How to handle an underperformer before it turns into a firing
Most underperformance problems are left too long and handled too vaguely. A step-by-step approach to diagnosing the cause, setting clear expectations and deciding fairly.
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Contractor or employee? The classification test that trips up startups
Calling someone a contractor does not make them one. How federal and state tests actually work, the red flags auditors look for and what misclassification costs.
What has to be in place before your first employee starts
The registrations, forms, insurance and agreements a founder needs before the first person joins payroll, and the order to tackle them in so nothing is missed.
What to check before you leave a big company for a startup
A due-diligence checklist for experienced operators weighing a startup offer, covering runway, founders, role scope and the questions that reveal what the pitch leaves out.
How to negotiate a startup offer when equity is half the package
The terms that decide what startup equity is really worth to you, from exercise windows to acceleration, and the levers worth pushing on beyond the number of shares.
The hidden paperwork of hiring a remote employee in another state
Hiring someone who works from a different state brings new tax accounts, insurance and employment rules. What changes, what to check and how to stay on top of it.
Write your startup's employee handbook before you actually need one
A startup handbook is where culture becomes specific and policy becomes enforceable. What belongs in the first version, what to leave out and the rules that catch founders off guard.
The quarterly calendar audit every founder should run
A founder's calendar shows what the company really prioritizes. A two-hour method for auditing where your time went, cutting meetings and protecting the work only you can do.
A decision-making system for founders who have become the bottleneck
When every decision waits for the founder, the company slows down. A practical system for sorting decisions, assigning owners and keeping a record that speeds everything up.
How to run a company from the road without letting things drop
Time zones, hotel Wi-Fi, and a calendar built for the office all break down on the road, so here is how to keep the company moving while you travel.
What founders should know before writing a company travel policy
Your first travel policy sets how much admin, friction, and tax exposure every trip creates, so here are the parts that matter and what to ask your accountant.
The founder sleep problem is usually a calendar problem in disguise
Founders who sleep badly often blame their discipline, when the fix usually lies in when meetings end, where the phone lives, and how the day closes down.
How founders can build an exercise habit around a chaotic week
Exercise plans built for a predictable schedule collapse inside a startup, so build one around minimums, anchors, and the week you actually have.
What to wear to an investor meeting, and why it matters less than you fear
Clothes will not win the round but they can distract from the pitch, so here is how to dress to keep attention on the company, in person and on video.
How to build a work wardrobe that takes zero decisions before 8 a.m.
A small, deliberate wardrobe removes a daily decision and makes travel easier, and you can build one in stages without an expensive overhaul.
Company car tax basics every founder should understand before buying
A car used for business brings real deductions and real record-keeping duties, so here is how the main rules work and what to ask your accountant.
Leasing vs. buying a business vehicle: how the math actually works
The cheaper monthly payment is rarely the whole story, because cash flow, ownership, mileage, and tax treatment all differ when a business leases or buys a car.