Legal Issues
Constance E. Bagley's, and Craig E. Dauchy's The Entrepreneur's Guide to Business Law (2nd ed., Cincinnati, Ohio: West/Thompson Learning, 2002) is recommended both as a great overview of the range of legal issues faced by entrepreneurs, as well as an in-depth treatment of the vagaries of business law as it relates to the Entrepreneur. The book contains many excellent examples of real-world problems and solutions.
Web Resources
Free:
- HBS Baker Library | Bloomberg Center list of templates and forms A Fast Answers section on finding shareholder agreements, articles of incorporation, etc.
- Inc. Law and Taxation Resource Center Includes a how-to guide that provides information on legal forms, taxes, and HR issues. Also includes recommended links, blogs and resources.
- FindLaw - Small Business Center Useful for getting information on choosing and forming the right legal structure for your business, legal tips on day-to-day business operations, an overview of employment law issues, and much more.
- Findlaw - Small Business Contracts Findlaw provides an array of sample contracts in their Corporate Counsel Center.
- Entrepreneur.com: Small Business Legal Center This center includes articles on incorporation, employment law, IP, taxes and litigation as well as tips on how to hire an attorney.
- Bplan.com - Incorporating a Business This page includes information on incorporation, structure and other legal issues.
Articles
Free:
- "Top Ten Legal Mistakes Made by Entrepreneurs" Discusses the most frequent legal mistakes made by entrepreneurs, everything from hiring the wrong lawyer to puffing up the business plan.
Books & ebooks
- Five Common Employment Law Hazards for Startups A Foley-Hoag guide to legal considerations surrounding HR issues for start ups.
- The Entrepreneur's Guide to Business Law In print in the Stamps Reading Room, Baker Library | Bloomberg Center, KF390.B84 B34 2003 This guide walks the entrepreneur through all the legal steps required to start a business.
- Principles of negotiation: strategies, tactics, techniques to reach agreements In print in the Law School Library, HD58.6 .G83 2007 (CD-ROM in pocket) A guide to help entrepreneurs negotiate better deals when starting their new business.
- Structuring Venture Capital, Private Equity and Entrepreneurial Transactions In print in the Stamps Reading Room, Baker Library | Bloomberg Center, Ref KF 1428 S77 Published annually. This legal treatise includes information on business transactions for entrepreneurs including financing, starting up, acquisitions, and selling a business.
Cases & Teaching Notes
For Purchase:
Forms of Ownership
Web Resources
Free:
- Small Business Planner: Choose a Structure By the Small Business Administration, this page leads to resources for start ups on forms of ownership and other related topics.
Cases & Teaching Notes
For Purchase
Intellectual Property
Web Resources
Free:
- Protecting Your Ideas A short article that provides brief, concise definitions of intellectual property-related terms and ideas.
- Products & Services: Intellectual Property This section from the Kaufmann Center's eVenturing site highlights articles on IP issues for entrepreneurs. Search "Intellectual Property" for specific information.
- United States Patent & Trademark Office - Patents Basic facts and forms needed in order to apply for a patent.
- United States Patent & Trademark Office - Trademarks Basic facts and forms needed in order to apply for trademark registration.
Articles
Free:
- Sample NDA A template for writing a Non-Disclosure Agreement.
- Sample IP Assignment A template for writing an Assignment of Intellectual Property document.
Books & ebooks
- Patenting: A Guidebook for Those Involved in Legally Protecting Products and Technologies Foley Hoag guide to legally protecting inventions.
Cases & Teaching Notes
For Purchase:
Taxes
Web Resources
Free:
- IRS: Starting a Business and Keeping Records A beginner's guide to keeping records for a small business.
- IRS: Tax information for Small Businesses One stop resource for business topics related to the IRS and small business owners.
- Entrepreneur Magazine How to Guide: Tax This guide includes forms, articles, and FAQs around taxes and entrepreneurship.
- CCH Small Business Guide: Controlling Your Taxes Information on tax obligations for small businesses.
Deal Terms / Term Sheets
Web Resources
Free:
- NVCA: Model Legal Documents A "template" set of model legal documents for venture capital investments put together by a group of leading venture capital attorneys
Cases & Teaching Notes
For Purchase: