Posts Tagged ‘hiring an attorney’
Hiring an Attorney to Take Care of Your Business Issues
Wednesday, January 30th, 2008
Many small business owners think that lawyers are only needed when a lawsuit arises or when a contract needs to be drawn up. Unfortunately, it’s that kind of thinking that can end up giving business owners some serious future regrets.
Instead of thinking of attorneys as professionals who fix legal problems, think of them as people who prevent problems from ever occurring. A good business attorney will guide you through every step of your business - from startup through expansion - and will ensure that your business’ best interests are kept in mind.
Why having an attorney can help you and your business
If you are in the beginning stages of your business, a good attorney can help you set up the right business model for you. He or she can help you decide if your company should be set up as a corporation, limited liability company (LLC) or a sole proprietorship - and what you need to do in order to keep that status.
If you are selling your own line of products or services, you may need help from a patent, trademark or copyright attorney to ensure that your ideas and designs are protected and are knockoff-proof. An attorney can also create a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) for you so that you can safely discuss your idea with other companies, without the fear of someone copying or stealing your idea.
Of course, an attorney is your best resource for drawing up contracts and online privacy policies and double-checking your email campaigns to make sure that your business is complying with the CAN-SPAM Act.
Finding the right attorney for your business needs
The best place to begin your search is with the people you know - family, friends, neighbors, business associates, accountants, insurance agents, etc. Use your networking skills to compile a long list of recommended attorneys. Next, call each attorney on your list and set up a short phone interview. Let them know about your business and the goals you have for it. Find out if they have experience in your industry and with businesses that are similar in size to yours. A good lawyer will try to understand your business’ individual needs, rather than try to group you in a specific cookie-cutter business model format - inevitably leaving you with wasted time, money and documents.
After the phone interviews, you should be able to narrow your list down to two or three good prospects. From there, it would be a good idea to set up an initial consultation - many lawyers will give you this first appointment free - though it will be short, approximately thirty minutes. Since you’ll have limited time with each attorney, be prepared in advance and write down a list of questions and ideas you want to go over.
At $200-$400 an hour, your attorney’s advice, wisdom and document preparations may not be cheap, but it’s possible he or she may save you from lawsuits and lost business in the future. The good news is that every invoice is a business expense that you can deduct on your next tax return!
Tags: business law, Carrie Hinkel, hiring an attorney, legal, small business, Starting a Business
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