This is a question we get frequently. You have made your dreams a reality so getting your business up and running is now your top priority! With that in mind, you know that you do not have an unlimited budget for startup and legal fees. So, does your startup really need a business startup lawyer? The answer is, YES!
It is so important to be mindful of the legal implications of your business decisions. Consulting a business startup lawyer, sooner rather than later, can go along way in helping you avoid possible legal consequences down the road. Below you will find some key ways an experienced startup lawyer can help with.
Protecting Your Ideas
The basis of most startups is putting an innovative idea to work. This is the heart of your business and it is essential to protect it. If your idea involves an invention, an intellectual property (IP) lawyer can help you navigate and file relevant patent applications. Because of patentability limitations and competition, you will want to get it done fast and get it right the first time!
Protecting Your Brand’s Identity
After having spent an enormous amount of time and energy, not to mention money, into gaining brand recognition, you definitely want to protect it. A great way to protect your brand name or logo is by registering it as a trademark. A distinctive word, phrase, symbol or design qualifies a trademark that you can register with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). An experienced startup lawyer can help you navigate this process smoothly.
Regulatory Environment
Depending on the nature of your startup, there are a number of regulations that may affect your business. It is important to understand the FDA, environmental, zoning, and pharmaceutical regulations that may affect your businesses. An experienced startup lawyer can advise you on which regulations you need to comply with and how you can avoid non-compliance.
Data Privacy Issues
If you will be using the internet in the course of doing business, and no doubt you will at some point, you should consider implementing user agreements. These agreements detail the user code of conduct, disclaimers of warranties by the website and disclaiming liability for any links to third party sites. Most websites will also include a privacy policy, detailing how your company uses, processes, stores and shares data. You should definitely want to enlist a lawyer to draft these agreements and policies to avoid overlooking what could end up being costly legal issues.
These are just a few of the many ways that a startup lawyer can assist you in setting up your business. Contact us today for a consultation to see how we can help you protect your new business.