I was just cleaning up a few old questions out of my McStartup inbox. reply to a lot more questions via direct email than I post on the site here, mostly because I get a lot of repeat questions. was laughing at myself in doing so because creating content which never goes online is a really lousy search engine strategy -- but it takes less time.

Brad wrote: My company, just finished its first round of funding. Along with cash and expert leadership we have a board to set up. We have set up provisions for a 5 person board with 4 of the seats filled. for my partner and I; and 2 for our 2 investors. We have 6 months to find the 5th or they get to find the 5th.

Wesley Wrote: My business partner and I started a Nevada llc in 2008 that did 3D graphic work. We own it 50/50, I'm the President that does vusiness development and sales and my partner the operations and design. since inception I have invested $25,000 cash and my partner no cash but sweat equity. Thanks so much for your time!

William wrote: I think I might have started the wrong type of corporate structure. read your video game piece and it said S-corp. Is that what I should have done? opened an LLC and am building a web application (service based). am looking at friends and family for financing,but have had difficulty coming up with something to offer them.

Rujul wrote: I'm planning on starting a new business with my friend, and was wondering how I can protect my idea. Other than a non-disclosure agreement, is there another way to prevent someone else from using the idea (especially when it's an internet startup idea and does not involve a physical product or invention)? Could it happen? Not at all.

Just released for 2012, I've put together this guide to help you turn your business into a compelling story investors will understand and be excited about. suspect that the percent of companies who try to raise investment from other sources aren’t much better off. Raising money is downright hard. know what the answer is: Your story.

The following is a free except from my new book titled, The 8 Slide Investor Pitch - A Pirate's Guidebook. This book walks you through the steps I use when building an investor presentation. hope you enjoy it. -. Slide 1: The Elevator Pitch. Who are you? What do you do? Why should I care? -. Why did I take this meeting again? You are on stage.

Naomi wrote: I am starting a medical practice where I will be the sole owner and I will have several employees including other physicians. am wondering if it would be better to be a c Corp with the intention of choosing s Corp status to avoid the double taxation on dividends or just do a LLC. Would the LLC mean a higher level of taxation?

Claudia wrote: I came across your website and found it really interesting. Am working for a start up right now and wondered whether you might be able to help. months ago my boyfriend came up with an idea for a start up. For the first three months I worked on it part time with him along with another guy who was also part time.

Marusia wrote: My friend and I are starting a retail business and want to go with a NY LLC. When we are up and running, developed a great product and are ready to raise money and go big, we will convert into a DE C corp. The reason we want to go with a NY LLC are as follows. You're all good here, I suspect.

Philip wrote: Jeff, I have a business idea that I believe has great potential. Essentially it a website that I believe can attact a lot of traffic by providing a much needed service. Without getting into the details of my business idea, my question is this: Where do I start?!? have a full time job, a wife and a kid. You start with the phone.

Gary wrote: I have seen your video on "How to write a Pitch Presentation" very very helpful. Thank you! have heard horror stories of things going wrong with investors and the investor turning on those they have invested in. So my question to you is, "Are investors worth it in the end?" Sometimes my day job gets the best of me. That much is a given.

One of the questions I get a lot is “When is the best time to start a business?&# and sometimes I get its follow on question, “How will I know when I’m ready?&#. My answers are: “right now&# and “you won’t.&#. think everyone intuitively knows this. Just do it. Seriously.

We take a break from our regular posts to get on my soapbox about the Orr Fellowship. Ok, so I'm lying. I'm not keeping up with regular posts, so this is nothing more than a shout from the soapbox. Nevertheless. Here in Indiana we have a really cool program called the Orr Fellowship. This is shocking to me. That is all

My friend Jay stopped by and made a comment about one of yesterday's posts, suggesting a link to an article by Steve Blank on marketing. It's a great article and well worth the read, which is why I highlight it here

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