<\/strong>From Upstart Business Journal: \u201c[O]nce I picked a few narrow customer bases and focused my marketing efforts, I really started getting traction.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

16 Values All Startup Employees Should Share<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

11. Inte<\/strong>grity
\n<\/strong>From KillerStartups:<\/em> \u201cThere is nothing that will sink a startup faster than a founder abusing the trust pu<\/em>t in him by his co-founders,<\/em> employees and investors.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

14 Tips for Keeping Your Brand Name Intact When a Reporter Calls<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

13. Understand What They\u2019re After (It\u2019s Not You)
\n<\/strong>From Yahoo!: \u201cA reporter is not interviewing you to catch you in a \u2018gotcha\u2019 moment \u00e2\u20ac\u201d he wants to write a story about a topic on which you have expertise that his readership will find interesting.<\/em><\/p>\n

13 Ideas to Make Classrooms More Entrepreneurial<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

2. Programming<\/strong>
\nFrom UpMarket: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Every startup needs someone who can fulfill its technological requirements, and there simply are not enough good programmers to fill this demand.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

How To Get the Most Out of a Startup Accelerator<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

8. Do Your Due Diligence <\/strong>
\nFrom ReadWriteWeb: \u201cNot all accelerators are created equal. . . Some are worth their weight in gold, while others are just looking to churn and burn their clients.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

How to Finance Your Startup Without Loans<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

10. Incubators and Accelerators<\/strong>
\nFrom Fox: \u201cNot only do they provide you with the capital to get your idea off and running, but the access they provide to industry experts, startup attorneys and venture capitalists greatly improve the chance of your startup becoming a success.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The Perils of Legal Self-Help Websites For Entrepreneurs<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

From Forbes: \u201c[T]too many people are finding out the hard way that a legal self-help website \u2018is not a law firm and is not a substitute for an attorney\u2019\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

How Do I Make the Transition to Online Retail?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

How Far Will You Go?<\/strong>
\nFrom MSN: \u201cEngaging in buiness with people in distant lands means exposing yourself to the regulatory regimes of those faraway places. . .\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

15 Unique and Inexpensive Ideas to Promote Your First Product<\/a><\/strong>
\nIndustry Publications<\/strong>
\nFrom Under30CEO: \u201cWhile a new product may not warrant a spot in a national daily, there is publication somewhere that targets your core customer base. And that publication wants to talk about you, for free, to the people who are most likely to become the first movers on your product\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

8 Real-Life Ways to Measure Startup Success.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

6. Clients.<\/strong>
\nFrom ReadWriteWeb: \u201cWhile revenue, profit and deal flow are easy metrics to \u201cmeasure success,\u201d as a service provider, the number of satisfied clients is the ultimate indicator of how my company is performing.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Ask the Entrepreneurs: 11 Tools to Easily Manage Business Finances<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

6. Microsoft Excel is Still Relevant!<\/strong>
\nFrom Lifehack: \u201cIt is the industry standard for spreadsheets for a reason. With a little training, you can run circles around any closed source software.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

This Means War: 24 Small Business Attorneys Share How to Deal with a Business Breakup<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

21. Agree on the ground rules beforehand.
\n<\/strong>From YFS Magazine: \u201cAgree to the steps that will be taken and the format of the dissolution long before things get acrimonious\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Debt vs. equity: Which is right for your startup?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Be thankful you have a choice.<\/strong>
\nFrom VentureBeat: \u201cAt the end of the day, when you need money for that next big step and you have found someone willing to fund you, your say in the matter is rather limited. Remember the golden rule for startups \u00e2\u20ac\u201d he who has the gold often makes the rules.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

4 Unintended Consequences of the JOBS Act for the Startup Community<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

From Forbes: \u201cLast month, President Obama signed the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act into law\u2026 While [the JOBS Act\u2019s] goals are laudable, the possibility of some negative outcomes may actually cause startups harm.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Ask the Entrepreneurs: 15 Signs You\u2019re Working Too Much and Burning Out <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

14. Didn\u2019t I Go to Work Already?<\/strong>
\nFrom Lifehack: \u201cIf you are \u2018at the office\u2019 even when you are at home asleep, it is time to take a breather.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

11 Major Public Relations Mistakes (and How to Learn From Them)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

10. Know Your Grammar Rules!
\n<\/strong>From TheNextWeb.com: \u201cIf people are analyzing your word usage, they are not thinking about your message. Nobody is immune; when Steve Jobs once called an iPod the \u201cfunnest\u201d ever, the following buzz was not on the features of the new product, but on the correct usage of \u201cfun\u201d in the English language.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Choosing Your Legal Status: What Kind of Business Are You?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\u2026 But an LLC isn\u2019t just for big companies with multiple subsidiaries, either. \u201cWhether you are a giant or one person, you still want to protect your personal assets,\u201d advises Peter Minton, president of Minton Law Group, P.C. \u2026<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

12 Best Strategies for Vetting Potential Investors and Venture Capital Firms Ascertain Their Sophistication \u201cWhile VC firms are by definition sophisticated investors, not all angel investors understand the space.\u201d   How to Talk to Investors About Your Competition 3. Portray … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":62,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-78","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mintonlawgroup.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/78","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mintonlawgroup.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mintonlawgroup.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mintonlawgroup.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mintonlawgroup.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=78"}],"version-history":[{"count":86,"href":"http:\/\/www.mintonlawgroup.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/78\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":476,"href":"http:\/\/www.mintonlawgroup.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/78\/revisions\/476"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mintonlawgroup.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/62"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mintonlawgroup.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=78"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}