San Francisco Startup & Business Law Blog

Startups often use equity to help attract and retain talented workers. This article outlines the differences and similarities of stock options and restricted stock awards and why most early stage startups that issue stock shortly after formation utilize restricted stock awards when compensating their workers.

When buying or selling a small business, you want to make sure to assess the value accurately. There are five ways to determine a fair purchase price:

Buying into a franchise can be an incredible opportunity for the right kind of entrepreneur — but if you are not careful, you could fall into one of the following traps. Below are four common pitfalls and some steps you can take to avoid each.

Should your company elect to be taxed as an S corporation? In California, certain professions that require a state license are prohibited from forming a limited liability company or a traditional corporation and instead must incorporate as a professional corporation.

When forming a corporation in Delaware you will need to indicate on the certificate of incorporation the total amount of stock the corporation is authorized to issue. How do you decide how many shares you should authorize? There are two schools of thought on this decision:

As a business owner, you face many challenges and expenses. One of the most important decisions is how to meet the legal requirements of your business while balancing the need to preserve time and capital. Below is a list of tips you may want to consider when selecting a qualified, trusted business attorney.

Why are so many companies incorporated in Delaware? This article gives the top 10 reasons why more than half a million businesses, including more than half of all U.S. publicly-traded companies and 68% of Fortune 500 companies, have incorporated in Delaware. It then outlines the biggest drawbacks to incorporating in Delaware and explains why it is not a one-size-fits-all solution.

Business owners often want to incorporate in Delaware, but are unsure if it is possible without having a physical office in the state. You do not need a physical location to incorporate in Delaware, but you do need to have a registered agent for service of process.

The California Online Privacy Protection Act requires a website or online service (includes mobile apps for smartphones and tablets) to “conspicuously post” a privacy policy if it “collects and maintains personally identifiable information from a consumer residing in California.”