Comments on: How Will You Bootstrap in 2009? http://startuplawyer.com/startup-issues/how-will-you-bootstrap-in-2009 Startup Law, Incorporation, Convertible Notes, Preferred Stock, Stock Options, Venture Capital Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:35:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Colin http://startuplawyer.com/startup-issues/how-will-you-bootstrap-in-2009#comment-308 Colin Wed, 24 Dec 2008 12:55:34 +0000 http://www.thestartuplawyer.com/?p=738#comment-308 + With partners in Australia and Los Angeles, we have no office, utility, or equipment overhead. + We use Basecamp for project management (~$24/month). + We use OtherInbox for public communications. + We use GTalk / iChat / Skype / Personal email for internal communications. OtherInbox has been a blessing and the newest addition to our virtual arsenal. Instead of having individual email accounts, we keep all external communication transparent on the business level. This lets everyone (we're small) handle feature requests, support, and marketing efforts under the company brand without the burden of communicating who is doing what and when. It's particularly useful since we're in different time zones. We don't have to hire a secretary, and there is less noise in our internal communication. + With partners in Australia and Los Angeles, we have no office, utility, or equipment overhead.
+ We use Basecamp for project management (~$24/month).
+ We use OtherInbox for public communications.
+ We use GTalk / iChat / Skype / Personal email for internal communications.

OtherInbox has been a blessing and the newest addition to our virtual arsenal. Instead of having individual email accounts, we keep all external communication transparent on the business level. This lets everyone (we're small) handle feature requests, support, and marketing efforts under the company brand without the burden of communicating who is doing what and when. It's particularly useful since we're in different time zones. We don't have to hire a secretary, and there is less noise in our internal communication.

]]> By: Colin http://startuplawyer.com/startup-issues/how-will-you-bootstrap-in-2009#comment-2663 Colin Wed, 24 Dec 2008 12:55:00 +0000 http://www.thestartuplawyer.com/?p=738#comment-2663 + With partners in Australia and Los Angeles, we have no office, utility, or equipment overhead. + We use Basecamp for project management (~$24/month). + We use OtherInbox for public communications. + We use GTalk / iChat / Skype / Personal email for internal communications. OtherInbox has been a blessing and the newest addition to our virtual arsenal. Instead of having individual email accounts, we keep all external communication transparent on the business level. This lets everyone (we're small) handle feature requests, support, and marketing efforts under the company brand without the burden of communicating who is doing what and when. It's particularly useful since we're in different time zones. We don't have to hire a secretary, and there is less noise in our internal communication. + With partners in Australia and Los Angeles, we have no office, utility, or equipment overhead.
+ We use Basecamp for project management (~$24/month).
+ We use OtherInbox for public communications.
+ We use GTalk / iChat / Skype / Personal email for internal communications.

OtherInbox has been a blessing and the newest addition to our virtual arsenal. Instead of having individual email accounts, we keep all external communication transparent on the business level. This lets everyone (we're small) handle feature requests, support, and marketing efforts under the company brand without the burden of communicating who is doing what and when. It's particularly useful since we're in different time zones. We don't have to hire a secretary, and there is less noise in our internal communication.

]]> By: Laurie/Halo Secretar http://startuplawyer.com/startup-issues/how-will-you-bootstrap-in-2009#comment-309 Laurie/Halo Secretar Wed, 24 Dec 2008 01:01:44 +0000 http://www.thestartuplawyer.com/?p=738#comment-309 Well I've only started my business this past year so bootstrapping is a way of life for me! I definitely recommend Skype - it's definitely helping me communicate easily with clients for so little expense! My only other tip (which are basic, but still wanted to share!) is to never spend money without researching - whether you are hiring staff, choosing a phone service or building your website. It's hard when there is so much information but even the smallest choices can hurt us financially over the long haul. Take care! Well I've only started my business this past year so bootstrapping is a way of life for me! I definitely recommend Skype – it's definitely helping me communicate easily with clients for so little expense! My only other tip (which are basic, but still wanted to share!) is to never spend money without researching – whether you are hiring staff, choosing a phone service or building your website. It's hard when there is so much information but even the smallest choices can hurt us financially over the long haul. Take care!

]]> By: Laurie/Halo Secretar http://startuplawyer.com/startup-issues/how-will-you-bootstrap-in-2009#comment-2664 Laurie/Halo Secretar Wed, 24 Dec 2008 01:01:00 +0000 http://www.thestartuplawyer.com/?p=738#comment-2664 Well I've only started my business this past year so bootstrapping is a way of life for me! I definitely recommend Skype - it's definitely helping me communicate easily with clients for so little expense! My only other tip (which are basic, but still wanted to share!) is to never spend money without researching - whether you are hiring staff, choosing a phone service or building your website. It's hard when there is so much information but even the smallest choices can hurt us financially over the long haul. Take care! Well I've only started my business this past year so bootstrapping is a way of life for me! I definitely recommend Skype – it's definitely helping me communicate easily with clients for so little expense! My only other tip (which are basic, but still wanted to share!) is to never spend money without researching – whether you are hiring staff, choosing a phone service or building your website. It's hard when there is so much information but even the smallest choices can hurt us financially over the long haul. Take care!

]]> By: Dr Wright http://startuplawyer.com/startup-issues/how-will-you-bootstrap-in-2009#comment-310 Dr Wright Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:09:44 +0000 http://www.thestartuplawyer.com/?p=738#comment-310 I agree with Ryan Roberts, having cash makes you able to plan and sustain any hard times. Dr. Wright The Wright Place TV show <a href="http://www.wrightplacetv.com" rel="nofollow">www.wrightplacetv.com</a> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/drwright1" rel="nofollow">www.twitter.com/drwright1</a> I agree with Ryan Roberts, having cash makes you able to plan and sustain any hard times.

Dr. Wright
The Wright Place TV show http://www.wrightplacetv.com http://www.twitter.com/drwright1

]]> By: Dr Wright http://startuplawyer.com/startup-issues/how-will-you-bootstrap-in-2009#comment-2665 Dr Wright Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:09:00 +0000 http://www.thestartuplawyer.com/?p=738#comment-2665 I agree with Ryan Roberts, having cash makes you able to plan and sustain any hard times. Dr. Wright The Wright Place TV show <a href="http://www.wrightplacetv.com" rel="nofollow">www.wrightplacetv.com</a> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/drwright1" rel="nofollow">www.twitter.com/drwright1</a> I agree with Ryan Roberts, having cash makes you able to plan and sustain any hard times.

Dr. Wright
The Wright Place TV show http://www.wrightplacetv.com http://www.twitter.com/drwright1

]]> By: Ryan Roberts http://startuplawyer.com/startup-issues/how-will-you-bootstrap-in-2009#comment-311 Ryan Roberts Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:41:40 +0000 http://www.thestartuplawyer.com/?p=738#comment-311 I'm the same way. I've been fortunate that I don't entirely worry about next month's payroll (of course, anything could happen), but I wonder how much cash reserve is enough. I was recently offered a line of credit by my bank, but I would be too afraid that I'd become reliant on it. Like a lot of companies, a lot of law firms have recently crumbled because their lines were yanked. I'm the same way. I've been fortunate that I don't entirely worry about next month's payroll (of course, anything could happen), but I wonder how much cash reserve is enough. I was recently offered a line of credit by my bank, but I would be too afraid that I'd become reliant on it. Like a lot of companies, a lot of law firms have recently crumbled because their lines were yanked.

]]> By: Ryan Roberts http://startuplawyer.com/startup-issues/how-will-you-bootstrap-in-2009#comment-2666 Ryan Roberts Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:41:00 +0000 http://www.thestartuplawyer.com/?p=738#comment-2666 I'm the same way. I've been fortunate that I don't entirely worry about next month's payroll (of course, anything could happen), but I wonder how much cash reserve is enough. I was recently offered a line of credit by my bank, but I would be too afraid that I'd become reliant on it. Like a lot of companies, a lot of law firms have recently crumbled because their lines were yanked. I'm the same way. I've been fortunate that I don't entirely worry about next month's payroll (of course, anything could happen), but I wonder how much cash reserve is enough. I was recently offered a line of credit by my bank, but I would be too afraid that I'd become reliant on it. Like a lot of companies, a lot of law firms have recently crumbled because their lines were yanked.

]]> By: Mark Beckwith http://startuplawyer.com/startup-issues/how-will-you-bootstrap-in-2009#comment-312 Mark Beckwith Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:32:53 +0000 http://www.thestartuplawyer.com/?p=738#comment-312 Ryan, I lost all 5 of my employees and my office after the dot com bubble. I learned my lesson. Now I have 12 months of cash. It's just me now so that's not too much. But I must say, it doesn't get much worse than having to worry about next months payroll. Ryan,

I lost all 5 of my employees and my office after the dot com bubble. I learned my lesson. Now I have 12 months of cash. It's just me now so that's not too much. But I must say, it doesn't get much worse than having to worry about next months payroll.

]]> By: Mark Beckwith http://startuplawyer.com/startup-issues/how-will-you-bootstrap-in-2009#comment-2667 Mark Beckwith Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:32:00 +0000 http://www.thestartuplawyer.com/?p=738#comment-2667 Ryan, I lost all 5 of my employees and my office after the dot com bubble. I learned my lesson. Now I have 12 months of cash. It's just me now so that's not too much. But I must say, it doesn't get much worse than having to worry about next months payroll. Ryan,

I lost all 5 of my employees and my office after the dot com bubble. I learned my lesson. Now I have 12 months of cash. It's just me now so that's not too much. But I must say, it doesn't get much worse than having to worry about next months payroll.

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