We are all the way through the Business Lifecycle. And we're back to the time to file with the state, your Annual Meeting minutes, or your annual filings. So wherever you are in this process, it's a good time to review where you've been.

If you haven't started a company yet, then I urge you to focus on the first four steps, which are what it will take to get your company off the ground. If you have started a company, then let's look at the last four steps we discussed and make sure that your filings and documents are all in order.

Who's on Your TEAM?

Regardless of where you are in the process, I do want to go back to this notion of a TEAM (Trusted Experts, Authorities and Mentors). When putting together a business we often see in media that it's the glorified side hustle with the individual working 100 hours a week trying to do it all themselves. But the fact is you do need that team with you. We discussed before the importance of having someone who's a pro at technology. You want to make sure you have a strong accountant who understands your business. That accountant should work well with your lawyer to make sure that they both understand your business and any required filings. Whatever industry you're in, try to find a mentor, at least one maybe more, who's done what you're doing, and has seen it all before. They can help you avoid some simple mistakes that may trip you up at the beginning of the process.

Whether it's the personal or the business side, you want to make sure you have a financial advisor who can keep your business and your personal finances on track as you start a business.

And finally, don't forget about marketing. Marketing these days, whether it's viral videos online, or an amazing website, has become more important than ever. Whether it's videos, websites, audio, podcasts, whatever the media is, there's a need for a strong marketing presence. Look for someone who's good with graphic design, there’s probably a different person who would be great to help you with videos. And then there's even another different person to create written content. But regardless of what kind of marketing you're doing, there's an expert out there who can help you with it and you want to make sure you seek them out and find them.

Next Steps

If you're ready to take that next step and get your business off the ground, let's set up a Legal Strategy Session to discuss the best options for you. Or, if you'd prefer more information, including a checklist for forming your company, you can download the Business Lifecyle report for more information.

Andrew Ayers
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I work with business and estate planning clients to craft legal solutions to protect their legacies.