what does it take to get a small business lawyer?

It’s best to find a lawyer for your small business before you need one. Once you have to go to court, you will likely need a specialist in that type of litigation. A small business lawyer can range from $150 per hour for a junior lawyer at a small firm, while a specialist or senior partners at big firms in major cities can be over $1,000 per hour.

Full Answer

Is an attorney essential when starting my business?

Competence, diligence, and trustworthiness are critical factors to consider when selecting legal counsel, and getting a referral from a reliable friend or attorney can maximize your chances of finding a lawyer with those qualities. Ideally, you should get more than one attorney referral from your trusted source or sources.

How to hire a business lawyer?

Jul 09, 2019 · 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. But failing to take the proper steps for legal protection can put the business you’ve worked so hard on at risk.

What is a startup lawyer?

What do you need the small business lawyer to do for you? There are lots of different lawyers for lots of different situations. Here are just a few of the different legal areas that you may need a lawyer for: basic business formation, trademark/copyright, filing a patent, litigation (i.e. defending you from that lawsuit you received), or zoning ...

What is a small business attorney?

Nov 13, 2019 · What does a small business lawyer do? To get a sense of whether or not you need a business lawyer, you should have an idea of the typical things that they can help with — here are some examples: Intellectual property issues; Contracts; Real estate and zoning; Licensing; Financing and debt; Property transactions; Labor law; Business dissolution; This is by no …

What do small business owners spend most of their days on?

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.

What to do if you are hit by a lawsuit?

Having a relationship with a lawyer before you need one can ensure you have someone to turn to in an emergency.

Can an attorney represent you in court?

If you need to escalate the situation and take the client to court, an attorney can either represent you or offer advice.

Does the law intimidate small business owners?

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.

Do you really even need a small business lawyer for your online business?

So many online entrepreneurs think that they don't need a lawyer to help them with their online business. And you know what?

When to Hire a Lawyer for Your Online Business?

Here is a shortlist of people that would be well-advised to hire a lawyer to handle the legal needs of their online business.

Things to consider when hiring a small business lawyer

If you have decided that it is probably worth your while to talk to a lawyer, then here are three considerations you need to think about before you write that big check:

Questions you should ask yourself and the lawyer

So as you venture forth into the project of selecting a lawyer for your online business venture, here are a couple of questions you should consider.

What about questions to ask the lawyer?

Here is a quick list of questions you should ask any small business lawyer you are considering hiring:

Other Online Resources

When to Hire a Lawyer for Business Matters (and when to Do it Yourself)! (SBA)

What is a general business lawyer?

1. General Business Lawyer. As the name suggests, a general business lawyer can provide legal advice on a wide range of matters. This type of lawyer has a hand in every legal discipline. If your business doesn’t deal with special circumstances, a general business lawyer may be well suited to your purposes.

What kind of law do lawyers specialize in?

People sometimes wonder what types of lawyers are available to them. Lawyers often specialize in either business law or personal law. For this reason, you should search for lawyers who have business law experience.

Why is it important to hire a lawyer?

However, if your business is subject to a lawsuit, you’ll be relieved that you hired a lawyer. When evaluating lawyers, you should ask a lot ...

What is a CPA for a business?

Taxes for businesses can get complicated. For this reason, it pays to use a qualified tax professional, such as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). While a CPA can be beneficial when your business gets audited, there could be a situation where the tax authority decides to take legal action against your business.

What is an employment lawyer?

Employment and Labor Lawyer. Using an employment and labor lawyer only makes sense when your business has employees. If it does, your business should comply with state and federal laws. An attorney in this area of the law can help you draft employee manuals and ensure safety standards are in place.

What happens when you buy and sell a business?

When you buy and sell businesses, you’ll negotiate for the property and assets of those businesses. It may not always be clear what you’re entitled to during these negotiations. It pays to have a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) lawyer representing your interests in the transactions.

Can a lawyer review a contract?

In addition, some lawyers are knowledgeable about tax issues, even if they aren’t accountants. They may have handled legal tax matters for other business owners and can make sure you don’t run into the same issues.

What does a small business lawyer do?

To get a sense of whether or not you need a business lawyer, you should have an idea of the typical things that they can help with — here are some examples:

Do you need a small business lawyer? How to Assess Your Business

Though a consultation with a business lawyer is never a bad idea, you probably don’t need to worry about hiring a business lawyer if you are running a (low-risk) sole proprietorship, unless it is in an area that is particularly complex with regards to legal or policy matters.

When is it beneficial to hire a small business lawyer?

Did you know that a lawyer can play a proactive role in the initial formation of a business?

What does a lawyer do for a merger?

Your lawyer will help you vet the business to determine if an opportunity really exists. Even in the absence of a merger opportunity, there could be a chance to collaborate with another small business or freelancer on a certain project and your attorney can help formalize such a relationship.

Why do lawyers have to be jerks?

This is probably the only time you will really want your lawyer to be a jerk! It’s because they know how to handle (read: get rid of) disgruntled customers. Whether you are at fault or not, you probably want to avoid litigation at all costs and your lawyer will help with that. He or she will also advise you on whether settling with a customer is a good idea or not, and perhaps even be able to convince the customer to drop the lawsuit.

What happens when you license your intellectual property?

When you decide to license or share your intellectual property with other people, your lawyer will draft the licensing agreement for you. They will also ensure that employees know (via contract) that any work they do for the business becomes business property and they have no IP rights to such work.

Why should I thank my legal counsel?

Your legal counsel can also act as your organization’s registered agent on file, and in the event that anything comes up (legal complaints or summons, letters from the franchise board, etc.) that needs attention, you know that by having your lawyer on file, he or she will address the situation immediately.

Can an employer be held liable for defamation?

Another issue with social media comes up when an employee posts false statements about a competitor or colleague during office hours. If this proves to be defamatory, an employer (yup, that’s right, an employer) can actually be held liable for defamation. To avoid this, a clear social media policy needs to be in place and a lawyer can help ...

Do small business lawyers always consider tax advantages?

Fine, they won’t , but most small business lawyers will always consider tax advantages when advising you on any business move you plan to make. This could mean a great deal of potential savings.

Is it a good idea to hire an attorney?

But it’s a good thing you thought about hiring an attorney, because he or she is there to help you with any contract that might come up. Initially, this will include basic employment or freelancer contracts, as well as intellectual property agreements (see below).