Blackstone LaunchPad Entrepreneurship Book Collection: Funding, Patents, & Business Law

The How To Grants Manual, 6th edition is an essential guide for grant seekers who are new to the process, as well as seasoned grant seekers who want to maintain a competitive edge in the grants marketplace. If you are seeking a grant for your university, college, school, or nonprofit organization for research, a model project, a demonstration project, equipment, or a building, this book will provide the help you need. The How To Grants Manual is intended to assist you in understanding the grants marketplace and grantors, to provide you with the newest databases available to pinpoint the right grantors, and to give you the ability to calculate your chances of success before you invest the time to develop a full proposal.

In The $100 Startup, Chris Guillebeau shows you how to lead of life of adventure, meaning and purpose - and earn a good living.   Still in his early thirties, Chris is on the verge of completing a tour of every country on earth and yet he's never earned a regular paycheck.  Rather, he has a special genius for turning ideas into income, and he uses what he earns both to support his life of adventure and to give back. There are others who've found ways to opt out of traditional employment and create the time and income to pursue what they find meaningful.  You can start small with your venture, and wait to take the real plunge when you're sure it's successful.   In preparing to write this book, Chris identified 1,500 individuals who have built businesses earning $50,000 or more from a modest investment, and from that group he's chosen to focus on the 50 most intriguing case studies.  In nearly all cases, people with no special skills discovered aspects of their personal passions that could be monetized, and were able to restructure their lives in ways that gave them greater freedom and fulfillment.   Here, distilled into one easy-to-use guide, are the most valuable lessons from those who've learned how to turn what they do into a gateway to self-fulfillment.  It's all about finding the intersection between your "expertise" and what other people will pay for.

Startup money is moving online, and this guide shows you how it works. The Art of Startup Fundraising takes a fresh look at raising money for startups, with a focus on the changing face of startup finance. New regulations are making the old go-to advice less relevant, as startup money is increasingly moving online. These new waters are all but uncharted--and founders need an accessible guide. This book helps you navigate the online world of startup fundraising with easy-to-follow explanations and expert perspective on the new digital world of finance. You'll find tips and tricks on raising money and investing in startups from early stage to growth stage, and develop a clear strategy based on the new realities surrounding today's startup landscape. The finance world is in a massive state of flux. Changes are occurring at an increasing pace in all sectors, but few more intensely than the startup sphere. When the paradigm changes, your processes must change with it. This book shows you how startup funding works, with expert coaching toward the new rules on the field.

A groundbreaking book that boldly claims the key to success is not talent, connections, or ideas, but the ability to persuade people to take a chance on your potential.   "The most exceptional people aren't just brilliant...they're backable." --Daniel Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of When, Drive  and To Sell is Human   No one makes it alone. But there's a reason some people can get investors or bosses to believe in them while others cannot. And that reason has little to do with experience, pedigree, or a polished business plan. Backable people seem to have a hidden quality that inspires others to take action. We often chalk this up to natural talent or charisma...either you have "it" or you don't. After getting rejected by every investor he pitched, Suneel Gupta had a burning question: Could "it" be learned? Drawing lessons from hundreds of the world's biggest thinkers, Gupta discovered how to pitch new ideas in a way that has raised millions of dollars, influenced large-scale change inside massive corporations, and even convinced his eight-year-old daughter to clean her room. Inside Backable are long-held secrets from producers of Oscar-winning films, members of Congress, military leaders, culinary stars, venture capitalists, founders of unicorn-status startups, and executives at iconic companies like Lego, Method, and Pixar. Backable reveals how the key to success is not charisma, connections, or even your résumé, but rather your ability to persuade others to take a chance on you. This original book will show you how.

The Business of Venture Capital explains the multiple facets of the business of venture capital, from raising venture funds, to structuring investments, to generating consistent returns, to evaluating exit strategies. Author and VC Mahendra Ramsinghani who has invested in startups and venture funds for over a decade, offers best practices from experts on the front lines of this business.

Think big, buy small. Are you looking for an alternative to a career path at a big firm? Does founding your own start-up seem too risky? There is a radical third path open to you: You can buy a small business and run it as CEO. Purchasing a small company offers significant financial rewards--as well as personal and professional fulfillment. Leading a firm means you can be your own boss, put your executive skills to work, fashion a company environment that meets your own needs, and profit directly from your success. But finding the right business to buy and closing the deal isn't always easy.

Crack the Funding Code demystifies the world of angel investing, venture capital, and corporate funding and lays out a strategic pathway for any entrepreneur to secure funding fast. Lack of funding is one of the biggest reasons small businesses fail. Most business owners believe that their only feasible funding options are (1) savings or personal credit, (2) friends and family or (3) bank loans. They may have heard about venture capitalists or angel investors, but they don't have enough information about what these investors do, what they can provide for a business, and on what terms. What's worse, entrepreneurs often don't know how to access the people who are looking to put their money into young companies with potential. Finally, business owners don't have enough expertise to navigate the treacherous waters of outside funding. Crack the Funding Code will show readers how to find the money, create pitches that attract investors, and then structure fair, ethical deals that will bring them new sources of outside capital and invaluable professional advice. It will give readers the broader perspective--how funding works, how investors think, and what they need to hear to put their money where your mouth is. Every entrepreneur who reads this book will get easy-to-follow deal checklists, a roadmap of where and how to locate the best funding resources and top business mentors for their particular industry and/or geographical location, and a step-by-step process to create pitches that make their idea or business irresistible.

40 leading venture capitalists come together to teach entrepreneurs how to succeed with their startup The Entrepreneurial Bible to Venture Capital is packed with invaluable advice about how to raise angel and venture capital funding, how to build value in a startup, and how to exit a company with maximum value for both founders and investors. It guides entrepreneurs through every step in an entrepreneurial venture from the legalities of raising initial capital to knowing when to change tactics. Andrew Romans is the co-founder and general partner of Rubicon Venture Capital, a venture capital fund that invests in privately held technology companies and enables its investors to co-invest along side the fund on a deal-by-deal basis via innovative sidecar funds right up to IPO or M&A exit.

If you are the founder of a high-tech startup company, you know it's a daunting task, and the odds of success are slim. All founders dream of achieving a rewarding outcome like Steve Jobs or Bill Gates, but few reach such a pinnacle. In The Fundable Startup: How Disruptive Companies Attract Capital, Fred M. Haney, an experienced venture capitalist, angel investor, and company founder, explains startup strategies that will help you:Understand the thinking of investorsBuild a "virtual team"Create initial value in a product or prototypeRecruit management that will help you raise capitalThe Fundable Startup contains eight personal interviews with executives and entrepreneurs that will change the way founders think about managing a startup company.

In 1961, Charles Koch joined his father's Wichita-based company, then valued at $21 million. Six years later, he was named chairman of the board and CEO of Koch Industries, Inc. Today, Koch Industries' estimated worth is $100 billion -- making it one of the largest private companies in the world. Koch exceeds the S&P 500's five-decade growth by 27-fold and plans to double its value on average every six years. What exactly does this company do and why is it so remarkably profitable? Koch's name may not be on your stain-resistant carpet, stretch denim jeans, the connectors in your smart phone, or your baby's ultra-absorbent diapers but it makes them all. And Koch's Market-Based Management® system is what drives these innovations and many more.  Based on five decades of interdisciplinary studies, experimental discovery, and practical implementation across Koch businesses worldwide, the core objective of MBM is to generate good profit. Good profit results from products and services that customers vote for freely with their dollars, products that improve people's lives.  It results from a culture where employees are empowered to act entrepreneurially to discover customers' preferences and the best ways to satisfy them. Good profit is what follows when long-term value is created for customers, employees, shareholders, and society. Here, drawing on revealing, honest, and previously untold stories from his nearly six decades in business, Koch walks the reader through the five dimensions of MBM to show how to apply its framework to generate more good profit in any business, industry, or organization of any size.

This guide will help any founder raise the right way, with confidence. Venture capital is a powerful tool for entrepreneurship-one that can help overcome some of the challenges of starting and scaling a new business. It's notoriously easy for founders to take wrong turns in their path to financing a company-but many mistakes are avoidable with the right knowledge. Author Andy Sparks is a three-time founder whose goal is helping entrepreneurs avoid pain, costly mistakes, and fruitless research.

The greatest investment advisor of the twentieth century, Benjamin Graham taught and inspired people worldwide. Graham's philosophy of "value investing"--which shields investors from substantial error and teaches them to develop long-term strategies--has made The Intelligent Investor the stock market bible ever since its original publication in 1949. Over the years, market developments have proven the wisdom of Graham's strategies. While preserving the integrity of Graham's original text, this revised edition includes updated commentary by noted financial journalist Jason Zweig, whose perspective incorporates the realities of today's market, draws parallels between Graham's examples and today's financial headlines, and gives readers a more thorough understanding of how to apply Graham's principles. Vital and indispensable, The Intelligent Investor is the most important book you will ever read on how to reach your financial goals.

The untold story of Steve Schwarzman and Blackstone, the financier and his financial powerhouse that avoided the self-destructive tendencies of Wall Street. David Carey and John Morris show how Blackstone (and other private equity firms) transformed themselves from gamblers, hostile-takeover artists, and 'barbarians at the gate' into disciplined, risk-conscious investors. he financial establishment-banks and investment bankers such as Citigroup, Bear Stearns, Lehman, UBS, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley-were the cowboys, recklessly assuming risks, leveraging up to astronomical levels and driving the economy to the brink of disaster. Blackstone is now ready to break out once again since it is sitting on billions of dollars hat can be invested at a time when the market is starved for capital. The story of a financial revolution-the greatest untold success story on Wall Street- Not only have Blackstone and a small coterie of competitors wrested control of corporations around the globe, but they have emerged as a major force on Wall Street.

Through interviews with more than a dozen leading entrepreneurs, such as Twitter's Jack Dorsey, LinkedIn's Reid Hoffman and other successful venture capitalists, this book will be an invaluable guide for entrepreneurs looking to unlock the secrets of the VC world and get the support to finance and develop their new ventures. Jeffrey Bussgang uses his unique perspective as a venture capitalist and former entrepreneur to show how VCs operate and how entrepreneurs can work with them to fund and grow their dream company.

This volume provides a meaningful framework for understanding the relationship between venture capital and entrepreneurial success. It helps readers spot the real limitations of and challenges facing venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and individuals or institutions who want to play either role in the venture game. The authors give the background to why venture capital has exploded as an industry by explaining how venture capitalism drives - and has always driven - innovation, economic growth and job creation beyond high technology and industrialized countries.

In this refreshing, counterintuitive book, author Will Thorndike brings to bear the analytical wisdom of a successful career in investing, closely evaluating the performance of companies and their leaders. You will meet eight individualistic CEOs whose firms' average returns outperformed the S&P 500 by a factor of twenty--in other words, an investment of $10,000 with each of these CEOs, on average, would have been worth over $1.5 million twenty-five years later. You may not know all their names, but you will recognize their companies: General Cinema, Ralston Purina, The Washington Post Company, Berkshire Hathaway, General Dynamics, Capital Cities Broadcasting, TCI, and Teledyne. In The Outsiders, you'll learn the traits and methods--striking for their consistency and relentless rationality--that helped these unique leaders achieve such exceptional performance. Humble, unassuming, and often frugal, these "outsiders" shunned Wall Street and the press, and shied away from the hottest new management trends. Instead, they shared specific traits that put them and the companies they led on winning trajectories: a laser-sharp focus on per share value as opposed to earnings or sales growth; an exceptional talent for allocating capital and human resources; and the belief that cash flow, not reported earnings, determines a company's long-term value.

Do you feel the pull to start your own business?  Tired of working for others and dealing with office politics, eager for control and more money, Ed "Skip" McLaughlin certainly felt it. When he left his high-level corporate position to start not one but two new businesses, his colleagues' reaction was disbelief: People told me I was crazy. "You are going to fail!" One of his businesses did fail, but the other thrived. Ed bootstrapped it into an Inc. 500 company and later sold it to a Fortune 100 company. Now, you can learn from his experience--what to do and what not to do--to create your own successful startup. The Purpose Is Profit eliminates the mystery of becoming an entrepreneur. You will learn-- Why distinctive competence trumps passion Where and when to get funding without losing control How to build an entrepreneurial brand that lasts Why profit should be factored into every business decision How ethical behavior breeds trust and unlocks profit As a bonus, The Purpose Is Profit includes two manuals: The Startup Roadmap details the 21 steps you should take to build a profitable business. The Startup Funding Guide delivers the tools you need to fund your business. 

Have the negotiating edge when getting your new business off the ground Written by Dermot Berkery, an internationally known venture capitalist with Delta Partners, this complete toolbook thoroughly details how venture capitalists arrange the financing for a company; what they look for in a business plan; how they value a business; and how they structure the terms of an agreement. Within its pages, you'll find everything you need to successfully raise new business capital with the most attractive terms possible. Using informative case studies, detailed charts, and term sheet exercises, Raising Venture Capital for the Serious Entrepreneur discusses the basic principles of the venture capital method, strategies for raising capital, methods of valuing the early-stage venture, and proven techniques for negotiating the deal.

Super Founders uses a data-driven approach to understand what really differentiates billion-dollar startups from the rest--revealing that nearly everything we thought was true about them is false!   Ali Tamaseb has spent thousands of hours manually amassing what may be the largest dataset ever collected on startups, comparing billion-dollar startups with those that failed to become one--30,000 data points on nearly every factor: number of competitors, market size, the founder's age, his or her university's ranking, quality of investors, fundraising time, and many, many more. And what he found looked far different than expected. Just to mention a few: Most unicorn founders had no industry experience; There's no disadvantage to being a solo founder or to being a non-technical CEO; Less than 15% went through any kind of accelerator program; Over half had strong competitors when starting--being first to market with an idea does not actually matter.   You will also hear the stories of the early days of billion-dollar startups first-hand. The book includes exclusive interviews with the founders/investors of Zoom, Instacart, PayPal, Nest, Github, Flatiron Health, Kite Pharma, Facebook, Stripe, Airbnb, YouTube, LinkedIn, Lyft, DoorDash, Coinbase, and Square, venture capital investors like Elad Gil, Peter Thiel, Alfred Lin from Sequoia Capital and Keith Rabois of Founders Fund, as well as previously untold stories about the early days of ByteDance (TikTok), WhatsApp, Dropbox, Discord, DiDi, Flipkart, Instagram, Careem, Peloton, and SpaceX.   Packed with counterintuitive insights and inside stories from people who have built massively successful companies, Super Founders is a paradigm-shifting and actionable guide for entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone interested in what makes a startup successful.  

Term Sheets & Valuations is the first ever in-depth look at the nuts and bolts of term sheets and valuations. The book, written by leading venture capitalist Alexander Wilmerding of Boston Capital Ventures, covers topics such as What is a Term Sheet, How to Examine a Term Sheet, A Section-by-Section View of a Term Sheet, Valuations, What Every Entrepreneur & Executive Needs to Know About Term Sheets, Valuation Parameters, and East Coast Versus West Coast Rules. In addition, the book includes an actual term sheet from a leading law firm with line by line descriptions of each clause, what can/should be negotiated, and the important points to pay attention to. A must have book for any venture capitalist, executive, entrepreneur, lawyer or financial professional.

Entrepreneurs generally lack the marketing capabilities necessary to bring their new product to market. To engage the resources required to do this, they must somehow place a value on the enterprise. However, all of the methods of valuation currently available are based on the use of historical or current revenues, and therefore are not applicable to an entrepreneurial enterprise with a first-time product. In Valuing an Entrepreneurial Enterprise, Audretsch and Link present a valuation method uniquely tailored to emerging technology-based ventures that have no revenue history to lean on. Unlike many traditional methods, theirs does not take into account the track record of companies and products similar to that being valuated. Instead, it draws on economic theory to formulate a solution to the problem.The book develops conceptual ground, including trends in entrepreneurship, models of innovation, and the economics of standards and entrepreneurship policy. The authors review the traditional valuation methods and illustrate them numerically with case studies to show how the traditional approach produces an incorrect valuation. The core of the book presents the new methodology and demonstrates how it avoids the pitfalls of past approaches. The authors also show how public policy on technology and infrastructure changes valuations of start-up firms in areas such as stem-cell products and renewable fuels projects.Valuing an Entrepreneurial Enterprise will serve as a valuable resource for advanced students, economists, financial planners, and valuators interested in new valuation methods and the theory behind them, as well as those interested in entrepreneurship.

How do venture capital deals come together? This is one of the most frequent questions asked by each generation of new entrepreneurs. Surprisingly, there is little reliable information on the subject. The founders and driving force behind the Foundry Group, Brad and Jason have been involved in hundreds of venture capital financings. Their investments range from small startups to large Series A venture financing rounds. The new edition of Venture Deals continues to show fledgling entrepreneurs the inner-workings of the VC process, from the venture capital term sheet and effective negotiating strategies to the initial seed and the later stages of development.

When you connect with the right angel investor, it's like finding a new best friend--you just have to know what makes him or her happy. Smart funding is waiting for smart founders. Raising funds is all about connecting with the investor who's right for you--and What Every Angel Investor Wants You to Know shows you exactly how to succeed. Veteran early-stage investor Brian Cohen knows how to spot a great company destined for success, and in this groundbreaking book he offers soup-to-nuts guidance for anyentrepreneur seeking to launch an invention, a product, or a great new idea into a receptive marketplace. As chairman of the board of directors of the New York Angels, Cohen is one of the most engaged angel investors out there today. The first investor in Pinterest, he describes exactly what angels want to see, hear, and feel before they take out their checkbooks: A clear exit strategy before the startup even launches Facts that turn "due" diligence into "do" diligence Authenticity--"save your spinning for the fitness center" Proof that you "live inside the customer's head" Cohen gives invaluable insight into how the most successful angels view due diligence, friends and family money, crowdfunding, team building, scalability, iteration, exit strategies--and much more.

Before you do invest in a patent, it pays to invest a little time, learn about the process, and how the patent system works. Reading this book will help you understand: 1) how to work the patent system to your advantage, and 2) how to work effectively with the patent attorney who will represent you. This book will not teach you all of the detailed rules about patents. Instead, it will give you a framework and an understanding of the resources you will need, so that you can begin to think like a patent lawyer or better yet, think like an entrepreneur who is "patent savvy."

Most patents are worthless. By some estimations, this could be true of 95% of patents. Startup companies don't help themselves by making fatal mistakes, from filing provisional patents (almost always a bad idea) to treating their first patent as the most important one in their portfolio (it almost never is). How can an investor help their portfolio companies navigate the system? "Investing In Patents" discusses the patent process from an investor's view, but with insider knowledge.Investment-grade patents do not just happen by chance, they are curated through due diligence prior to filing the patent, then careful and consistent management through the process. Good patents are clear, straightforward, and easy to read. Understandable patent applications are easier to examine, meaning the issued patent is legitimate and defensible. Good patents have real, solid commercial value. The value of a patent only comes when it captures commercial value - not when it captures some cool technology. BlueIron IP's business is investing in patents, and this book discusses BlueIron's techniques and tools for evaluating inventions and managing portfolios specifically for startup companies. Startup companies have specific characteristics and needs that dictate strategies that often do not apply to larger companies with established products and systems. "Investing In Patents" discusses how startups need to manage their patent process, and how investors and guide them.

A brilliantly clear and up-to-date patent guide Patent law is changing, and this bestselling primer on patent law has up-to-date information on the America Invents Act, the most important change to American patent law in two centuries. Packed with detailed information, Nolo's Patents for Beginners explains how to: document your invention acquire patent rights "read" a patent application understand how and why to make a patent search determine patent ownership find patent information understand international patent law decide whether to file a provisional patent Nolo's Patents for Beginners provides plain-English explanations of patent law, patent and invention resources and a glossary of patent terms. The 8th edition is completely updated to cover all changes in patent law and regulations, including the latest on filing for provisional patent status.

The first edition of this book was written by Jeffrey Schox for his course "Patent Law and Strategy for Innovators and Entrepreneurs" at Stanford University. After an introduction to intellectual property, it explores the patent system, the requirements for a patent, infringement, and inventorship and ownership issues. The second edition included the America Invents Act ("AIA"), which transformed the U.S. patent system from a "first-to-invent" system to a "first-inventor-to-file" system. The third edition added a glossary and general edits. The fourth edition includes five additional cases: KSR (Supreme Court 2007), Stanford v. Roche (Supreme Court 2011), Prometheus (Supreme Court 2012), Nautilus (Supreme Court 2014), and Limelight (Fed. Cir. 2015).

Attorney David Pressman and updater Thomas Tuytschaevers takes you through the entire patent process, providing scrupulously updated information and clear instructions to help you: determine if you can patent your invention understand patent law evaluate the commercial potential of your idea perform your own patent search file a provisional patent application prepare a formal patent application respond to patent examiners amend an application enforce and maintain your patent market and license your invention Thoroughly updated to reflect the latest changes in intellectual property law, this edition provides the latest U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rules and forms. It includes up-to-date discussions of the new "first to file" rule, which has to revolutionized patent law.

Before you do invest in a patent, it pays to invest a little time, learn about the process, and how the patent system works. Reading this book will help you understand: 1) how to work the patent system to your advantage, and 2) how to work effectively with the patent attorney who will represent you. This book will not teach you all of the detailed rules about patents. Instead, it will give you a framework and an understanding of the resources you will need, so that you can begin to think like a patent lawyer or better yet, think like an entrepreneur who is "patent savvy."

The Entrepreneur's Guide To Law and Strategy, examines stages of starting a business -- from start-up and growth to public offering, while highlighting legal preparations and pitfalls. Cutting-edge examples show how legally astute entrepreneurs can strategically increase realizable value, deploy resources, and manage risk. The book discusses leaving your job, hiring former coworkers, competing with a former employer, workplace legislation, product liability, and bankruptcy. You examine current issues including today's workforce in the gig economy, crowdsourcing capital and social media, computer hacking and identity theft. Legal discussion integrates with core strategic concepts, such as Porter's Five Forces, the resource-based view of the firm, the value proposition, activities in the value chain and more.

Everything you and your partners need to go into business together! Form a Partnership thoroughly explains the legal and practical issues involved in forming a business partnership, creating a partnership agreement and protecting each person's interests. In plain English, the book covers: . partnerships compared to other business structures . the financial and tax liability of partners . contributions of cash, property and services . what happens if a partner wants out . how to value partnership assets . admitting new partners . buying out a partner's interest . limited partnerships . and much more This edition of Form a Partnership is totally revised and updated to reflect the law and realities of today's business world. Plus, all the forms you need to create a partnership agreement are provided. - Download forms for book on nolo.com

Create a nonprofit in your state without pricey attorneys' fees! The process of becoming a tax-exempt organization may appear intimidating, but with How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation, you can do it quickly, easily, and with confidence. This bestselling book includes complete instructions for obtaining federal 501(c)(3) tax exemption and for qualifying for public charity status with the IRS. It will help you: complete an IRS tax-exemption application prepare articles of incorporation write the bylaws of your nonprofit create in minutes of the organizational meeting understand your state's specific nonprofit requirements This edition is completely updated to reflect the latest changes in the law, and includes contact information for finding updated state-specific instructions. You'll also get information on new online services and options related to forming your nonprofit. Plus, all the forms you need are included in this complete guide.

Written by the author of Nolo's state-specific corporation books, this national edition takes you through the entire process in any state. When you're finished, your corporation will enjoy unique tax benefits, investment attraction, and much more.

The all-in-one business law book Whether you're just starting a small business, or your business is already up and running, legal questions crop up on an almost daily basis. Ignoring them can threaten your enterprise. The Legal Guide for Starting & Running a Small Business has helped more than a quarter million entrepreneurs and business owners master the basics, including how to: raise start-up money decide between an LLC or other business structure save on business taxes get licenses and permits choose the right insurance negotiate contracts and leases avoid problems if you're buying a franchise hire and manage employees and independent contractors attract and keep customers (and get paid on time), and limit your liability and protect your personal assets. This new edition explains how to do all of these things, taking into account coronavirus implications. Whether you're a sole proprietor or an LLC or corporation, a one-person business operating out of your home, or a company with a large staff leasing space, this book will help you start and run a successful business. The 17th edition is completely updated with the latest business tax rules and best practices for running a home-based business.

Updated to include information on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including the 20% pass-through deduction available to SMLLC owners Single-member LLCs are the new business entity of choice for small businesses with one owner. Easy to form and operate, Single Member LLCs combine some of the most desirable features of older, more traditional business structures like corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietorships. With a Single Member LLC, you get personal liability protection, pass-through taxation, and flexibility of management. This book provides an overview of everything you need to know about Single Member LLCs, including: what forms and documents you need to create an SMLLC how to initially fund an SMLLC what your options are for managing an SMLLC how to prepare taxes for an SMLLC what kinds of records you need to maintain for your SMLLC, and liability issues specific to SMLLCs. Nolo's Guide to Single-Member LLCs has all the essential information you need to decide whether an SMLLC is the right choice for your business. The book includes a sample operating agreement and written consent forms as well as tips and examples throughout to help clarify the most important points.

You've invented a great product and it's time for the next step. However, if you present an invention to a prospective buyer or licensee, it's no secret that your idea can be stolen. How can you draft an agreement that protects your interests? Turn to Profit From Your Idea to help you create, modify and understand nondisclosure agreements specifically for inventors. In addition to providing sample agreements and practical advice, this all-in-one guide helps you: understand the licensing process determine ownership rights work with agents effectively find potential licensees publicly show inventions without the risk negotiate a fair licensing deal draft a comprehensive licensing agreement deal with international licensing Disclosing your invention requires a balancing act: Presenting the best aspects of your invention while protecting the confidential aspects of your work. Use Profit From Your Idea to help you effectively maintain the necessary balance and minimize the risks of disclosure. The fully updated edition comes complete with the latest licensing case law and includes brand new FAQs, many from the author's popular blog, Dear Rich: Nolo's Patent, Copyright & Trademark Blog.

Why law is critical to innovation and economic growth Sustained growth depends on innovation, whether it's cutting-edge software from Silicon Valley, an improved assembly line in Sichuan, or a new export market for Swaziland's leather. Developing a new idea requires money, which poses a problem of trust. The innovator must trust the investor with his idea and the investor must trust the innovator with her money. Robert Cooter and Hans-Bernd Schäfer call this the "double trust dilemma of development." Nowhere is this problem more acute than in poorer nations, where the failure to solve it results in stagnant economies. In Solomon's Knot, Cooter and Schäfer propose a legal theory of economic growth that details how effective property, contract, and business laws help to unite capital and ideas. They also demonstrate why ineffective private and business laws are the root cause of the poverty of nations in today's world. Without the legal institutions that allow innovation and entrepreneurship to thrive, other attempts to spur economic growth are destined to fail.