Category: Team Building & HR (Page 4 of 7)

QUESTION:

Who can or should you trust?  I have an idea that excites me: one that seems to have meat on the bone and I’ll need a great team to act on.  But I’m having a hard time finding the balance of whom I can trust to tell this idea to. Some people are evangelists and rally incredible support for their visions. Others hold their cards close to their chests. I want to tell everyone, but don’t want someone to take it and run.   Read more...

QUESTION:

I’ve yet to develop or launch a new Web 2.0 startup. How best can I search for a partner interested in such a venture?

ANSWER:

by Naomi Kokubo, Cofounder of Founders Space

Before you dive into finding a partner, you need to ask yourself what you need from this partner. Is it money? A specific expertise? Business connections?   Read more...

QUESTION:

Hi everyone – great site!  I’d love some insight regarding compensating different employees with equity.  I have had a web-based product in beta for just over a year. We are completely bootstrap (i.e. no outside funding). We are an LLC, though plan to become an Inc. at the end of the year.

I have 3 different scenarios for potential equity:   Read more...

QUESTION:

What should I be budgeting for healthcare benefits for my employees since we will be hiring soon/recently received funding?

ANSWER:

by Brian Hassan, Managing Director, BayPoint Benefits

If you define full benefits like most Bay Area technology companies (and startups) as:

(1) Medical
(2) Dental
(3) Vision
(4) Group Life ($50,000)
(5) Short Term Disability
(6) Long Term Disability

Then here is my answer:   Read more...

QUESTION:

My background is in small business management, as well as sales and marketing. However, I have a few business models I’d like to pursue taking advantage of. My challenge is that they each require the skills of a programmer (which I don’t have) to build either a very detailed website or an iPhone app, both of which would also require someone to update and maintain them. My question is can I form working relationships with individuals with these skills in order to start my business, perhaps with a working contract and not by forming a partnership, LLC or a Sub S Corp?   Read more...

QUESTION:

I have been reading blogs from YouTern.com about the advantages for students to have an internship at a startup company (working directly with the owners). And, I have also read that using interns for my startup can be advantageous to my company (fresh ideas and eagerness).

With limited time I would like to offer an intern(s) “project” internship(s) but have learned that most Career Centers at Universities will not allow college credits or support the Project internship.   Read more...

QUESTION:

We’re looking at bringing on a VP of sales, and I was thinking about providing a 0.75 – 1% equity stake with a 3 year vesting period. Is this about right?  We’re pre-funding right now.

ANSWER:

by Naomi Kokubo, Cofounder of Founders Space   Read more...

QUESTION:

What should I do if a laid-off employee won’t return his laptop to the company? It has confidential information on it, and it’s a company laptop.

ANSWER:

by Ethan Stone, Stone Business Law

First, a quick but important clarification: I’m not your lawyer and this answer doesn’t establish a lawyer-client relationship. I’m giving a generic answer to a generic question to educate the users of this site. The information below is general in nature and should not be understood as a substitute for personal legal advice.   Read more...

QUESTION:

This is a silly question, but I have to ask. The employee performs his job, but he’s driving me crazy. Can I fire this employee simply because he’s incredibly annoying? Quality of life must count for something. What if two people don’t get along. I’m the CEO. Shouldn’t I be able to decide who works for me?

ANSWER:

by Charles Swan at www.thevirtualcfo.net

The short answer in California is YES, since California is an “at will state.”   Read more...