It should be stated that if your business is well-funded or you feel that you need the assistance of an attorney, you can always retain a lawyer to help you with everything listed above.
There are certain matters that are fairly straightforward and/or not unduly difficult to learn and therefore do not require the services of an attorney who charges at least $200 per hour. There are enough expenses associated with running a business, why not save yourself a load of money and do it yourself if you can?
( Rocket Lawyer, LegalZoom and Nolo are three popular resources to check out.) For most startups, choosing a business structure and forming company can be handled this way.
To avoid putting your business at risk of a lawsuit—an issue that 30% of small businesses worry about—the lawyer can advise you if you need to take additional steps or gather more documentation before letting the person go. If you’re hit by a lawsuit yourself—which can happen to even the smallest businesses—you’ll need a lawyer on your side.
How to find a mentor. Visit your local SBA office, sba.gov/tools/local-assistance, for guidance. Ask about the Procurement Technical Assistance Program and the SBA's Resource Partners.
Attorneys will review loan authorizations & determine required documentation to affect the agency's collateral position. Attorneys also conduct reviews of notes, guaranties, mortgages, tax forms, affidavits regarding property, deed of trust, attorney opinions, title reports, title commitments, title policies, etc.
You may report fraud, waste, mismanagement, or misconduct involving SBA programs or employees either online or by calling the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at 800-767-0385.
The SBA may help small business owners by:Awarding direct business loans.Guaranteeing bank loans to small businesses.Providing loans to victims of natural disasters.Working to get government procurement contracts for small businesses.Providing management and technical assistance and business training.More items...
Responsible for reviewing executed legal documents to determine legal sufficiency, such as Notes and Security Agreements; recordation requirements for deeds of trust and mortgages; flood insurance requirements, escrow documents, and general SBA loan procedures.
SBA Loans: Offers in Compromise. If the borrower is unable to pay the full amount owed on an SBA loan after all of the collateral has been liquidated, the borrower may submit an “offer in compromise.” An offer in comprise allows borrowers to settle their debt on the SBA loan for less than the full amount owed.
The three business owners that sued the U.S. Small Business Administration on the grounds of discrimination for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund's 21-day priority period of women and minority-owned businesses have received in total nearly $1 million in Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants, The New York Times ...
Potential Penalties for Misuse of EIDL Funds Penalties for conviction of these offenses range from five years in federal prison and $100,000 to 30 years imprisonment and $1,000,000 in fines.
With the promise of low-interest or no-interest loans, and even the possibility of loan forgiveness, small businesses rocked by COVID-19 have recently turned to banks to apply for federally guaranteed funds.
The SBA assists small businesses in four main areas: financing, education and training, government contracting, and providing a voice in policy matters. These programs are aimed at helping entrepreneurs start their businesses and keep them thriving.
The most common reasons small businesses fail include a lack of capital or funding, retaining an inadequate management team, a faulty infrastructure or business model, and unsuccessful marketing initiatives.
The learning process in schools is too facts-based while aspects should memorise the facts used to think (Brown, 2011). Then on December 17, 2010, the Ministry of Education (MOE) implemented School-based Assessment (SBA) as part of the Educational Programme Transformation.
The Office of General Counsel (OGC) provides comprehensive legal services to the Administrator and all Agency offices. These legal services include advising, analyzing and interpreting statutes, regulations and other sources of law, as well as drafting legislative, regulatory and other materials.
OGC employs more than fifty attorneys at the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Washington, DC Headquarters. OGC is headed by the General Counsel and two Deputy General Counsels.
You cannot file a size appeal more than 15 days after you receive the official SBA sizedetermination.
Any other interested party with legal standing will have a deadline of five business days after unsuccessful bidders are notified. The filing deadline requires the filing party to deliver the written SBA protest to the contracting officer in person, by mail, email, or by fax.
The SBA can find reasons for size violations other than those stated by the protestor. As such , the risk of getting an adverse decision without legal counsel can be devastating. For more information, call Watson ’s small business size protest.
There are certain matters that are fairly straightforward and/or not unduly difficult to learn and therefore do not require the services of an attorney who charges at least $200 per hour. There are enough expenses associated with running a business, why not save yourself a load of money and do it yourself if you can?
Most of the issues outlined above can be handled by any intelligent business owner (if you can run a business, you can certainly fill out IRS forms or fill in boilerplate business forms). There are times, however, when a business faces issues that are too complex, too time consuming, or fraught with liability issues.
While you certainly need to retain an attorney for the serious issues above, your emphasis should be placed on preventing such occurrences in the first place. Prevention does not necessarily involve hiring an attorney, though consulting with one wouldn't hurt.
You won't need a lawyer for each and every legal issue that comes up in your business. But when you do, it's good to know where to find the right one. And -- more to the point -- you may not know you need legal help until it's too late, as attorneys can help you stay in compliance with the law and spot developing legal issues early.
Small business owners spend most of their days focused on the nitty-gritty, like marketing their businesses, managing employees and serving customers. One area that tends to take a backseat: legal concerns.
Make sure your contract is clearly written, outlines the scope of work and payment, and covers all the possibilities that could go wrong.
Having a relationship with a lawyer before you need one can ensure you have someone to turn to in an emergency.
If you need to escalate the situation and take the client to court, an attorney can either represent you or offer advice.
The law intimidates many small business owners, but it doesn’t have to. The key is to educate yourself as much as you can. Use self-help legal sites such as those mentioned above to get a basic understanding of legal issues.
The backbone of the American economy is small business. Brandon H. Zeigler, the principal attorney handling this area of law, is himself the owner of three small businesses and knows first-hand the issues that need to be addressed in forming and running a company.
If you have any questions about running or establishing your small business, please call 757-453-7744 to schedule a consultation. Or, you can fill out this short form to get started.
The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) funds locally based legal aid services for persons in financial need and maintains a list of contacts on its website. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website has page Find Legal Services.
The Department of Labor does not endorse or warrant the performance of any particular organization, lawyer, lay representative, or law firm .
The Office of Administrative Law Judges does not appoint representatives, refer parties to representatives, or provide legal assistance. 29 C.F.R. § 18.17. Therefore, if you would like to obtain legal services, you must hire an attorney or non-attorney representative yourself.
Many attorneys offer free initial consultations, but not always, so make sure you ask if you will be charged for consultation services. If you are unfamiliar with how to work with an attorney, the American Bar Association's Find Legal Help page is a good resource.
AILA's Immigration Lawyer Referral Service does not provide legal advice. The Service will only refer you to a lawyer who specializes in your area of need in your geographic area. Legal aid clinics. Many law schools and non-profit organizations have legal aid clinics that provide free or low cost legal assistance.