Questions regarding all things related to employment of people in the company.
2
votes
4answers
252 views
Should I use my company's IP?
I've been working for a company as a contractor for several months. While working for this company, I created some seriously sensitive IP. This is IP that is nigh on patentable.
My employment with ...
2
votes
2answers
171 views
Founders' reliance on IT manager/network admin
I am (co-)starting a company with the bought assets of my previous (software) company, dormant for over a year. The IT guy from the previous company is coming on board to help revive the server (needs ...
2
votes
2answers
179 views
What should I ask a startup's investors as a potential employee?
So, I was reading Guy Kawasaki's questions to ask a startup. One of them is to ask if you can speak with one of the investors on the Board of Directors. A startup that offered me a job asked me if I ...
2
votes
5answers
121 views
How to handle external help in a startup
We're a startup that is made up of 4 students. 3 graduated and 1 in his final year. One has taken a job for 4 days a week and is willing to work on our projects the other 3 days. So we have 2 ...
2
votes
3answers
151 views
Securing contract with a freelancer
I wonder - is it possible to sign a contract with a freelancer for a regular contract job securely?
I mean how can I justify that all the work he has done will be given to my company and nobody else ...
2
votes
1answer
154 views
How much power should you give your part-time staff?
My company started hiring office assistants a couple years ago. The rationale is pretty straightforward: since good engineers are hard to find, free our engineers of non-engineering tasks so they can ...
2
votes
1answer
163 views
How should early employees be compensated if founders have left and the company has pivoted?
I realize that Joel Spoelsky has written an extensive summary of how equity should be allocated (namely, fairly), but I was wondering how things might differ in slightly different circumstances...
I ...
2
votes
1answer
148 views
Where to post job for early stage startup
We are bootstrapping and offering equity. We're seeking a front end developer.
We posted on startuply.com but are looking for other places. We used one location on craigslist. Anywhere else we should ...
2
votes
2answers
224 views
Examples of Ex-Googlers/Ex-Microsofters Build Successful Companies and Have a Solid Relationship with Their Former Company? [closed]
I am looking for examples of ex-Googlers or Ex-Microsofters ( or other big companies leavers) who, after leaving the established company, went on to build their own, became hugely successful in their ...
2
votes
2answers
376 views
Legal issues with contract labor?
Are there any legal pitfalls I should know about when creating a service where I pay users to provide a service to customers? The model I'm thinking about is like Amazon Turk for a certain vertical. ...
2
votes
7answers
181 views
How do we know we're ready to grow?
Is it better to make the decision to hire based only on revenue growth? Or if you saved enough money to pay another salary for 4 months, would it be better to grow first and try to increase our ...
2
votes
3answers
304 views
Remote employee in China?
My niche software developing startup needs specialist developers. I have located an individual in China with proven experience in my field. How can I best go about working with him?
I can't employ ...
2
votes
2answers
256 views
Who are some of your role model startup leaders?
Who comes to mind when you think about extraordinary leadership behind a startup? What qualities make them stand out to qualify?
2
votes
1answer
54 views
Workers of a subsidary purely work on products of the parent company
If the parent company wholly owns the subsidiary, could the employees of the subsidiary work on products of the parent company? Are special contracts needed?
Thanks
2
votes
1answer
74 views
What is considered “generous-stock-options” for a start-up company in its early days?
We are a young startup, founded by 3 members about a year and a half ago, and recently closed a seed-stage investment round.
We are about to hire our first 3 employees, 2 tech, 1 ...
2
votes
1answer
200 views
Question about IP and sweat equity in California
I've been part of a startup that has so far done nothing or gone anywhere in almost a year. I have pretty much given up on the place but I am curious if I can walk out with an game pitch I created. I ...
2
votes
1answer
321 views
C Corporation single shareholder / highly-compensated employee limitations?
If I'm a single shareholder/owner and employee of a C Corporation, am I limited from taking any deductions due to being a highly-compensated employee (due to share ownership)?
1
vote
4answers
391 views
How do I motivate someone who values his time significantly more than money to come to work on time?
I'm looking for a strategy to negotiate punctuality with an employee who is quite skilled. However, I fear that docking his pay may not have an impact because he values his own time more highly than ...
1
vote
6answers
855 views
Managing growth in a “private office culture” startup
This question is related to another one, "Ideal office space layout - open or offices?", but I think it's worth a question of its own.
There are many voices advocating that developers have to be in ...
1
vote
2answers
232 views
The startup I work for is slashing my last pay periods paycheck without notice
This question is not directly related to a creating or running a startup, but I guess this is one of the things that can happen at a startup and I'd love to hear responses from both sides of the ...
1
vote
5answers
466 views
What effect does winning an office lottery pool have on the health of small companies
A couple people at my place of work (small-medium company with < 100 employees) are starting up a lottery pool, and it got me wondering about what would happen if they won.
So my question is this, ...
1
vote
3answers
152 views
Is it OK to use a shortened first name as a professional?
My name is Amir Khan but instead of Amir I want use Am Khan on my email accounts, online presence, and that's what I want people to call me by and on everything legal I will of course use my full ...
1
vote
3answers
120 views
Can I train a programmer from internal staff?
I have a person on staff who has been doing a lot of admin type work: support, billing, etc. I am thinking that I will want another programmer (PHP/MYSQL/etc) in the next 6-12 months for some new ...
1
vote
5answers
519 views
Personality profiling for job candidates?
I've used a variety of personality profiles to gain additional insights on job candidates, regarding work and communication styles, energy levels, focus, drive etc etc. I have used the DISC Online ...
1
vote
2answers
196 views
What can I do with 10 employees?
I live in DR, here the wage is very low, so I can get 10 employees at very low price (High school education/University student, good English, good typing skills, word/excel/etc knowledge, what else?). ...
1
vote
7answers
221 views
What Is The Best Way to Manage An International Startup?
My startup has employees who are in different places at different times. What is the best way to manage and to centralise files, emails, communications, ...? Would the web be the best place to start?
1
vote
1answer
166 views
What are Keogh Plan Implications When Hiring First Employee(s)?
My small business is about to graduate from being a home-based business to moving into a small commercial office space and hiring its first employee(s).
In 2004 and 2005, the business had ...
1
vote
2answers
351 views
Where to find designers / programmers for equity
Investors want to see the finished project (+ maybe private beta results).
I came a long way, but I have the feeling that I cant run the last couple of miles without being surpassed by competition.
I ...
1
vote
4answers
114 views
Reasons to get local admin assistant rather than Virtual Assistant?
Under what circumstances might it make sense to employ a local admin assistant rather than a remote Virtual Assistant?
1
vote
1answer
35 views
Employment vs Sole Trading - UK
In the UK, is it possible to be in full time employment and be a sole trader at the same time?
i.e. Work a full time job as an employee. Do contract work as a sole trader on evenings and weekends.
...
1
vote
1answer
136 views
How to handle a leaving employee's shares
I have a question about what are the best exit options for employees that own shares in a company and want to leave after some time.
For example, let's say at the start of a company the first ...
1
vote
2answers
464 views
Compensation for early startup employee - what is the right balance?
If my company is profitable and able to pay early startup employee at the market salary (compare to MSFT, Google, Apple etc) , should I still need to pay for significant amount of option to them?
...
1
vote
1answer
68 views
Using my kids as models
I've recently started a photography business, not because I can take pictures with my phone and instagram, a legitimate business. How will the tax man feel about me employing and paying my small ...
1
vote
3answers
198 views
Hiring remote employees and getting work done
I want to hire a few developers and support executive for my website. Being an start up, I want to hire them to work remotely to save office expenses but I don't know anything about hiring full time ...
1
vote
1answer
168 views
Non-compete clause for a early employee
Is it common to ask early employee of a startup to sign a contract containing non-compete clauses?
I am against our employee, but I have a little concern on our competitor as they have money to lure ...
1
vote
1answer
101 views
Equity when joining an established business
Given an offer to join an established company, earning at least a couple of million a year in revenue (under 10 employees) and which is a subsidiary to a multi billion dollar parent company; what is a ...
1
vote
2answers
83 views
If I can find someone who will work for an employee's salary rate as a contractor, should I hire them?
I am 1 year into my own Startup Software business and all is going well. We have enough money to hire someone and after pushing 90-130 hours a week for the last 4 months, I think it's a sensible ...
1
vote
2answers
430 views
Why is free lunch so good for a company
I am in the process of trying to convince my boss to have catered lunches at work. The company is still in its scrappy startup phase so money is a little tight. I was wondering if anyone could point ...
1
vote
2answers
123 views
Legal issues in setting up an affiliate program?
Are there any legal issues with setting up an affiliate program? Basically a system where people can get rewarded for referrals.
Even if there's nothing major, are there any words you should make ...
1
vote
2answers
115 views
Should I do it all alone or co-operate with others?
I have builded some web startups earlier with medium winnings. I have to say that the whole work was done by myself as I have the ability to do it programmatically. However I think I am not the best ...
1
vote
4answers
256 views
Will employer invest in my idea?
Let me describe a situation I happened to be in by now several times. I work in the field of detector/electronics/imaging systems development. I often get some new technical ideas and solutions, ...
1
vote
4answers
289 views
Does A Startup Need A Full-Time CIO For Making Investors Happy?
Here's the scenario: there's a startup with two founders (and a couple of other participants) in it working part-time while keeping their full-time, primary jobs. They are building a ...
1
vote
3answers
72 views
Hiring an in-office writer
I am in the process of moving my home website business into commercial office space because I need to hire an employee (or two) to help with all of the work.
I need to hire a writer - but the person ...
1
vote
2answers
89 views
Multiple twitterers / one company
I'm pretty new to twitter ( http://twitter.com/roadbud). I'm hoping to build customer relationships, provide customer service, engage people with blog, and lead prospects towards our product (iPhone ...
1
vote
2answers
75 views
Question about terminating contract with employee
Not sure if this the right place to ask but here it goes:
We (myself and 2 founders) found our startup about a year ago. Then we brought on an employee to work part-time and had him sign a contract. ...
1
vote
1answer
111 views
Startup equity for employee - real stock or option
For an earlier employee (not C level title), is it common to pay via option instead of real stock equity?
Assume both need to suffer from 4 year vesting schedule with 1 year cliff.
1
vote
2answers
70 views
I can't seem to find this answer anywhere regarding LLC
I live in CT but I have office space in NH, where would I register for an LLC? I don't plan on moving there and have employees in NH, so what should I do?
1
vote
3answers
327 views
How much profit-sharing should I give my secretary / marketer?
I am a part-time programmer contractor and usually I do everything myself, including meeting clients, writing the proposal, programming, the whole 9 yards. I would like to hire someone to split the ...
1
vote
1answer
97 views
Creating an online downloadable multiplayer game
I have a concept for an online multiplayer game which would require the user to download a lobby interface to access the online content. I am looking for advice for where to look for people who would ...
1
vote
4answers
91 views
Starting New School 2nd Question
Also,
Initially we will be starting as a business/entrepreneurship school. I've toyed with two ideas for teachers. Experience entrepreneurs or somewhat experienced generalists that have great and ...
