The Great Business Plan Debate
A business plan is a living document that serves as a blueprint to help you build your company. More than that, a business plan is a tool to help you think hard, and clearly, about what you’re trying to achieve, the market opportunity, the potential threats to success, and how to overcome them. How detailed is your business plan, and how much time you invest in it, are matters of choice. And there are some who question the merits of doing a business plan at all.
Minda Zetlin, a business technology writer, invited Perkins Coie business partner DaveMcShea to participate in a debate on the merits of preparing a business plan. Check out the full article, “Write a Business Plan or Not? 2 Experts Debate” at Inc.com.

The Human Capitalist Series P.1: The Basics
We’re excited to introduce a multipart and ongoing series about the basics of (and some advanced topics related to) equity for startup employees and contractors. The “Human Capital” aspect of any enterprise, especially a technology company, is its most valuable asset, and we hope to highlight the…

The Human Capitalist Series P.2: Stock Options
Stock options are the most common form of equity incentive for early-stage startups. A stock option grants the option holder the right to purchase a specific number of shares of the company within a fixed period of time at a preset “exercise” price, generally following the satisfaction…

The Human Capitalist Series P.3: How Are Stock Options Taxed, and Which Are Better, Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options?
The U.S. federal taxation of stock options for U.S. taxpayers depends on whether the options are classified as incentive stock options (ISOs) or nonstatutory stock options (NSOs). Incentive Stock Options (ISOs) ISOs may provide a tax advantage to the holder if (i) the optionee does not sell…