The answer depends on too many variables, so let’s assume you’re a high-tech early-stage company looking for capital with realistic prospects of doing say $50 million or more in five years (i.e., VC material).

First, you’ll need a good securities attorney. These are the folks that make sure that you have the right corporate form (usually a C corporation), get you set up in the right state (often your home state, but possibly a place like Delaware or Nevada), draw up the incorporation documents, review or create nondisclosure agreements, review or create contracts with early partners, create employment agreements for the founders (in a way that doesn’t scare off investors), establish your employee stock option plan, advise you on how to keep appropriate records, help you prepare to raise capital in a way that doesn’t violate state and federal securities laws, and much more. Your securities attorney, in short, helps make sure that you keep a clean house. Well connected securities attorneys can introduce you to potential investors. Finally, a prestigious securities attorney may make investors more willing to invest – sometimes for no better reason than name recognition.

Second, you’ll probably need a good intellectual property attorney. These are the folks who help you register your trademarks, prepare and file patent applications, and develop a sensible intellectual property strategy.

Legal matters are complex, and you’re almost always better off by consulting qualified attorneys. If you are cash-strapped, go ahead and do the groundwork and prepare initial drafts, but make it sure that you get a pro to check your work.

When selecting attorneys, be sure to check references, interview at least three of them in depth, and don’t be afraid to ask tough questions. Finally, be sure to choose somebody that you “click” with and really feel that you can trust.

The most difficult part of starting a company is getting started. Most “”entrepreneurs”" are all talk and no action. How do you get started? Read a few good books, like The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki. Research like hell. Get your friends and family to believe in your vision.

Most importantly, just create something useful and start selling it. It doesn’t have to be perfect as long as customers are willing to pay for it. Perfection can come later, once you have more resources. For now, focus on creating something that is sufficiently better than the alternatives for people to be willing to pay for it.

If people start buying, then quit your day job, and put everything behind your vision. As they say, “”nothing ventured, nothing gained.”" Entrepreneurship is about action, not pondering.