Whats Inside?

A Guide to Startup Funding

Introduction: Personal Financing, Debt Financing, and Equity Financing

Learn the various business structures and how to make the right choice.

• When starting a new business, one of the first decisions to make is the type of business organisation that will be used in operating the business.

Shareholders’ agreement: necessity, not luxury

• Starting a business with close friends or family members may seem to negate the need for formal arrangements.
• A Shareholders’ Agreement (or a Partnership Agreement in the case of a business organisation set up as a partnership) is a legal contract between all the shareholders.

Protect your intellectual property

• Protect your brand name
• Don’t discuss your idea carelessly
• Be sure you own your intellectual property
• Arrangements with third parties

The New Hire:obligations and liabilities

• Unfortunately, many startups or small businesses overlook these and unnecessarily expose themselves to potential liabilities and penalties.
• These liabilities may even affect the valuation of the company in a sale or financing transaction.

Other agreements you may need in the course of your business

• Documents play an essential role in protecting the interests of the business and the business owners over the course of a company’s lifetime.