What Can a Small Business Lawyer Do For Me?
When you start a company, there are two professionals you will need: an accountant and a small business lawyer. Everyone knows the reasons for needing an accountant; you need someone to set up your accounts, review your numbers, and prepare federal, state, and local tax returns. The reasons for needing a lawyer are not so obvious. What a business lawyer can do for you is to assist in every aspect of your business. They will advise on zoning and compliance, incorporation, copyright and trademarks, and lawsuits and liabilities.
A small business lawyer will help your new business to run effectively and build a solid legal foundation. They can help you:
- Choose a business structure for your company
- Register your business name
- Obtain funding
- Draft employment contracts, non-disclosure agreements, non-compete agreements, and shareholders agreements
- Protect your intellectual property
- Understand and exercise due diligence
- Comply with laws and regulations
If you’re being sued, it’s too late
Most businesses will not hire a lawyer until they have been served. Hiring a business attorney from the very start allows you to be proactive and avoid costly and time-consuming lawsuits. Even if you win the lawsuit, you will have to pay court costs and attorneys’ fees.
Many people don’t like dealing with lawyers or paying their fees. However, the fees lawyers charge to ensure your business is in good legal standing is far less than that a lawyer will charge to represent you in court.
Getting the right legal advice is paramount to running a successful small business. It allows you to understand the consequences of your business decisions, protect your interests, make smarter decisions, and avoid legal problems.
Most small businesses do not seek legal advice and try to solve their legal problems themselves. They end up losing more money and deal with more legal problems than if they consulted a lawyer in the first place.
It is best to seek a trusted lawyer from the very start so you can safeguard the future of your business.