start-up lawyer, what are four questions about the venture that she is going to ask us?”

What questions to ask a business lawyer before starting a business?

Jun 24, 2017 · As an entrepreneur, one of the first questions you should ask yourself, your accountant, and your lawyer is what type of company structure will best suit the business you plan to conduct. The answer will depend on the size of the company, your expected cash flows and revenues, and the level of liability you are willing to assume, or can afford.

What questions should I ask the CEO of a startup?

Dec 24, 2015 · Ask them these 9 questions and be sure that you’re making the right choice from the start: 1. Who is going to handle your business? Is the lawyer you’re considering part of a big firm? If so, you need to make sure that she will be directly handling your business and you won’t end up with an intern to manage as well.

How many questions should you ask during a startup interview?

Jun 04, 2019 · We understand your startup needs are as unique as your business ideas and will work with you to craft a tailored solution that makes sense for your business and give you confidence and peace of mind. To get started today with a free initial consultation, please call us at (616) 717-5759 or complete our quick and easy consultation form below.

What questions do investors ask when investing in a startup?

The more you plan and strategize before you start your business, the more likely you will be able to succeed. Here are the 5 top questions to ask a business lawyer before starting a business. Before you start your business, make sure yourself you ask the following…. If you have any other questions about starting and growing your business ...

What questions should I ask a startup lawyer?

7 questions to ask your startup lawyerDo You Work With Companies Comparable to Mine? ... How Do You Bill? ... Will I Be Comfortable Working With You? ... What Is Your Focus? ... What Is Your Past Experience? ... Are You the Best in the City? ... What Is Your Age and Experience With Technology?Aug 3, 2013

What questions would you ask a start up before deciding to fund them?

Here are four questions every startup interviewee should ask.What Does Success Look Like for the Company? ... What is the Biggest Risk to the Company? ... What's the Current Runway, and What Are Future Funding Plans? ... What is Current Growth Like?

What questions do lawyers ask?

What Questions do Lawyers Ask Their Clients?What is your case about? A lawyer will want to know every single detail of your case. ... What do you hope to accomplish? ... How do you want us to communicate? ... Why did you choose me? ... Are you comfortable with my rates?Nov 28, 2019

What questions should I ask a venture capitalist?

21 Questions to Ask a Corporate Venture CapitalistHow many investments have they made to date, and what's the average size?Where do they find their deals?Do they limit their investments by geographic location?How do they go about choosing investment opportunities?How many deals do they consider in a year?More items...

What are the best interview questions to ask?

The Top 15 Interview Questions to Ask Job CandidatesWhat do you know about our company, and why do you want to work here?What skills and strengths can you bring to this position?Can you tell me about your current job?What could your current company do to be more successful?More items...•Feb 10, 2022

How do you ask for funding for a startup?

9 Realistic Ways To Fund Your StartupFriends and Family. Borrowing money from friends and family is a classic way to start a business. ... Small Business Loans. ... Trade Equity or Services. ... Bootstrapping. ... Incubator or Accelerator. ... Crowdfunding. ... Small Business Grants. ... Local Contests.More items...

What questions should I ask a corporate lawyer?

General QuestionsHow long have you been practicing law?What do you specialize in?What are your main roles and duties? What goes beyond that scope?How do you bill?What companies do you generally work with? ... Are you experienced with startups?Are you familiar with the laws of incorporation in my specific state?

How do you answer a law question in an interview?

Below are some common legal interview questions—plus suggestions on how to approach them.Tell me a little about yourself. ... What attracted you to our firm/organization? ... Can you describe a challenge or conflict you have faced at work and how you overcame it? ... What is your biggest weakness? ... Do you have any questions for us?Mar 20, 2021

What do lawyers do?

Lawyers typically do the following: Advise and represent clients in courts, before government agencies, and in private legal matters. Communicate with their clients, colleagues, judges, and others involved in the case. Conduct research and analysis of legal problems.Sep 8, 2021

What do you mean by venture?

1a : an undertaking involving chance, risk, or danger especially : a speculative business enterprise. b : a venturesome act. 2 : something (such as money or property) at stake in a speculative venture. 3 obsolete : destiny, fortune, chance. at a venture.

What do venture capitalists do?

A venture capitalist (VC) is a private equity investor that provides capital to companies with high growth potential in exchange for an equity stake. This could be funding startup ventures or supporting small companies that wish to expand but do not have access to equities markets.

What are venture capitalists looking for?

VCs look for a competitive advantage in the market. They want their portfolio companies to be able to generate sales and profits before competitors enter the market and reduce profitability. The fewer direct competitors operating in the space, the better.

What to do if a lawyer answers "preemptive"?

If she answers “preemptive,” you should jump right on board. In the best case, you want a lawyer who works with you to prevent any legal trouble. She needs to have attention to detail and a future vision that spots potential gaps where problems might appear.

Why do startups need to build a network of professionals that they can trust?

Startups need to build a network of professionals that they can trust because these are the building blocks of a sustainable business.

Who is Katherine Hawes?

Katherine Hawes of Aquarius Education is a lawyer with two dogs as the office companions that races cars in her spare time. She has practiced law for over 15 years assisting small business grow and understand their legal responsibilities. You can find her on

Have You Worked With Startups Before?

Not every lawyer knows what’s best for a new business. Startups have different needs, challenges, and opportunities compared to other types of businesses. So, even if a prospective attorney is experienced in a specific area, they may not be able to help you in the way you need because they lack experience with startups.

Have You Worked With Startups Like Mine Before?

Finding an attorney with experience in your industry is essential. Your attorney should know all the ins and outs of whatever area of business you’re going into.

What Is Your Social Media and Technology Experience?

Asking about social media might seem like an irrelevant question, but technology and social media use are critical for startups today. Having a lawyer who understands how social media, the internet, the cloud, and websites work are important factors worth considering.

If Not You, Who Will I Be Working With Moving Forward?

If you’re communicating with larger firms, you may have a consultation with a different attorney than the one who will actually be handling your business matters moving forward. If this is the case, ask who you’d be working with, and connect with them before you agree to anything.

What Is Your Fee Structure and How Do You Bill?

When it comes to fees, get the details up front. Some lawyers charge for phone or Skype calls, assistant’s time, administrative or research time, and even emails. Understanding how your lawyer will bill you and at what rate and schedule will help you avoid surprise invoices and unnecessary conflict.

Law Offices of Kari Santana: Here to Help Your Startup Grow

No matter where you are in the process of launching your new business, the experienced team at the Law Offices of Kari Santana are here to help you succeed.

1. Do they understand your industry?

My biggest gripe with lawyers is that they often don’t understand their clients’ industries. Many firms are excellent with contracts and document preparation, but if they don’t understand the industry your startup lives in, they aren’t going to be the best counsel for you, because they simply won’t know what to look out for.

2. Have they worked with early-stage startups?

Early-stage startups have very different legal needs from mature startups. For early-stage companies, the focus has to be on building a legal infrastructure for the company; for later-stage companies, the focus is often on securities, funding, etc.

3. Which lawyer will actually be working on your matter?

This is critical, because you may get a great presentation by an experienced partner and find out later that the person handling you as a client is a first-year associate who doesn’t understand exactly what your company does.

4. What is their fee structure?

Startups want everything for extremely cheap or for free – especially when it comes to service providers (hey, it’s bootstrapping – we get it!). But when someone starts offering you free legal services, I want you to consider this: What are they getting out of it?

What is the number one candidate for entrepreneurs who are more comfortable with working alone?

The sole proprietorship is the number one candidate for entrepreneurs who are more comfortable with working alone. From the phrase itself, it is easy to derive that the owner of the business is just one person who is most likely to be the manager as well.

Why is information technology important?

The advent of information technology makes it easier for us to access information that we need. The internet is teeming with drafts of different contracts for small businesses. Even the processes that you need to follow in trade name and trademark registration is just as click away.

Why is it important to keep proprietary information?

Keeping the proprietary information within the bounds of your business is important to make sure that business’ interest is protected. This applies not only to the employees but to all people who have significant involvement with the business like the individual contractors.

Is it risky to start a business?

But starting a business can be a very risky venture. The more you plan and strategize before you start your business, the more likely you will be able to succeed. Here are the 5 top questions to ask a business lawyer before starting a business. Before you start your business, make sure yourself you ask the following….

What do venture investors invest in?

As most venture investors invest in software, internet, mobile, or other technology companies, an analysis of the startup’s technology or proposed technology is critical. The questions the investors will pursue include:

What do investors want to invest in?

Investors want to invest in a company that can grow significantly and become an exciting business. Alternatively, if you show projections in which the company predicts to be at $500 million in three years, the investors will just think you are unrealistic, especially if you are at zero in revenues today.

What is valuation in early stage?

Valuation at an early stage of a technology company is more of an art than a science. To help bridge the valuation gap for early stage startups, you often see investors looking for a convertible instrument with customary conversion discounts and valuation caps.

What are some examples of early traction?

Examples of early traction can include the following: The creation of a beta or minimally viable product.

Do venture capitalists invest in startups?

Venture capitalists make decisions constantly about whether or not to invest in various startups. The majority of the time, the answer is no. There can be many reasons for this decision, including that the startup is not within the firm’s focus or stage of desired investment. But assuming the company is within the investment parameters of the fund, ...

Who is Mark Patricof?

Mark Patricof, founder of Patricof & Co. , says: “Know exactly what you want to spend your money on. Don’t tell me how long it will last; tell me what you want to prove. The most impressive entrepreneurs communicate the value of their businesses through numbers.

Do investors want to know how their capital will be invested?

Investors will absolutely want to know how their capital will be invested and your proposed burn rate (so that they can understand when you may need the next round of financing). It will also allow the investors to test whether your fund-raising plans are reasonable given the capital requirements you will have.

1. What Does Success Look Like for the Company?

At a growing company, there are endless decisions to be made that will affect the course of the company and its eventual outcome.

2. What is the Biggest Risk to the Company?

Startup CEOs believe in their companies, but they also are keenly aware of the obstacles that exist on the path to success. And getting an understanding of what the company believes its biggest risks are can help you evaluate how certain or uncertain a company’s future may be.

4. What is Current Growth Like?

If you join a startup team, you should receive stock options, and those options are an investment on your behalf. Just as an investor wouldn’t put in money without understanding a company’s trajectory, you shouldn’t put in your time (and potentially take a pay cut) without evaluating a company’s potential.

How many hours do you work at a startup?

Some startup employees are expected to work 50 to 60 hours per week.

Why do you need to wear multiple hats in a startup?

With a small team, you typically need to wear multiple hats—and that can be rewarding because it often translates into having more autonomy over what you learn .

How many subscribers does Netflix have?

Netflix, on the other hand, has surpassed more than 137 million subscribers. Stumbling into opportunities to join the next Netflix are rare, but these examples serve as a reminder that saying “yes” to joining a startup could change the trajectory of your career. You never know if and when a company could take off.

What to do if you are concerned about job security?

If you’re concerned about job security, analyze the industry you’re operating in. If you work in hospitality, for example, there might be more growth opportunities at Airbnb than a regional hotel chain.

Is it okay to talk about money when interviewing?

Talking about money can often feel uncomfortable, but it’s reasonable to discuss when you’re interviewing for a startup position. Knowing the company’s runway, or the amount of time a company has until it runs out of money, says a lot about how sustainable the business is, but also the strength of the management team.

Who is Lauren Landry?

Lauren Landry is the associate director of marketing and communications for Harvard Business School Online. Prior to joining HBS Online, she worked at Northeastern University and BostInno, where she wrote nearly 3,500 articles covering early-stage tech and education—including the very launch of HBS Online.

Is it easy to join a startup?

Making the decision to join a startup isn’t always easy. It’s regularly repeated that 90 percent of startups fail, which forces the question: Am I prepared to take the risk? After all, when you accept a startup job offer, you’re making a bet on a company that might not be around in five or 10 years.

Do They Understand Your Industry?

See more on venturebeat.com

Have They Worked with Early-Stage Startups?

Which Lawyer Will Actually Be Working on Your Matter?

What Is Their Fee Structure?

Do You Actually Like The Person You’Re Talking to?