ag,
If your employer had the forethought to include clauses in his contracts with his "accounts" (I assume you mean his customers), then I would really presume that he would have gotten you to sign a no-compete contract...just my thinking, anyway, because if he is putting any sort of constraints on his customers, who could well tell him to shove the contract, then he would most surely do it with potential employees. I believe that what you slightly recall signing was more than likely this, and it could very well leave you open to legal action from him. Judging by your post, I think that your ex-boss is the type to really jump on this, too, so I would check with a local lawyer that specializes in this area of the law. Your new company...is it incorporated, or is a small mom and pop type of service company that you did not feel the need to incorporate? If not, maybe it would be best for you to discuss this with a lawyer who practices in this area, and ask him about the competition problem, too. Two birds with one stone. You need to incorporate or form a limited liability corporation so that you could only be sued for the assets of the company, anyway. Also, maybe you could work something out to have your spouse (or brother, sister, GOOD friend, etc., anyone you really trust) be the legal owner for now, and switch over to you if you feel like it after the time limit is up (if applicable). A lot of your options are going to depend on exactly what, if anything, you signed, and everything up until you really know what this exactly is will be pure speculation anyway, but I thought maybe this may give you some idea of the potential problems and solutions that you may encounter and can explore for now. This is overly simplified, and pulled from my head, but what I am getting at is that I do think that you may very well be opening yourself up to liability by doing this, at least enough to advise you to check with a lawyer on this. Best of luck with this problem, and it is probably wise on your part to be cautious of your ex-boss.