When you were a kid, did you ever get so excited about a new toy that you rushed to put it together, tossing the instructions to the side? If you then realized you missed a few steps, it probably became infinitely less fun.

That’s what it’s like for startup founders who forgo proper legal standards in the rush to get their product or service to market — only a lot more is at stake. When correctly implemented, the law will help you protect your business and the people who helped build it. As a founder, you will be making legal decisions as you build your startup and throughout its lifespan.

TechRepublic Premium presents some ideas if you want to stay on the right side of the law as a startup founder. Don’t think of these as best practices, but as concepts you need to discuss and explore. The article includes advice from Nelson Chu, CEO and founder of Percent.

Featured text from the guide:

Consider intellectual property

When it comes to the idea that the business is built on, founders should make sure they are not in violation of any non-compete agreements or in violation of intellectual property rights. Much of this will be determined by where you are coming from as an entrepreneur. If you are leaving a company where you developed software or you’re spinning out from another project, pay close attention to who can claim ownership of the IP.

Boost your startup dreams with our eight-page PDF guide. This is available for download at just $9. Alternatively, enjoy complimentary access with a Premium annual subscription. Click here to find out more.

TIME SAVED: Crafting this content required 16 hours of dedicated writing, editing and research.