EQUINOX Business Law Group - Seattle Bellevue

Valuing Patents

November 29, 2006

Many companies' primary assets are intangible assets such as patents. The difficulty is in determining the value of such intangible assets. A Chicago-based company, Ocean Tomo, has created common ratings metrics and an open market for patents by creating a public auction for them. This open market gives small businesses the opportunity to value these assets without spending significant cash on attorneys, accountants, or other intellectual property experts. The company held live auctions in San Fransisco and New York this year. The patents on the block were owned by small inventors who couldn't seem to get their patents valued or sold as well as large companies with patents they no longer used. See the article on Ocean Tomo in Notre Dame Business Magazine.

Restaurant Openings

November 20, 2006

I now have full knowledge of what my restaurant clients experience upon starting and opening a new restaurant. My husband Matt and I, along with Chef Dan Thiessen and his wife Erika, today officially launch the 0/8 Seafood Grill and Twisted Cork Wine Bar in Bellevue. The intricacies of employment law, liquor licenses, outside investor relations, and construction have all played a role over the last 6 months not to mention the business operations issues from technology to PR to inventory that have required hours of attention. My experience to date has been an outsider who understands each of these elements independently and as they interact but not in such a real, personal way. Those of you who have taken this route as entrepreneurs, I applaud your energy and dedication. Remember to stay on top of all those legal issues!

Exit Strategies

November 15, 2006

Succession planning is an important aspect of all businesses, regardless of size. You should consider what will happen to your business if something happens to you and what your plan is for exiting. There are many options for both scenarios and you must consider how this will play out. If you are a sole proprietor or a single owner LLC or corporation, what is your long term plan for your business? How will you finance it and how does your growth strategy play into your exit strategy? There are a number of companies that consult with business owners to help them evalutate their options either as they grow or as they plan to exit. These M&A consultants can provide guidance on financial, operational, and personal implications of various decisions and help you through the transaction when the time comes.

Tully's Logo Gift Cards

November 08, 2006

I saw a really cool idea for corporate gifts at Tully's today. Please note that this comes from someone who spends a lot of time in coffee shops. Tully's has a program that allows you to put your company logo on their gift cards. I loved the concept and picked up a brochure -- I dont' know the cost as yet -- and then had lunch with a colleague who received one of these gift cards at a corporate event. They look snazzy and personal and you can make them as large or small as you please.

Virtual offices

November 01, 2006

I've run into a number of people recently who work from home but need occasional office space or a full time receptionist. A cost-effective solution for many such small business owners is the virtual office. These office suites typically provide a mailing address for a business and a mailbox or a mail forwarding service. In addition, the office suites offer offices and conference rooms by the hour, part-time offices and full-time offices which allow your business to grow within their space. They have reception services that vary by your needs and full-service word processing, copying and other business services. Look in your area for "Executive Suites" or "Virtual Office". The ones I know of in Bellevue are the Business Service Center and HQ.