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If you've started a business without checking whether your name is legally clear, you're not alone. Most founders build first and think about the legal side later. The problem is that by the time you notice, you might already be using a name someone else owns, and fixing that after the fact is expensive.

Structure comes first: If you haven't set up an LLC, file one directly through the NC Secretary of State's website. It keeps your personal assets, your car, your savings, your house, separate from whatever happens with the business.

Put your agreements in writing: Client contracts, freelancer agreements, and co-founder agreements should all exist on paper. The co-founder agreement matters most if you're building with someone else. It covers what happens if one of you wants out, how equity splits, and who owns what if the partnership ends.

Registering your name and trademarking it are different things: Registering your LLC name with the state only stops other NC businesses from using that exact name. It doesn't protect you outside the state. A federal trademark through the USPTO is what actually gives you nationwide rights to your name and logo. Before you commit to a name, search the USPTO database yourself. It's free and takes a few minutes.

Copyright works differently: Your website copy, your logo, and your photos are protected automatically the moment you create them, no filing required. But if you paid a freelancer or agency to create any of it, check your contract. If it doesn't include a clause transferring ownership to you, they may still legally own the work.

When: Sat, Aug 1, 9 am to 4 pm, and Sun, Aug 2, 10 am to 3 pm (both days)

Where: transform GSO, 111 Bain St., Greensboro