There was no well-known pure jewelry company based on the Net. The economics made sense, too. In the virtual world, you're not limited to show space. By late July the idea for a jewelry site had risen to the top of Segal's list. Segal negotiated a start-up rate with the firm that saved him about 25 percent off normal hourly rates.
Many law firms have special rates and packages for start-ups.
Internet entrepreneurs need to consider many legal issues. Besides obtaining copyrights, trademarks and patents, e-businesses should think about security and privacy standards that have been established for online transactions, Rast said. Before Segal could go global or even start a Web site, he needed to find an executive team. Because Segal had limited knowledge of the jewelry industry, he wanted someone with substantial experience. Researching the industry through trade magazines, Segal discovered the movers and shakers, then began making calls.