Gig Harbor Startup Attorneys & Lawyers

Key Takeaways

• Renaming your business can refresh your brand, attract new customers, or reflect changes in ownership or direction.
• Always verify that your new name is legally available and doesn’t infringe on existing trademarks.
• Consider the financial, legal, and marketing implications before proceeding.
• Update your business registrations, licenses, trademarks, and online presence after renaming.
• A clear communication plan will help retain customers’ trust during the transition.

Starting a new business? Before you start your first big marketing campaign, you need to check that your business name isn’t being used by someone else. Otherwise, you may face tra

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Key Takeaways

• Seed money is vital for launching startups, covering early-stage needs like product development and market research.
• Sources include bootstrapping, angel investors, equity crowdfunding, corporate seed funding, and convertible securities.
• Choosing between public and private seed offerings has legal implications, including SEC compliance.
• Startups must avoid common mistakes such as giving up too much equity or ignoring investor contracts.
• New sections below expand on strategic planning, investor criteria, funding stages, and pros and cons of each funding type.

Seed Money: What Is It?

Seed money is used to fund the earliest stages of a new business, potentially up to the point of launching your product. Seed money may come from a variety of sources, including debt and equity offerings. Usually, an investor will exchange

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Key Takeaways

• Friends and family funding is a common early-stage financing route, often totaling more than $60 billion annually.
• This funding option is attractive due to its accessibility and lower compliance burdens compared to institutional investment.
• Mistakes in valuation, structuring, and securities compliance can cause long-term damage to your startup and personal relationships.
• Proper legal documentation, clear communication, and realistic expectations are essential.
• Convertible notes are often preferred for flexibility; other options include straight equity and simple loans.
• Carefully vet which family and friends are suitable investors — wealth alone doesn’t equate to strategic value.
• Institutional alternatives like angel investors and VCs offer different benefits and challenges.

Over one-third of startup founders have raised money from friends and family. In fact, startups receive more than $60

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