Idaho’s new entrepreneurs plan for growth, say seminar organizers

Idaho is starting to see an increase in new business formations, and today’s new entrepreneurs are learning the value of legal structures that position them for growth, according to attorneys at Hawley Troxell Ennis & Hawley LLP.

"Within the past three to four months, we’ve seen start-ups in industries ranging from high-tech to medicine to heating and air conditioning firms that want to take advantage of the current construction boom," said attorney Brian C. Larsen.

The Times-News

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Larsen is the leader of four seminars on business issues that begin this week, with each seminar scheduled for presentation in Boise, Ketchum and Pocatello.

"Setting up the right legal structure for growth isn’t particularly expensive in most cases," said Larsen. "It’s simply a matter of paying attention.

"When people think of intellectual property, they usually think expense," he said. "If you’re filing for a full-fledged patent, it can be expensive. But you can protect your intellectual property by filing for a trademark on your logo and copyrights on your materials, and by setting up non-compete and confidentiality agreements with your employees. If you’re opening a new business, the last thing you want is to train people for two years and then have them open a competing business across the street.

"All of these are intellectual property issues. Unfortunately, too many people think intellectual property exists almost exclusively in the high-tech industry," he said.

Larsen, based in the firm’s Boise office, has a master’s degree in business administration and law degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He is a member of Hawley Troxell’s enterprise practice group, which works with start-ups and small businesses.

Hawley Troxell attorneys will go into more details on intellectual property issues at the firm’s seminars.

The Ketchum schedule:

* April 8 — "Forming a Business Entity & Identifying & Protecting Its Intellectual Property"

* May 21 — "Your Golden Asset — Employees"

* June 18 — "Growing the Business Without Growing Pains"

* July 29 — "Managing the Risks Associated with Doing Business"

The cost, which includes all materials and refreshments, is $25 for each two-hour seminar or $75 for the entire series. To register or for information, call Jill Cryder at 726-1700.