Startup founders are an enthusiastic group. Inspired by a vision of what could be, they often move quickly to make their dream a reality.  In the rush to get your startup off the ground, however, be careful not to skip these important preliminary steps:

1.  REVIEW YOUR OBLIGATIONS TO CURRENT EMPLOYERS AND CLIENTS.

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Whether you are an employee or a consultant, you may have obligations that will limit what your startup can do.  Before you launch your startup, make sure you understand exactly what you can, and cannot, do under the terms of any existing agreements you have with an employer or client, and remember that these agreements often contain provisions that will be binding on you, even after you quit your job or stop providing consulting services.

Agreements that may affect your startup plans include: Continue reading →