What You Get with Start Up University

Step-by-step guidance from idea to launch—for just $495!

  • Lifetime access to the full Start Up University course

    Clear, easy-to-follow course built by a seasoned business attorney to help you launch your business the right way.

  • Six Learning Modules including 14 practical, dynamic video lessons

    No fluff—just real-world guidance on LLCs, taxes, licensing, insurance, banking, branding, partnerships, and more.

  • Printable checklists & Planning tools

    Designed to make each step of the startup process easy to follow and impossible to forget. Chock full of “Pro Tips” that will save you serious time- and money!

  • Quick Start session

    The "bare essentials" crash course so you can get your business up and running fast—even if you’re short on time.

  • Insider legal tips to avoid costly mistakes

    Learn what most new business owners get wrong—and how to get it right from day one.

  • Confidence-building strategies

    We don’t just teach the “how”—we help you find the boldness to actually launch.

  • Free 15-minute consult with Neal Rice

    Ask your biggest question, get personalized insight, and walk away with clarity.

BONUS: The Core 5 – Business Plan

A focused, powerful business planning tool you won’t find anywhere else. Most business plans are too long, too boring, and too useless. The Core 5 is different—it's a simple, practical one-page plan that helps you dial in the 5 most important elements of your business:

  • Who you serve

  • What you sell

  • How you deliver it

  • How you get paid

  • How you grow

This is the business plan that actually helps you launch. No fluff. Just clarity, confidence, and real traction.

All of this for just $495.

Get the clarity and confidence you need to build your business right.

From uncertainty and timidity to confident, bold action!

Course Outline

Module 1: Business Set Up and Liability Protection to Action Headline

Session 1.1 - Liability & Lawsuits: What You Actually Need to Worry About

i. “Limited Liability” protection in plain English

ii. Common risks for new businesses

iii. Biggest mistakes that blow your protection

Session 1.2 - Naming Your Business & Branding Basics

i. Choosing a name legally and strategically

ii. Domain names, trademarks, and protecting your brand

Session 1.3 - LLC Quick Start

i. LLC Certificate of Organization (manager managed/ member managed)

ii. EIN / Taxpayer ID

iii. Operating Agreement

iv. Do you need a “business license”?

Planning Tools

Liability Protection Checklist

Module 2: Understanding Business Taxes (without losing your mind)

Session 2.1 - Making Sense of Business Taxes

i. Pass through structure

ii. “Reasonable and Necessary” Business Deductions

iii. The tax rate you’ll pay

Session 2.2 - Avoiding Painful Tax Traps

i. Quarterly Taxes and How they Work

ii. Managing your Tax Burden

iii. The “Deduction Fallacy”

Session 2.3 - The S-Corp Advantage!

i. Top tax trick to lower your taxes big time

ii. When to move to S-corp status

iii. How to do it right

Planning Tools

i. Top 10 Deductions New Business Owners Miss

ii. Sales Tax Guide

iii. The 4 “Must Know” Small Business Taxes

Module 3: Your Financial Foundations

Session 3.1 - Business Banking Basics

i. Choosing a bank and setting up an account

ii. The three account method (Your money, the gov’t’s money, your business’ money)

iii. A word on QuickBooks and other financial management software

Session 3.2 - Debt and Borrowing

i. Start Up v. Buying a Business

ii. General Principles on Debt and Borrowing

iii. SBA Loans and the like

Planning Tools

Bare Bones Book Keeping Spreadsheet

Module 4: Insurance and Risk Management

Session 4.1 - Liability Insurance Basics

i. You need Insurance even with your LLC

ii. What does it cover, what does it not

iii. Where to buy liability insurance

Session 4.2 - Workers Comp Considerations

i. What is workers comp

ii. Who has to have it

iii. The “independent contractor” trap

Session 4.3 - Other Insurances You should know

i. Errors and Omissions Insurance

ii. Personal Property Insurance

iii. Cyber Security Insurance

iv. Fire and Hazard Insurance (Waiver of Sub)

Planning Tools

Business Insurance Checklist

Insurance Claim Quick Guide

Workers Comp Quick Check Chart

Module 5: Partnership or Sinking Ship?

Session 5.1 – Setting up a Partnership and Partnership Agreement

i. How to determine ownership percentage

ii. Decision-making and Control

iii. Death, Divorce, Disinterest and the like . . .

Section 5.2 - Three critical alignments for Partnership success

i. Values

ii. Vision

iii. Mindset

Planning Tools

Partnership Agreement Checklist

Partnership Alignment Worksheet

Module 6: Quick Start Guide – Firm Foundation for Huge Success

Section 6.1 - The Non-Negotiables for Starting Up Right Now

i. LLC is your Foundation

ii. Take it to the Bank

iii. Insure The Big Risks

iv. Launch and grow

Planning Tools

Quick Start Checklist

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