Coursera Plus Annual is 40% Off — Ends July 13.

Class Central is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

University of Maryland, College Park

Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs

University of Maryland, College Park via Coursera

Go to class Write review

Overview

Google, IBM & Meta Certificates – 40% Off
One plan covers every Professional Certificate on Coursera.
Unlock All Certificates
Every entrepreneur makes legal decisions, whether they realize it or not. Choosing a business structure, signing contracts, hiring employees, protecting intellectual property, raising capital, and planning for future growth all involve legal considerations that can influence the success of a business. The good news is that you don't need to become a lawyer to make smart legal decisions. You do need to recognize when legal issues arise, understand the questions to ask, and know when it's time to seek professional legal advice. Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs is designed to help you develop that practical legal awareness. Rather than focusing on legal theory or memorizing laws, this course helps you think like an entrepreneur who recognizes legal risks before they become business problems. Through practical examples and real-world entrepreneurial scenarios, you'll learn how legal considerations influence the decisions founders make as they launch, grow, and manage successful ventures. Throughout the course, you'll explore how businesses are legally established, compare common business structures, understand the legal responsibilities of hiring employees, and learn how thoughtful legal planning supports long-term growth. You'll also gain a better understanding of how to work effectively with attorneys and other professional advisors so you can make informed decisions with greater confidence. Who Should Take This Course? This course is designed for: - Aspiring entrepreneurs preparing to launch their first business - Startup founders building and growing new ventures - Small business owners who want a stronger understanding of legal issues - Product managers, innovators, and professionals exploring entrepreneurship - Anyone interested in developing practical legal knowledge for starting or growing a business No legal background is required. The course uses plain language, practical examples, and an entrepreneur-focused approach to make legal concepts accessible and immediately applicable. What You'll Gain By completing this course, you'll be better prepared to: - Recognize legal issues before they become costly business problems. - Choose and establish the legal structure that best supports your business goals. - Make informed decisions about hiring employees, managing legal risk, and protecting your growing business. - Understand when to seek legal advice and communicate more effectively with attorneys and other professional advisors. Whether you're launching your first startup or expanding an existing business, this course will help you build the legal foundation needed to make smarter business decisions with confidence.

Syllabus

  • Introduction to Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs
    • Legal awareness is a competitive advantage for entrepreneurs. In this module, you'll learn how this course will help you recognize legal issues, make better business decisions, and build a strong foundation for launching and growing your venture. You'll also see how each module prepares you for the legal challenges entrepreneurs face throughout the life of a business.
  • How Entrepreneurs Recognize Legal Risks Before They Become Business Problems
    • Successful entrepreneurs recognize legal issues before they become costly business problems. In this module, you'll build a practical understanding of how the legal system supports businesses, learn when to seek legal guidance, and develop the skills to identify common legal risks. By the end, you'll be better prepared to make informed business decisions with greater confidence.
  • How to Legally Establish Your Business
    • Legally establishing your business is one of the first major decisions you'll make as an entrepreneur. In this module, you'll learn how businesses are formally created, the roles and responsibilities of corporate leaders, and the legal structures that support effective governance. By the end, you'll be better prepared to establish your business on a strong legal foundation and make governance decisions that support long-term growth.
  • Choosing the Right Legal Structure for Your Business
    • Choosing the right legal structure is one of the most important decisions you'll make as an entrepreneur. In this module, you'll compare common business entities, evaluate their advantages and limitations, and learn how your choice can affect liability, taxes, management, and future growth. By the end, you'll be better prepared to select a legal structure that aligns with your business goals.
  • Hiring Your First Employees the Right Way
    • Hiring your first employee is an exciting milestone, but it also creates new legal responsibilities. In this module, you'll learn how employment laws affect hiring decisions, understand the difference between employees and independent contractors, and identify steps that help reduce legal risk. By the end, you'll be better prepared to build your team with confidence.
  • Protecting Your Business as Your Team Grows
    • As your business grows, strong employment practices help protect both your company and your employees. In this module, you'll learn how employment agreements, equity compensation, and employment laws establish clear expectations, reduce legal risk, and support long-term business success. By the end, you'll be better prepared to build and manage a growing team with confidence.
  • Planning for Growth, Transition, and Exit
    • Successful entrepreneurs think beyond launching and managing a business. They also prepare for future growth, major business opportunities, and important career transitions. In this module, you'll explore legal considerations involved in buying or selling a business, raising capital through a public offering, and transitioning from employee to full-time entrepreneur. By the end, you'll better understand how thoughtful legal planning supports long-term business success.
  • Congratulations and What's Next
    • Congratulations on completing Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs! You've built a practical understanding of the legal principles that help entrepreneurs recognize risks, make informed business decisions, and build stronger businesses. In this final section, you'll reflect on what you've accomplished, explore opportunities to continue your learning, and prepare to apply these concepts to your own entrepreneurial journey.

Taught by

Wilson L. White and Dr. James V. Green

Tags

Reviews

4.8 rating, based on 4 Class Central reviews

4.8 rating at Coursera based on 85 ratings

Start your review of Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs

  • Profile image for Midhat
    Midhat @midhat
    36
    The fair strengths are its clear explanations, real-world case examples, and checklists that can be applied directly to a startup environment. It helps demystify topics like equity allocation, shareholder agreements, and IP assignment common pitfalls for new founders.
  • Anonymous
    This course was excellent. It helped me a lot to learn about the critical aspects entrepreneurs must take into account in the US.
  • Anonymous
    Very insightful and thorough course. Delivery is smooth and easy to comprehend. Examples are relevant and relatable
  • Anonymous
    Very well explained and easy to comprehend. A really helpful course to understand main business law information.
Go to class

Never Stop Learning.

Get personalized course recommendations, track subjects and courses with reminders, and more.

Sign up for free
Someone learning on their laptop while sitting on the floor.