fionamw

Hi US forum - Spain calling! There's probably a better place to post this so move it if necessary, but what I'm after is advice about a business idea I want to bring to the US. Without going into detail (no, I don't want to give the idea away before it's had a chance to make my million!) basically I'd need to check out intellectual copyright type issues, whether I'd be entitled to come & go into & out of the US & stay a while to run seminar/training type events, which US government bodies would want/need to know, and possibly most importantly if there are websites dedicated to clarifying if a business of a particular type already exists in the US.
Any/all help, advice, etc gratefully received.
Thanks fmw

Tracym

Hi - sorry I don't know about the business part.

But I and welcome - I'm sorry you're terrified, but I understand So welcome from one of the damn yanks on the forum

Bill_S

Check for information on E-2 Investor visas, but with such a vague description of what you want to do, your chances of getting an accurate answer on this forum are just about zero. You need a consulation with an immigration lawyer familiar with the appropriate US laws that deal with business immgrants.

lisa67

Welcome and good luck with your venture....sorry I can't be of any more help

fionamw

It's obvious I've not explained myself very well, but maybe the best is to just see if anyone who's set up in business in the US can help with any advice at all? Thanks to those who've replied thus far!

penguinsix

Hi,

Setting up a business is not really a problem. The bigger problem is getting the necessary immigration to WORK in the US. This is a ball of wax probably greater than the business and technical challenges you will be facing.

There is no overall 'list of every type of business' in which you can check to see if someone is doing what it is you propose to do. You can search the patent databases but honestly that's a ton of information and probably won't yield the answer you want.

As a venture capitalist once told me, 'if you have an idea, the chances are people who a) have money, b) have experience setting up companies, and c) have a history of doing so ALSO have the same idea as well'. I wouldn't necessarily worry about intellectual property protection but rather one execution and delivery of the product or service (the IP take so damn long anyway and there are so many loopholes that if all you have is 'a patent' but crap execution you'll be swamped by someone quicker/faster/richer).

Google is actually your best friend. You'll have to come up with some creative queries and whatnot, and search around a bit. If it is technology company that a site like http://www.crunchbase.com/ would be good to search.

meauxna

Why are you "terrified"?

Ray

Probably heard about you ....

meauxna

Nonsense. Look at my cheerful, smiling face.

Octang Frye

Because, after all, I want to take a training class/seminar from someone who can't explain herself very well...

Octang Frye

BTW, your idea is old and busted. It's already been done. I'll tell you what the new hotness is for $25.

Kate2112

Engage a US Law firm that has a patent specialist.

scrubbedexpat097

Didn't we used to have one on here.....

Kate2112

We still do

fionamw

Whoah! Seems like the same characters inhabit more than one forum under different identities....the meet & greet, the befriender, the helpful, the jokester, the cynic...
(a) not terrified, ploy word in thread title- sorry guys, from experience the thread name that gets looked at most is one that hooks you in. It's called advertising.
(b) Thanks Tracym, Bill_S, Penguinsix, Lisa67
(c) If I weren't trying to keep the idea (technically someone else's, who's asked me to snout around for him) under wraps I'd be a lot clearer but I really think letting one of the largest market places in the world know a new good idea (yeah, yeah, someone could have had it first but you don't find out without asking, do you....) isn't a good idea????
(d) I did say in my first post that if it should be placed somewhere else the moderator/whoever should go ahead & do it - and of course there's always the search facility, but maybe someone has experience enough to point me in the right direction on that one?
smiley smiley smiley smiley (can't use'em in quick reply mode!)