The Internet technology scene is bursting with new innovations every month. If you’ve spent any time researching social media then you may be familiar with the term “startup”. When you’re in the dreaming stage of forming a company, it’s only natural to spend most of your time thinking about things such as your logo, the company name, the marketing plan, etc. Few entrepreneurs sit around dreaming about obtaining the correct licenses, filing trademark paperwork, or naming a registered agent in an LLC filing.
Luckily, there are a number of online services that can streamline those processes, guiding you through the steps one by one. One word of warning: Even with these sites, you should consult an attorney.
1. LegalZoom
LegalZoom provides a legal education center and articles on the legal aspect of current events. This extensive site can help you file for trademarks and patents, or form an S corporation or C Corporation (or an LLC); it can even help with annual reports and copyrights. After you create an account, the service walks you through the process, almost exactly like one of those business tax programs would. Each section explains most of the nitty-gritty details and includes links to find more information. Costs can vary depending on what you need to do.
2. Rocket Lawyer
Alike to LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer offers forms you fill out online and submit. Rocket Lawyer provides individuals and small to medium sized businesses with online legal services—including incorporation, estate plans, legal health diagnostics, and legal document review. One major difference is that Rocket Lawyer charges by the month to use the site, not per document. There are a few extra offerings, such as an NDA form for a product announcement and hiring contracts. The site also provides attorney referrals so you can fill out a form and then have your doc reviewed.
3. MyCorporation.com
This site enables customers to complete entity formations such as corporations or limited liability companies, do trademark searches and registrations, copyright registrations, and other services. MyCorporation does not provide legal advice. You can search for a business name and see if anyone else is using it in your state. There’s a section for “business maintenance” tasks such as creating an annual report and filing for tax-exempt status.
4. License123
License123 is a unique research service that helps new and existing businesses discover which permits and licenses they need in order to be compliant with their local, state and federal governments. Licensing is one step that’s easy to overlook. License123.com provides a free search tool to look up your specific industry–everything from auto repair and consulting work to contracting and retail shops. You select your industry and state, and then can download the proper forms.
5. DocStoc
Docstoc is the premier online destination to start and grow small businesses. The parent site of License123, DocStoc contains business forms for just about any purpose: forming a company, filing trademarks, and even creating an advertising plan. You can use the site to store your own forms and documents, which is handy because you can access them all in one place. Like Rocket Lawyer, the site offers a premium membership plan for $20 per month to use any of the docs.
6. LivePlan
LivePlan is the first online business planning and management software that was created by actual business planning experts. For about $20 per month, LivePlan.com is laser-focused on helping you start and manage a business plan. This document, which you might use to find investors or secure a bank loan, usually follows a specific format in which you calculate some of the start-up costs, create a plan for advertising and sales, and name those who will be involved. You can adjust plans as your business grows.