As the saying goes, by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail; and, this is especially true when concerning a business launch.
As a new business, you will be reliant on many external factors such as suppliers and stakeholders that you may not be able to control. However, the one element completely under your control is how well you prepare the documents related to your business launch.
Get Your Documents In Order:
Documents play an essential role in protecting the interests of the business and business owners over the course of a company’s lifetime. Here is a list of the 10 most common legal documents to help you determine what your business needs.
1. Company Bylaws for corporations. Most states require corporations to keep a written record of Bylaws, although you do not need to file the document with a state office. Bylaws define how the company will govern itself. For example, Bylaws can help settle a dispute on the length of a director’s term or define if you need a simple majority to approve a decision.
2. Meeting Minutes. Most states also require corporations to document what happens at major meetings. But even if you are a small partnership, keeping minutes is a good idea. They keep an official account of what was done or talked about at formal meetings, including any decisions made or actions taken. They can help settle a dispute about what happened or did not happen in a past meeting.
Your minutes should be detailed enough to serve as your organization’s “institutional memory.” They should include: type of meeting; time and place of meeting; detailed attendance; all actions taken (purchases, elections, etc.); as well as any votes, including how everyone voted and who abstained.
3. Operating Agreement for LLCs. An Operating Agreement is recommended for every LLC, particularly when there are multiple members involved. This document outlines an LLC’s financial and functional decisions. If there is more than one member, it becomes all the more important to define how key business decisions will be made, how profits and losses will be distributed, what are the rights and obligations of members and what happens when someone wants out of the business. Once members sign the document, it becomes an official, binding contract.
4. Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA). Whether you realize it or not, your business has information that should remain private, such as a customer list, financial records, or ideas for a new pricing plan. An NDA is your first line of defense to protecting this information. This legal document creates a confidential relationship between your business and any contractors, employees, and other business partners who might get a behind-the-scenes look at your operations.
5. Employment Agreement. This contract sets the obligations and expectations of the company and employee in order to minimize future disputes. Not every hire requires an employment agreement, but the document can be useful if you want to dissuade certain new hires from leaving your company too soon, disclosing confidential information about your business, or going to work at a competitor. The contract should be reviewed by an experienced attorney before it is given to an employee to sign.
6. Business Plan. A business plan may not be a legal document, but it is required should you ever decide to seek financing or sell your business. Your business plan can be one page or a hundred pages, as long as it provides clarity on your business opportunity and your road map to get there.
7. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). An MOU falls somewhere between a formal contract and a handshake. It documents any important conversations you have with suppliers, potential partners and others involved in the business. MOU’s are a great way to lay out the terms of a project or relationship in writing, but do not rely on the document to be legally binding.
8. Online Terms of Use. While not required by law, any business with a website should include their terms of use. These pages can limit your liability in cases where there are errors in your own content, as well as information contained in any hyperlinks from your website. Furthermore, your Terms should let visitors know what they can or cannot do on your site, particularly in cases where visitors can comment on blogs or share their own content.
9. Online Privacy Policy. If you gather any information from your customers or website visitors (such as email addresses), you are legally required to post a privacy policy that outlines how this information will be used and not used.
10. Apostille. Businesses involved in international trade with other Hague Convention countries may need a certificate, known as an “apostille,” which authenticates the origin of a public document (like Articles of Incorporation) so they can be recognized in another country. An Apostille is only valid in countries that are members of the Hague Convention.
JV LAW GROUP can assist you with these documents. Remember, by taking the time to think about the various elements on each document, you are setting the right foundation for your business. Contact JV LAW GROUP today at 714-752-3270 or via email info@jvlawgroup.com
