You can screw up a startup in any number of ways, from hiring the wrong person to inking a bad partnership deal. Now, the folks over at Avvo — the Seattle online legal forum and lawyer directory — have compiled a helpful little infographic with some of the most common legal pitfalls that get startups in trouble.

Some of these are pretty well known. But it’s never a bad thing to have a few helpful reminders, is it?

They’ve also listed some of the most frequently-asked startup legal questions, so those are included below as well with links to the answers.


Meanwhile, here’s a look at some of the most-commonly asked startup questions on Avvo. Maybe the answers to these questions will help you avoid the troubles listed in the graphic above.

  1. Should I incorporate my tech startup in Delaware or California – what are the benefits?
  2. Does sweat equity have value in an S Corp? How does sweat equity compare to a cash investment in a startup?
  3. Is a verbal partnership agreement for a startup binding in California?
  4. We invested money in a startup biz and the relationship has now gone sour. What are our rights as financial investors?
  5. I did not file for section 83b election within 30 days of C Corp startup conversion. What are the options now?
  6. How do I fire the co-founder of my startup?
  7. Will an LLC save me money on federal taxes as a startup?
  8. My startup company is being accused of trademark infringement. What should we do?
  9. Partnership and shares in startup?
  10. What is the Business License/Incorporation requirement for startup?

Previously on GeekWire: A sign of a bubble? Startup-related legal questions surge in Silicon Valley, Seattle

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