One of the hardest parts of starting a business is just that—getting started. There’s quite a bit to do, and virtually all of it falls on the shoulders of the individual who is building the business from the ground up. If you’re really looking to get your business operational, though, you can definitely benefit from hiring an attorney.
The Form and Shape
One of the best reasons to work with an attorney early on during the process of starting your business is that he or she can help you to figure out what kind of legal form your business should take. Knowing whether you’re going to have a sole proprietorship, a partnership, a corporation or even an LLC can lay the foundation for many of the decisions that you will have to make in the future. A good lawyer will advise you as to what kind of liabilities you’ll have with each format and what you can do to figure out how to make your business work in the most efficient manner.
Legal Matters
When most people think of working with lawyers, they think about going to court. In truth, a good lawyer will absolutely help you with legal matters—but many of those matters won’t involve any kind of adversarial process at all. Your attorney will be there to oversee business transaction law services, to deal with your real estate contracts, and even to ensure that you’re classifying your employees in the correct manner. Simply put, your lawyer is going to handle those legal matters in which you have little expertise.
Regulatory Necessities
A good lawyer is also going to point out the laws that you don’t know you need to follow. Whether this means how your employment contracts work, what kind of zoning regulations you need to follow, or even what kind of special tax circumstances you might need to be aware of, your lawyer is there to help. Your lawyer is going to help to keep your business out of the kind of trouble that you might not have known existed.
Looking at the Details
Finally, a good lawyer is an asset to your business because he or she is trained to see the little things. There are plenty of details that you might overlook but that your lawyer can remind you to deal with. These might include things like ensuring that you follow the letter of your lease agreements or that you remember to pay your employees overtime, allowing you to avoid problems before they become major issues.
A good lawyer is a great asset. He or she won’t just deal with the legal problems—he or she will help set your business for success. If you are planning on opening a business, you need to ensure that you’re working on developing a good relationship with a lawyer at the same time.
