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Tips for launching a startup while holding a day job

entrepreneur.venturebeat.com

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Re: Tips for launching a startup while holding a day job

#2

Post by vital101 »

The point about not using your day job's resources is important. Not only could you lose you day job, but your side project as well. Many times when you start working at an organization, they have you sign an agreement saying something like "We own everything that is produced on our machines, network, etc."

Re: Tips for launching a startup while holding a day job

#3

Post by josh33 »

So I have a friend (it could be true) considering starting a business on the side and he agrees with all of these points. After reading this article, however, he realized that he did sign some type of agreement saying anything he does is property of the company, even if it was at home. At the time he wondered whether this was normal, but as it was the standard company contract, he signed it.

How should he handle this situation?

Re: Tips for launching a startup while holding a day job

#4

Post by wallflower »

vital101 wrote: post #2

The point about not using your day job's resources is important. Not only could you lose you day job, but your side project as well. Many times when you start working at an organization, they have you sign an agreement saying something like "We own everything that is produced on our machines, network, etc."

I lock my MacBook that I use to work on several side projects on my train commute to my work desk and plug it in to recharge it. I don't open up the lid. Is it ok to use the electricity (it's not the network)?

Re: Tips for launching a startup while holding a day job

#5

Post by patio11 »

wallflower wrote: post #4
vital101 wrote: post #2

The point about not using your day job's resources is important. Not only could you lose you day job, but your side project as well. Many times when you start working at an organization, they have you sign an agreement saying something like "We own everything that is produced on our machines, network, etc."

I lock my MacBook that I use to work on several side projects on my train commute to my work desk and plug it in to recharge it. I don't open up the lid. Is it ok to use the electricity (it's not the network)?

Buy a second battery and you'll never have to find out.

Re: Tips for launching a startup while holding a day job

#6

Post by [deleted] »

josh33 wrote: post #3

So I have a friend (it could be true) considering starting a business on the side and he agrees with all of these points. After reading this article, however, he realized that he did sign some type of agreement saying anything he does is property of the company, even if it was at home. At the time he wondered whether this was normal, but as it was the standard company contract, he signed it. How should he handle this…

[deleted]

Re: Tips for launching a startup while holding a day job

#7

Post by dsplittgerber »

[deleted] wrote: post #6
josh33 wrote: post #3

So I have a friend (it could be true) considering starting a business on the side and he agrees with all of these points. After reading this article, however, he realized that he did sign some type of agreement saying anything he does is property of the company, even if it was at home. At the time he wondered whether this was normal, but as it was the standard company contract, he signed it. How should he handle this…

[deleted]

Sorry, but from a legal point of view, this is just really bad advice. There can be legal consequences, please consult with a lawyer about IP stuff, your employment contract and if they can later sue you for breach of contract etc. It really depends on your jurisdiction, though.

Re: Tips for launching a startup while holding a day job

#8

Post by imp »

josh33 wrote: post #3

So I have a friend (it could be true) considering starting a business on the side and he agrees with all of these points. After reading this article, however, he realized that he did sign some type of agreement saying anything he does is property of the company, even if it was at home. At the time he wondered whether this was normal, but as it was the standard company contract, he signed it. How should he handle this…

Talk to a lawyer familiar with those issues in your state. It depends on what he signed and your state's laws. No matter what, it's still best to disclose it to his employer, just like this article suggests and patio11 also suggests: http://www.kalzumeus.com/2010/03/20/running-a-software-busin...

Re: Tips for launching a startup while holding a day job

#9

Post by duck »

wallflower wrote: post #4
vital101 wrote: post #2

The point about not using your day job's resources is important. Not only could you lose you day job, but your side project as well. Many times when you start working at an organization, they have you sign an agreement saying something like "We own everything that is produced on our machines, network, etc."

I lock my MacBook that I use to work on several side projects on my train commute to my work desk and plug it in to recharge it. I don't open up the lid. Is it ok to use the electricity (it's not the network)?

If you hadn't asked this question I would say yes, but now that you did... no.
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