Author Image Posted By : admin 8 Mar
Winning with Patent Attorneys

Patents are the ultimate competitive weapon. Small businesses and startups can use them to protect their innovations from competitors, generate revenue, and establish their reputation. However, it’s not always easy for a company without in-house patent expertise or deep pockets to know where to start. This blog post is designed to help you find your way through the patent process–from determining whether patents would be worth pursuing at all, to drafting an application that will stand up against challenges by potential infringers, and getting the qualified help from Lloyd & Mousilli Houston.

When is a patent needed?

There are some situations where a patent is absolutely needed. These include inventions that have the potential to generate significant revenue based on a unique mechanism, and products or services with high levels of exclusivity (e.g., pharmaceuticals).

If your business has one product that it sells exclusively, then you will need patents on those aspects of your company’s offering–the things  that make it unique and different from the rest of the market.

If you have a product that has potential to achieve significant success because your technology is novel, patent protection may be worth exploring further–particularly if competitors are likely to want to replicate or license your intellectual property for their own purposes.

What’s the correct way of registering and using a patent?

The first step for any startup is to conduct a patent search. This will help you identify whether your product or service has been patented already and, if not, it can provide ideas for what aspects of the company’s offering should be protected by patents so that they are unique competitors won’t have an easy time copying them.

Patent searches can be complex and intimidating, and let’s not even get into the process of registering the patent, that worry of whether you’re approved or denied by the USPTO. This is where a patent lawyer’s professional counsel comes in handy.

A patent lawyer can help you in every step of the process: searching, registering and applying for patents, as well as licensing or selling your intellectual property.

Keep in mind that patents are released to the public when issued. If you have a secret formula, system or design method that should not be exposed to the public by any means (think Coca-Cola), utilize the second way to protect your company’s inventions: a trade secret agreement with employees and/or business partners that are not allowed to disclose any confidential information about the product.

How do you develop and use a portfolio of patents?

It’s important to look at how your competitors are using a wide array of registered intellectual property. Look for answers to questions such as: “do they have an organized intellectual property strategy?”  “Do they seem to have a lot of patents filed?” “What types of patents do they have?”

In addition, it’s important that you are continually filing for new patents. It is likely your competitors will be doing this as well and if you’re not seeking out opportunities to patent your intellectual property, then someone else in the industry will fill that gap — meaning you’ll either have to wait 20 years for expiration or license their patent (if they even allow it).

You can get a head start by identifying promising patents for your company and filing them before you release the product or service to the public: this is called first-to-file. This will help protect your innovation from being copied by competitors, which in turn helps grow market share of similar products/services that are currently on the market.

Hiring a patent attorney Houston for your team is a smart decision, one that is sure to make an immediate difference for your startup.

Author Image Posted By : admin 6 Mar
Just how to Make Your Small Company Extra Successful

If you desire your small business to be a lot more profitable than ever, right here are some pointers for just how to make it happen. As well as remember: Structure an effective business is a marathon, not a sprint.

Focus on Customer Care

Given that loyal consumers make a much easier sell, make good customer care a concern. Examine your existing customer care and make the changes that require to be made to ensure that your local business is supplying service superior to that of your rivals. You may need to purchase personnel training, revamp your return policy, or make standard improvements such as responding quickly to voicemails or emails from customers.

Construct Word of Mouth for Your Organization

Whether you run your business in a small neighborhood or in a big urban facility, word of mouth is more important than ever before. The majority of consumers rely on the net to search for reviews of services before deciding where to shop, so constructing an excellent track record is vital to the success of your business.

How do you obtain positive word of mouth? By offering great, professional solution, building and checking your neighborhood (and also online) reputation, as well as getting attention by giving back to your area through your assistance and also sponsorship of local companies as well as charities.

Construct Your Online Existence.

Producing a professional-looking site can be fast and also very easy nowadays, as well as your local business requires to be in the on the internet space. Research from the Shopping Wiki indicates that 88% of customers currently look into purchases on the internet prior to purchasing in a store.

A simple internet site that describes that you are, what you do, as well as just how to contact you will certainly be sufficient for lots of small businesses. At a minimum, your site needs to include:.

Your logo.
Your company name.
A summary of what you do– your product or services.
Your get in touch with details.
Your address, consisting of a Google Maps link.
Your goal, e.g. “We make the best pizza in the area ”.
Endorsements from consumers.
Relying on your target audience, social networks can be a fantastic method to advertise your service as well. Developing an existence on Facebook, Twitter, as well as Instagram is typical for most businesses these days.

Cut Your Service Expenses.

Tracking expenditures is taxing as well as laborious, so wherever feasible try utilizing brand-new technology to make the work as very easy as possible. As an example, there are a variety of mobile apps for expense monitoring, consisting of many cloud-based accountancy applications that allow you to immediately add expenditure details right into your accountancy system by breaking pictures of invoices with your mobile phone.

Conduct yearly and even semi-annual evaluations of your major expenditures, such as office, service insurance policy, staffing, and also vehicle expenses. Where can you cut? If you remain in an area with a wealth of available business space, maybe you can think about moving. If you do not also need a store, you could convert to a home-based service.

Go Mobile.

If you not do anything else with mobile innovation this year, you need to make sure that your on-line presence, including your business website, is mobile friendly. Raising varieties of individuals are surfing as well as looking with their phones– even when they’re at house.

Mobile settlement systems represent your various other chance. Apple Pay, Google Wallet, Venmo, Square, Intuit GoPayment, Paypal– the options for paying by phone are currently countless. Using pay-by-phone services is a significant comfort to customers, yet your small company can likewise understand significant savings from having the ability to make use of a mobile POS system.

Get in the Cloud.

There is no doubt that cloud computing has leveled the playing field for start-up businesses, however the major advantages of using the cloud for “ordinary” established companies is not always gone over.

Price savings and gain access to from anywhere are the most significant benefits to relocating some of your service processes to the cloud. If, as an example, your organization adjustments from a desktop computer small-business audit program to a cloud-based accountancy application, you would no longer have to install desktop software application (waiting costs for installment, back-ups, updates, etc.) as well as you can access your service accounts from anywhere, consisting of from mobile phones.

Find as well as Maintain the Right Staff Members.

Attracting and also preserving the appropriate staff members is just one of the most important points you can do with your company. While working with as well as training workers every other week may be service as usual for a lunch counter, most successful businesses rely upon employing high quality staff and maintaining them for the long term.

Update Your Business Strategy.

You did make a service plan prior to beginning your organization, right? A company plan is essential for startup services for several reasons, including evaluating the stability of your organization idea and safeguarding financial obligation or equity funding.

If you haven’t made one, it’s not too late. Successful, well established businesses upgrade their business plan each year to examine achievements (or do not have thereof) and also choose new goals or directions.

Remain Balanced.
No one mosts likely to the grave wanting they had invested even more time in the workplace. Way too many local business owner sacrifice their mental and also physical wellness, family relationships, and friends in pursuit of their business goals.

Don’t be one of them– find an acceptable level of work-life balance. Getting enough sleep, taking time for family and friends, and getting regular exercise will help you stay healthy and allow you and your business to prosper over the long term.

Author Image Posted By : admin 7 Feb
How to Find a Local Patent Agent or Attorney to File Your US Patent

Patents are legal documents protecting inventions. Trademarks help consumers recognize products. They also help businesses avoid confusing customers. A business form company helps start up companies. Legal help is provided by law firms. A patent attorney working in Texas is trained in the state laws and is also licensed before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Many lawyers work part time, while others work full time. While attorneys can charge clients anywhere from $150 to $1000 per hour, intellectual property matters are more project-based, and the lawyer can charge a fixed fee.

How to find a patent agent to file your U.S. patent

A patent lawyer can help you file a patent application for an invention you make. But you should always talk to an actual inventor to see what he/she thinks. This may lead you to a better idea than what you thought up yourself.

Don’t try too hard to save money, you could end up losing everything. Get help from professional patent attorneys who know how to get your product patented. Avoid making mistakes by working with skilled patent attorneys.

Don’t be scared to ask questions while interviewing your patent attorney. Ask them about the law and the facts of the case. Be prepared for the lawyer’s answers. Lawyers can learn something from each other as long as you ask questions.

 Provisional Patent Application

An initial patent filing (or provisional patent filing) helps you get your idea into the public domain. This provides an opportunity to make further improvements without paying royalties to the inventor. After getting legal approval, the patent owner must pay a fee to register the patent as official. Registration allows other people to use the technology while protecting the original inventor.

Filing a non-provisional patent at the USPTO

Utility/Design Patents are simple kinds of patents. There are fewer restrictions and requirements than other types of patents. Utility patents allow someone to benefit from ideas, but not necessarily how they work or what materials go into them. Design patents show off creations while still being protected by copyrights. Licensing costs must be paid before plants and seeds can be commercialized and may need to be applied for if they’re protected under copyrights. Patent applications cost money, and you may expect to pay several government fees over the lifetime of the patent.

Design patents can be filed by inventors who want to protect their designs. A patent lasts an average of 20 years. Utility patents are useful inventions that last an average of 14 years. Plant patents last for an average of 17 years.

Houston Legal Trends matches entrepreneurs with the right legal service to get their patent applications filed early. It also provides other services that help the entrepreneur stay ahead of the game.

Author Image Posted By : admin 6 Feb
What is business decorum?

Service etiquette is a collection of regulations that govern the method people engage with one another in service, with consumers, providers, with inside or outdoors bodies. It is all about conveying the right photo as well as behaving in a suitable method.

Five business etiquette sins

1. Not welcoming or making use of a name

When people in service disregard a basic greeting and also acknowledgement, they are losing out on building a partnership and also potentially a sale. Individuals really feel appreciated when they are greeted, and also if their name is understood and used it is always outstanding.

Something as basic as eye call, a smile, just utilizing some fundamental social skills in order to make them really feel welcome.

As an example, say something like: ‘Good morning, welcome, how can I help you?’, instead of: ‘Yeah, can I aid you?

2. Leaving individuals waiting

Leaving individuals waiting, specifically if they have an appointment, with no type of explanation or apology is disrespectful. Waits can be five minutes or in many cases over a hr.

Whichever, an easy apology or explanation, and also period, is all that is needed.

2. Interrupting

Typically people will just barge in as well as disturb a conversation or meeting that is happening without even apologising to the people involved, which is very discourteous, also for a senior manager with an important problem.

Smart phone can cause problems, with individuals taking contact the center of conferences, for instance.

It is excellent business etiquette to switch your phone off before the meeting, or if you are waiting on an urgent call from a person, let individuals in the meeting understand. Most significantly, finish up the conversation as rapidly as feasible.

4. Absence of courtesy and respect

Usually a consumer making an uncommon demand will certainly get quite negative reactions, and will be treated as if they have no right to make such a request. When somebody has a special requirement or seems requiring, they must still be dealt with pleasantly and with respect.

5. Breaking a self-confidence

If somebody tells you something in confidence, it is not acceptable to go around informing other people about it. These behaviours develop an adverse impact of your service.

Successful organisations typically have one thing that is installed in the way the organisation functions, which is a high criterion of business decorum

Guidelines completely company decorum.

1. Constantly utilize names in a meeting

It is simple to neglect individuals’s names when in an organization meeting, as well as consequently, it is a good concept to write all the names down (and inspect their spelling) on a piece of paper in front of you.

It prevails to claim ‘treat others as you would like to be treated yourself’. Nevertheless, different people have various assumptions. You may such as to be called by your given name when being greeted by a company, however, someone else may like to be referred to even more officially, with Mr, Ms, or Mrs.

You ought to not just presume that individuals like things similarly you do. If in doubt concerning the level of rule to use, it is most likely much better to choose more rule, as opposed to less, to avoid angering anybody.

2. The 3 Rs

It is essential to be considerate concerning the psychological requirements of different individuals. An extremely valuable guideline to go by is that of the 3 Rs.

Recognition: making use of names, greetings, as well as challenging recognizing people.
Respect: treating people with respect, worth as well as politeness, and also apologising to them where the situation requires it.
Reaction: people do not intend to be maintained waiting, they need to be responded to.

3. Wardrobe and also hygiene

Dirty clothes, fingernail attacking, poor hygiene, dirty hair as well as body odour especially, can be a genuine turn off. It can be challenging needing to tell a person they have body smell, yet it is required, especially if the person has to handle others and outdoors customers.

4. Splitting inappropriate jokes

Rules are all about behavior and also level of sensitivity. As an example, splitting jokes at times where it is unsuitable, or unsuitable jokes in general, shows a total lack of sensitivity.

I have been surprised to still hear some men at work make jokes about women and the way they look. Also, jokes about race and disabilities are most certainly inappropriate at any time.

5. Showing gratitude

Thanking a person where the thank you is warranted is simple politeness.

Actually making a point of showing some sort of gratitude where someone has gone out of their way for you, or performed a task that is not part of their job description, is very important and actually makes for better interpersonal communication in the future.

6. Telephone etiquette

Being treated rudely on the telephone or left on hold is not professional. Making promises and then not keeping them or following through is also unprofessional and projects a poor image to the people on the receiving end.

How to improve business etiquette
Often people do not even realise they are not showing a high level of etiquette. The best way to develop good business etiquette would be to get together as a team and consider:

How do we work with one another?
What is the image we convey to people?
Are we polite enough?
How can we show more respect, be more responsive and recognise people?
What are our standards?
Often you can generate improvements in just that one session. Rather than calling it ‘business etiquette’, you could call it ‘customer service improvement’ or ‘responsiveness’.

Business etiquette can sound like it focuses on small things that are unimportant, but all together they make a big difference to the workplace and the kind of responses received in all areas.

Author Image Posted By : admin 6 Feb
How to Build an Effective Start-up (Instead Of a Miracle Start-up)

Everybody wishes to be the exception, however constructing a multimillion-dollar business in one year simply isn’t the case for most organizations. Even those companies that seem like over night success stories flew under the radar for several years prior to discovering their luck.

So what’s the key to developing an effective start-up? You have to be passionate, dedicated as well as happy to work for the long haul. Numerous start-ups do not fail. Rather, their leaders just have a tendency to surrender prematurely. Be hands on, establish practical objectives for growth as well as growth and also take your startup journey one action each time. Comprehending the actions as well as concepts below can be the difference between a stopped working startup and an effective one.

Solve a trouble you are passionate about.

The first step in starting a company, while testing, is arguably the simplest. You need a concept. The very best firms were created by people who fixed a typical problem, produced benefit like sales process automation software, or found something missing in their field or culture. And also commonly, they wanted to dedicate every one of their time and energy to this exploration because they were passionate regarding it. Without interest, those difficult, early years will certainly appear excruciating as well as leaders will certainly be a lot more likely to give up.

Locate validation.

While this is not advice you wish to offer to your teen child, discovering recognition is a crucial action in building a successful start-up. The function of starting a service is to address a trouble or fill up a need or void. Without affirmation that there is, actually, a market and a demand for your services or product, you may too move on to your following concept. Do cardiovascular test, talk with everyone in your network and also get others on board.

Select just how you will money your organization.

Focusing on advancement is essential, but keep in mind to allot funds (up to 50 percent) for advertising as well as promotions, focus groups and developing your company. If bootstrapping, it is essential to recognize that you do not need to have whatever at the same time. Several startups go years prior to hiring departments that to some might appear critical (like marketing). Rather, workers and founders put on multiple hats and sustain each other in brand-new ventures.

Produce connections with your clients.

As soon as you have actually officially introduced your company and also promoted it, the trick to constructing an effective organization is building consumer loyalty and happiness. The cost of obtaining brand-new clients can be high. Rather, follow up with customers and also produce ongoing touchpoints. Offer consumers by sending out surveys and also paying attention, finding out as well as sincerely caring about them.

Be versatile.

Take criticism happily and also make changes where ideal. It is very important to trust your original suggestion, however don’t be also honored to pay attention to your clients or accept adjustment. Agree to bend as well as alter after paying attention to your clients as well as evaluating your target audience. Carefully prioritize and also dispute which comments are most valuable and also beneficial to the consumer and also to the business’s future.

Do not get comfy.

If the enemy of progression is convenience, then learn to delight in being uncomfortable. Make huge objectives on your own and your group. Try structure your customer base by 4 to 5 percent weekly and manage these objectives by having an energetic management duty.

Constantly play an energetic function.

Founders are pulled in a thousand various instructions with funding, recruiting, collaborations and also strategizing, however the most effective companies have hands-on management (not to be confused with micromanagers). Create a positive culture in your company by discovering to handle your individuals and also to set aside particular time for them. Happy employees lead to happy customers, which will cause development. see more stevehacks

Hold your horses.

Success certainly will not happen overnight, and it will not happen for a pair years. Business that are investing in themselves and also thoroughly and purposefully preparing in advance for ongoing effectiveness can anticipate to achieve earnings around their 3rd year in business. Yet every firm is various, and also true success might take decades. Steve Jobs developed Apple in 1976, but it had not been until 1984 that Apple hopped on the map with the introduction of the Macintosh computer. And also even after that, Apple struggled until the arrival of the iMac and consumer items in the late 90s.

As a business owner, as a leader and as a startup founder, it’s vital to know the difference between a terrific concept and excellent business. So choose since you’re all in, and also do not quit when the going gets tough

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