Category: Start.

Are you starting a new company and are trying to figure out whether a limited liability company (LLC) or corporation is the right legal structure for your business? There is a lot of information on the Internet about which type of legal structure is best for startups. And there is no shortage of opinions when you talk to accountants, attorneys, and business contacts. You ultimately will need to determine what is best for you and your business, but I wanted to provide some practical perspective based on what I see with actual startups and their experiences.

Entrepreneur’s Question: “I don’t understand my stock ownership and how much of the company I own. I thought that I had 25% of the company, but my shares equal less than 10% of the authorized shares. Could you explain who owns what percentage of the company?”

Entrepreneur’s Question: “What are all of the items (e.g., legal documents, agreements, etc.) that are required to incorporate a business? I want to make sure that I have the right foundation down as I start my company.”