We really _wanted_ to use Stripe Atlas for our startup but ended up using Clerky for various reasons. Neither will get you all the way to the goal line, but both give you a damn good start. You’ll end up finalizing some things with your accountant / legal counsel.
That being said, Atlas is getting closer and closer to closing all the gaps. Excited to see what they’re able to accomplish in the next 1 - 2 years. The onerous process (easier in the US than others, but still not easy) inhibits innovation and the easier things become the more folks can focus purely on creating value in the economy.
A really big win in the space recently was the temporary approval for electronic submission of 83(b) paperwork. The more things like that occur (and become permanent) the better off we’ll all be.
Sorry for the stupid question, but how exactly do I find a lawyer to help me with this stuff? I tried to Google some lawyers in my area, but I don't even understand what type of law to focus on, or if there's some online service? I've never sought a lawyer service before ..
For example, I want help with a privacy policy and T&C. I made a draft of both after looking at like a dozen similar apps and looking at what they cover, but now I want to find a lawyer to take my rough draft and make it legitimate so I can use it on my website and apps.
FWIW I have no entrepreneurship background in my family so I have to ask around like this even for my dumb questions (thanks).
It's not a stupid question. The simplest is to look for a "business lawyer" and then ask them about their experiences with businesses like yours
But also, don't overestimate what a lawyer is going to do. They're not going to make your docs legitimate, but they will spend as much time as you want to pay for working on them and telling you the risks.
They _will_ frequently be able to get you started with docs like that, though. If they've done the work before they'll have a ready to go draft for you.
I know this sounds snarky but it is true -- when i've spoken to three separate small business lawyers on what is required i received three different answers, with about 70% overlap across the three. I actually wonder if there is any right answer for a small business on a budget.
Some law is 100% cut and dry and lawyers agree. A lot of law is interpreted, and as you see below some lawyers will have different opinions based on their experiences.
As an "outsider to law" I... didn't expect that. I thought it would feel "firmer". Just a head's up as you might find yourself getting different advice that you'll have to parse.
That being said, Atlas is getting closer and closer to closing all the gaps. Excited to see what they’re able to accomplish in the next 1 - 2 years. The onerous process (easier in the US than others, but still not easy) inhibits innovation and the easier things become the more folks can focus purely on creating value in the economy.
A really big win in the space recently was the temporary approval for electronic submission of 83(b) paperwork. The more things like that occur (and become permanent) the better off we’ll all be.