SKILL 80: Startup Legal Timeline
Purpose
The complete legal roadmap from idea to launch to scale. Know what legal work happens in what sequence, what triggers what, and what can be deferred.
Month 0 — Idea Phase
- Counsel produces Legal Vetting Report (SKILL 69): regulatory classification, jurisdiction scan, comparable products, risk matrix, recommended structure, go/no-go
- Decision: build / modify / kill
- If build: select entity type and jurisdiction (SKILL 70)
- Domain name search and registration (before announcing anything)
- Initial trademark search (before investing in brand)
Month 1 — Formation
- Entity formation: file with state (Delaware C-Corp: $89; Iowa LLC: $50)
- EIN: IRS Form SS-4 online (same day)
- Operating agreement / bylaws: adopt at formation
- IP assignment agreements: founders sign at formation
- Founder equity grants: board resolution + stock purchase agreements + 83(b) elections (file within 30 days of grant)
- Bank account: Mercury as primary, Relay as backup
- Trademark application: file with USPTO ($250–350 per class)
- Domains and social handles: secure immediately
Month 2 — Legal Foundation
- Gaming attorney: engage for skill-based competition legal opinion (budget: $15–25K)
- Crypto regulatory attorney: engage for prediction market/token analysis (budget: $25–50K)
- TOS / privacy policy / risk disclosures: drafting begins (attorney-reviewed, budget: $10–20K)
- Accounting system: QuickBooks or Xero configured
- Contractor agreements: signed before any external developer writes a line of code
- Open source license audit: run npx license-checker on any existing codebase
Month 3 — Build Phase (Legal Support)
- Legal opinions begin arriving: review and brief Nick on findings; adjust product design if needed
- State-by-state compliance analysis: begin with Iowa, then CA/NY/TX/WA
- KYC/AML program: draft written policies; designate BSA officer (even if it's Nick)
- If raising: prepare SAFE documents; begin investor conversations under 506(b) (no public announcements)
- Anthropic enterprise agreement: contact Anthropic sales; get written approval for use case
Month 4 — Pre-Launch Legal
- Legal opinions: received and reviewed (gaming, regulatory, money transmission)
- State registrations: Iowa DIA, other Tier 2 states (from SKILL 54)
- FinCEN MSB registration: if applicable (file Form 107)
- Accessibility audit: axe browser extension + Lighthouse scan; fix critical issues
- Security audit: basic penetration test of any web-facing product
- DMCA agent: register with Copyright Office ($6 online)
- Insurance: general liability, cyber, E&O — bind policies
Month 5 — Launch Preparation
- Pre-Launch Legal Certification (SKILL 75): go through every item
- All legal documents finalized and deployed: TOS, privacy policy, market rules, fee schedule, risk disclosures — all live on platform
- Compliance calendar: all filing deadlines, renewal dates, SAR trigger procedures
- KYC/AML system tested: verify age verification, geo-blocking, OFAC screening
- Crisis communications templates: pre-drafted for each emergency type
- If fundraising: Form D filed within 15 days of first SAFE closing; Iowa notice filed
Month 6 — LAUNCH
- Go live with Tier 1 states (from SKILL 54): states with no special registration requirements
- Counsel monitors: all launch marketing for FTC compliance before publication
- 30-day post-launch compliance review: first check on how the platform is actually operating vs. how it was designed to operate
- Surveillance system verified: manipulation detection running; first reports reviewed
Months 7–12 — Growth Phase
- Additional state registrations: Tier 2 states as user base grows into them (6-month milestone)
- Quarterly compliance reviews: regulatory updates, AG actions, CFTC/SEC releases
- Regulatory engagement: LabCFTC meeting, CFTC Innovation Office, Iowa AG briefing
- 409A valuation: if issuing stock options to employees (required before first grant)
- Fundraising preparation: data room complete, pitch deck reviewed, Form D ready
- First regulatory reporting cycle: Iowa annual report, 1099-MISC for prize winners, tax filings
Year 2+ — Scale Phase
- Token launch (if applicable): engage securities counsel for SAFT/token warrant structure; offshore entity analysis
- International expansion: jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction analysis; MiCA compliance for EU
- Additional insurance: as TVL and revenue grow, increase coverage limits
- Board formation: establish formal board of directors; adopt D&O insurance
- CFTC DCM consideration: if prediction market volume reaches scale where registration makes strategic sense
- Lobbying / advocacy: if regulatory clarity is needed; Iowa Innovation and Digital Competition Act (SKILL 52)
- Exit preparation: acquirer diligence readiness; IPO-quality financial statements; data room audit
Legal Cost Summary by Phase
| Phase |
Legal Spend |
Primary Items |
| Month 0–1 |
$2–5K |
Formation, trademark filing, basic agreements |
| Month 2–4 |
$50–100K |
Gaming opinion, regulatory opinions, TOS/privacy docs |
| Month 5–6 |
$10–20K |
State registrations, compliance infrastructure, insurance |
| Month 7–12 |
$24–60K/yr |
Ongoing retainer, state registrations, tax filings |
| Year 2+ |
$50–200K/yr |
Token launch, international, scale compliance |
Year 1 total: $86–185K (from SKILL 53 budget breakdown)
This is legal research and intelligence, not legal advice. Consult qualified legal counsel before taking action.
1---2name: startup-legal-timeline3description: SKILL 80: Startup Legal Timeline4---5# SKILL 80: Startup Legal Timeline67## Purpose8The complete legal roadmap from idea to launch to scale. Know what legal work happens in what sequence, what triggers what, and what can be deferred.910## Month 0 — Idea Phase11- Counsel produces Legal Vetting Report (SKILL 69): regulatory classification, jurisdiction scan, comparable products, risk matrix, recommended structure, go/no-go12- Decision: build / modify / kill13- If build: select entity type and jurisdiction (SKILL 70)14- Domain name search and registration (before announcing anything)15- Initial trademark search (before investing in brand)1617## Month 1 — Formation18- **Entity formation**: file with state (Delaware C-Corp: $89; Iowa LLC: $50)19- **EIN**: IRS Form SS-4 online (same day)20- **Operating agreement / bylaws**: adopt at formation21- **IP assignment agreements**: founders sign at formation22- **Founder equity grants**: board resolution + stock purchase agreements + 83(b) elections (file within 30 days of grant)23- **Bank account**: Mercury as primary, Relay as backup24- **Trademark application**: file with USPTO ($250–350 per class)25- **Domains and social handles**: secure immediately2627## Month 2 — Legal Foundation28- **Gaming attorney**: engage for skill-based competition legal opinion (budget: $15–25K)29- **Crypto regulatory attorney**: engage for prediction market/token analysis (budget: $25–50K)30- **TOS / privacy policy / risk disclosures**: drafting begins (attorney-reviewed, budget: $10–20K)31- **Accounting system**: QuickBooks or Xero configured32- **Contractor agreements**: signed before any external developer writes a line of code33- **Open source license audit**: run npx license-checker on any existing codebase3435## Month 3 — Build Phase (Legal Support)36- **Legal opinions begin arriving**: review and brief Nick on findings; adjust product design if needed37- **State-by-state compliance analysis**: begin with Iowa, then CA/NY/TX/WA38- **KYC/AML program**: draft written policies; designate BSA officer (even if it's Nick)39- **If raising**: prepare SAFE documents; begin investor conversations under 506(b) (no public announcements)40- **Anthropic enterprise agreement**: contact Anthropic sales; get written approval for use case4142## Month 4 — Pre-Launch Legal43- **Legal opinions**: received and reviewed (gaming, regulatory, money transmission)44- **State registrations**: Iowa DIA, other Tier 2 states (from SKILL 54)45- **FinCEN MSB registration**: if applicable (file Form 107)46- **Accessibility audit**: axe browser extension + Lighthouse scan; fix critical issues47- **Security audit**: basic penetration test of any web-facing product48- **DMCA agent**: register with Copyright Office ($6 online)49- **Insurance**: general liability, cyber, E&O — bind policies5051## Month 5 — Launch Preparation52- **Pre-Launch Legal Certification** (SKILL 75): go through every item53- **All legal documents finalized and deployed**: TOS, privacy policy, market rules, fee schedule, risk disclosures — all live on platform54- **Compliance calendar**: all filing deadlines, renewal dates, SAR trigger procedures55- **KYC/AML system tested**: verify age verification, geo-blocking, OFAC screening56- **Crisis communications templates**: pre-drafted for each emergency type57- **If fundraising**: Form D filed within 15 days of first SAFE closing; Iowa notice filed5859## Month 6 — LAUNCH60- **Go live with Tier 1 states** (from SKILL 54): states with no special registration requirements61- **Counsel monitors**: all launch marketing for FTC compliance before publication62- **30-day post-launch compliance review**: first check on how the platform is actually operating vs. how it was designed to operate63- **Surveillance system verified**: manipulation detection running; first reports reviewed6465## Months 7–12 — Growth Phase66- **Additional state registrations**: Tier 2 states as user base grows into them (6-month milestone)67- **Quarterly compliance reviews**: regulatory updates, AG actions, CFTC/SEC releases68- **Regulatory engagement**: LabCFTC meeting, CFTC Innovation Office, Iowa AG briefing69- **409A valuation**: if issuing stock options to employees (required before first grant)70- **Fundraising preparation**: data room complete, pitch deck reviewed, Form D ready71- **First regulatory reporting cycle**: Iowa annual report, 1099-MISC for prize winners, tax filings7273## Year 2+ — Scale Phase74- **Token launch** (if applicable): engage securities counsel for SAFT/token warrant structure; offshore entity analysis75- **International expansion**: jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction analysis; MiCA compliance for EU76- **Additional insurance**: as TVL and revenue grow, increase coverage limits77- **Board formation**: establish formal board of directors; adopt D&O insurance78- **CFTC DCM consideration**: if prediction market volume reaches scale where registration makes strategic sense79- **Lobbying / advocacy**: if regulatory clarity is needed; Iowa Innovation and Digital Competition Act (SKILL 52)80- **Exit preparation**: acquirer diligence readiness; IPO-quality financial statements; data room audit8182## Legal Cost Summary by Phase8384| Phase | Legal Spend | Primary Items |85|-------|------------|--------------|86| Month 0–1 | $2–5K | Formation, trademark filing, basic agreements |87| Month 2–4 | $50–100K | Gaming opinion, regulatory opinions, TOS/privacy docs |88| Month 5–6 | $10–20K | State registrations, compliance infrastructure, insurance |89| Month 7–12 | $24–60K/yr | Ongoing retainer, state registrations, tax filings |90| Year 2+ | $50–200K/yr | Token launch, international, scale compliance |9192**Year 1 total**: $86–185K (from SKILL 53 budget breakdown)9394---95*This is legal research and intelligence, not legal advice. Consult qualified legal counsel before taking action.*
nickgallick