Business Foundations

Contracts are your shield. If it isn't in writing, it didn't happen.

• The Must-Haves:
  1. Operating Agreement / Bylaws: The Constitution of your company. It says who owns what and who makes decisions.
  2. IP Assignment: This is VITAL. It ensures that everything you (or your co-founders) build belongs to the company, not you personally. Investors will not give you money without this.
  3. Terms of Service / Privacy Policy: If you have a website, you need these to protect you from being sued by users.
• The Compliance Check: File your BOI (Beneficial Ownership Information) report. As of 2024/2025, every new U.S. company must tell the government who owns it within 90 days or face huge daily fines.

Free Resource: What legal documents do startups need in the US?