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Initiative · Entrepreneurship

The legal side of running a business, before it becomes a problem

Lawyers, company secretaries, chartered accountants, compliance professionals and experienced entrepreneurs, in practical conversations about the responsibilities that come with running a business.

Most founders meet a legal requirement for the first time when something has already gone wrong.

A contract dispute. A delayed filing. An employee issue, a tax notice, a customer conflict, a disagreement with a partner. The requirement was always there — it simply went unnoticed until it cost something.

Running a business creates responsibilities towards customers, employees, vendors, partners and government authorities, and over intellectual property, data, payments, contracts, taxes and corporate filings. A founder does not need to become a lawyer. A founder does need to know what to be aware of, when to get professional advice, and what should never be ignored.

Who this is for

  • Entrepreneurs and business owners
  • Founders of proprietorships, partnerships, LLPs and companies
  • Small and medium businesses without in-house legal support
  • Anyone about to sign, hire, partner or raise money

The Legal Health Check

  • Correct business registration
  • Written customer agreements
  • Vendor agreements
  • Employee documentation
  • Payment terms
  • Trademark protection
  • Privacy policy
  • Website terms
  • Compliance calendar
  • Proper invoice documentation
  • Required licences
  • Professional legal, CA or CS support where it is needed

What GullyFuture does, and what it does not

GullyFuture does not provide legal representation or individual legal advice, and nothing in a session is a substitute for it. These sessions exist so entrepreneurs can understand the concepts, ask practical questions, recognise risks earlier, and know when a specialist is genuinely needed. Where a topic requires sector knowledge, we bring a domain specialist.

Sessions you can pick from

Each has a page describing what it covers and how it runs. Run one, or several across a term.

Also available on request

12 further topics in this area. Tell us which fit your group and we will find the right person for it.

  • The Legal Basics Every Entrepreneur Should Know
  • How to Protect Yourself from Customer Payment Problems
  • Legal Mistakes Growing Businesses Commonly Make
  • Founder Agreements: Before You Start a Business Together
  • Trademark, Copyright & IP for Entrepreneurs
  • Employment Law Basics for Business Owners
  • GST & Compliance Awareness for Entrepreneurs
  • Legal Basics Before Raising Investment
  • Protecting Your Business When Working With Vendors
  • Website, Privacy & Digital Compliance for Businesses
  • What Should You Do When a Customer Doesn't Pay?
  • Legal Health Check for Your Business

Everything this covers

158 topics across 14 areas. 9 apply to almost any business; the rest only in a particular case.

Starting & Structuring a Business10
  • Sole Proprietorship vs Partnership vs LLP vs Private Limited Company
  • How to Choose the Right Business Structure
  • When Should a Proprietorship Become a Company?
  • Understanding Founder & Promoter Responsibilities
  • Basic Company Incorporation Awareness
  • Partnership Agreements
  • Founder Agreements
  • Understanding Shareholding
  • Adding a Co-Founder or Partner
  • What Happens When a Partner Wants to Leave?
Contracts & Agreements14
  • Why Every Business Needs Written Agreements
  • Understanding the Basics of a Business Contract
  • Customer Agreements
  • Vendor Agreements
  • Service Agreements
  • Partnership Agreements
  • Employment Agreements
  • Non-Disclosure Agreements
  • Terms of Service
  • Payment Terms in Contracts
  • Limitation of Liability
  • Termination Clauses
  • Common Contract Mistakes Small Businesses Make
  • When Should You Ask a Lawyer to Review a Contract?
Customer & Payment Protection10
  • How to Protect Your Business Against Delayed Payments
  • Writing Better Payment Terms
  • Advance Payments vs Credit
  • Purchase Orders and Work Orders
  • What Documentation Should Exist Before Starting Work?
  • Handling Customer Disputes
  • What to Do When a Customer Does Not Pay
  • Understanding Legal Notices
  • Maintaining Evidence of Business Transactions
  • Avoiding Verbal-Agreement Problems
Employment & HR Compliance13
  • What Should Be in an Employment Offer?
  • Employment Agreements
  • Employee Documentation
  • Salary & Payroll Compliance Awareness
  • Employee Leave & Policies
  • Workplace Conduct
  • Performance Documentation
  • Employee Termination Awareness
  • Consultant vs Employee
  • Freelancer Agreements
  • Prevention of Sexual Harassment Awareness
  • Employee Confidentiality
  • Protecting Business Information When Employees Leave
GST & Tax Compliance AwarenessAwareness-oriented, with qualified professionals involved where the detail matters.10
  • GST Basics for Business Owners
  • When GST Registration May Be Required
  • Understanding GST Invoices
  • Input Tax Credit Basics
  • Common GST Mistakes
  • TDS Awareness
  • Income Tax Responsibilities for Businesses
  • Maintaining Proper Financial Records
  • Working With a CA Effectively
  • Compliance Calendars for Entrepreneurs
Intellectual PropertyProtecting what your business creates.12
  • Trademark Basics
  • When Should You Register a Trademark?
  • Protecting Your Brand Name
  • Logo & Brand Ownership
  • Copyright Basics
  • Patent Awareness
  • Trade Secrets
  • Protecting Software & Digital Products
  • Intellectual Property in Employee Agreements
  • Intellectual Property in Vendor Agreements
  • Domain Name & Brand Disputes
  • What to Check Before Choosing a Business Name
Vendor & Supplier Legal Awareness10
  • Vendor Agreements
  • Purchase Orders
  • Payment Terms
  • Delivery Conditions
  • Quality Requirements
  • Service-Level Agreements
  • Confidentiality
  • Vendor Disputes
  • Supplier Dependency
  • Protecting Yourself When a Vendor Fails to Deliver
Partnership & Collaboration AgreementsFor businesses growing through partners rather than only direct sales.12
  • Referral Agreements
  • Channel Partner Agreements
  • Dealer Agreements
  • Distributor Agreements
  • Franchise Agreements
  • Joint Ventures
  • Revenue-Sharing Agreements
  • Strategic Partnerships
  • Commission Agreements
  • Defining Roles & Responsibilities
  • Exit Clauses
  • Avoiding Partnership Disputes
Business DisputesWhat to do before a disagreement becomes a major problem.12
  • Preventing Business Disputes
  • Documenting Agreements
  • Handling Customer Disputes
  • Vendor Disputes
  • Employee Disputes
  • Partner Disputes
  • Responding to Legal Notices
  • Negotiation & Settlement
  • Mediation
  • Arbitration Awareness
  • Litigation Awareness
  • When You Need a Lawyer
Company & ROC ComplianceIf it appliesFor companies and LLPs.10
  • Understanding Annual Compliance
  • ROC Filing Awareness
  • Director Responsibilities
  • Maintaining Statutory Records
  • Board Resolutions
  • Changes in Directors
  • Changes in Shareholding
  • Registered Office Requirements
  • Annual Returns
  • Working With a Company Secretary
Data Privacy & Digital ComplianceIf it appliesFor businesses collecting customer data.12
  • What Customer Data Are You Collecting?
  • Data Privacy Basics for Businesses
  • Privacy Policies
  • Website Terms & Conditions
  • Cookie Awareness
  • Protecting Customer Information
  • Employee Access to Customer Data
  • Data Breach Awareness
  • Digital Consent
  • Using Customer Data for Marketing
  • AI & Data Privacy
  • Cybersecurity Responsibilities for Business Owners
E-Commerce & Online BusinessIf it appliesFor businesses selling online.12
  • Legal Basics for Selling Online
  • Website Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Refund & Cancellation Policy
  • Shipping & Delivery Terms
  • Consumer Protection Awareness
  • Pricing & Disclosure Requirements
  • Online Payments
  • Customer Complaints
  • Marketplace Agreements
  • Digital Advertising Claims
  • Influencer & Marketing Agreements
Fundraising & Investment AwarenessIf it appliesFor businesses exploring investment.12
  • Equity Basics
  • Understanding Business Valuation
  • Shareholding & Dilution
  • Term Sheet Basics
  • Investor Agreements
  • Convertible Instruments
  • Founder Rights
  • Investor Rights
  • Due Diligence
  • What Investors Check Before Investing
  • ESOP Basics
  • Legal Preparation Before Raising Money
Regulatory AwarenessIf it appliesDepending on the industry. We bring domain specialists when a topic needs sector knowledge.9
  • Licences & Registrations
  • Local Business Permissions
  • Industry-Specific Regulations
  • Food Business Compliance
  • Healthcare Business Compliance
  • Manufacturing Compliance
  • Labour Compliance
  • Environmental Compliance
  • Import / Export Awareness

What you should come away with

  • A clearer view of what applies to your business and what does not
  • The questions worth taking to a lawyer, CA or company secretary
  • The things that should never be left undocumented

Scheduled

Nothing scheduled yet

This one is not in the calendar yet

It runs when a college, company or community asks for it. That is usually how the first one gets scheduled.

How GullyFuture works

What each side brings

Most sessions are free for participants. Institutions provide the group and a suitable space. Contributors give their time and experience. GullyFuture shapes the format, coordinates the people and documents what happened.

Bring this to your group

Tell us:

  • Who the participants are
  • Their current stage
  • Approximate group size
  • City and institution or organisation
  • What you want them to understand or practise
  • Preferred timing
Bring this to your group

Contribute

You do not need to be famous or senior. You need relevant experience, the willingness to speak honestly, and respect for the no-selling rule.

You can contribute as a speaker, mentor, interviewer, reviewer, facilitator, host, partner or volunteer.

Contribute your experience

What we record

Counted from what happened, never estimated.

  • Sessions completed
  • Participants reached
  • Contributors involved
  • Practice or feedback activities completed
  • Participant usefulness feedback
  • Follow-up actions and resources provided
  • Participants who later return as contributors
See how we count

Participation is free for students and individual participants unless a programme says otherwise. Speakers may explain their work, but a session is never a sales pitch.

You do not need to become a lawyer to run a business. You should understand the decisions, agreements and responsibilities that can affect it.

Explore Legal & Compliance Sessions