Jennifer L. Woolley, Ph.D.

So you want to start a company.  Here is a quick todo list:

 

TO DO (not necessarily in this order)

• Determine your product or service

• Make sure that you are solving a real problem

• Talk to potential customers / users!!!

• Build a prototype or wireframe

• Feasibility analysis & market research

• Write a business pitch / business model canvas

  • Get feedback from friends, family, potential customers... anyone who will listen

  • Realize that the pitch must change - change it

• Write a business plan to help you dig into you did into your strengths and weaknesses

• Gather resources and funding

• Talk to more people and build your company

• Have fun!  

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• Legal stuff (in this order - see below for links)

        - Register your business with the Secretary of State 

            This includes filing Articles of Incorporation for C and S Corps; 
           Articles of Organization for LLCs, Certificate of Partnership, etc. 

        - Obtain EIN/FTIN from IRS
           Employer Identification Number or Federal Tax Identification Number

        - Register for state and local taxes

        - Register for local business license

        - Obtain necessary permit and licenses

 

 

 

Entrepreneurship Resources

Univ Colorado's Lawrence and Moyes Website - incredible website with plan, pitch, and financial templates

Business Model Canvas - your business in one page

Lean Canvas - one pager focusing on problem and solution

Kauffman Foundation- wealth of guides and information

U.S. Small Business Administration - guides and loans

SCORE - templates, guides, mentors (browse their library)

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Funding and Equity 

How Funding Works - Great Infographic (also at: blog.adioma.com/how-funding-works-splitting-equity-infographic/)

Own Your Venture's Equity Calculator
Foundrs Equity Calculator

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Incorporating, copyright, trademarks, patents
Legalzoom - inexpensive help

UpCounsel - free legal documents and guides

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office with searchable database of patents