Joining a startup sounds thrilling until you’re staring down a smaller paycheck, a job description that keeps expanding, and hours that never seem to end. But the risk comes with real upside too — experience, connections, and the chance at a genuinely huge payoff. Before you sign on, here’s an honest look at both sides of startup life.

You’ve got a great idea for a business, but when it comes to naming it, the well suddenly runs dry. Should it resonate immediately, or is that not even the point? The difference between a company name and a brand name matters more than you’d think—just ask Facebook or Twitter, names that meant nothing until they meant everything. Here’s how to choose one that will actually work.