The number of things a small business has to worry about is a mile long. How to run your business, hiring employees, marketing, sales, finances…
the list goes on forever, and your time is already stretched pretty thin.
When legal issues come up for an already overworked and exhausted business owner, that’s when it’s time to call in an expert small business lawyer who knows business and is ready to fight for you.
After all, even if you already know everything about business, there are so many things that you will need a lawyer for.
How long do you have to respond if you’re sued by a customer or former employee?
Should you structure your business as an LLC, C-Corp, S-Corp, or sole proprietorship?
How often do small businesses have to pay taxes, and what taxes do small businesses owe?
All questions that a small business law firm can handle for you.
Now you must be wondering…
What kinds of advice can I ask a business law lawyer?
How do I find a small business lawyer?
Which Los Angeles business law firm is right for me?
My name is Sam, and I’ve been helping business owners like you for years with all of their business problems and questions. Email sam@mollaeilaw.com to learn more about how I can help you start and run your business.
What is a Small Business Lawyer?
A small business lawyer is an attorney whose practice is focused on legal issues that affect businesses and small business owners.
Here is a list of issues that affect business owners which a small business lawyer can help with:
- Ensuring that all taxes are paid appropriately
- How to start your business
- Protecting your business’s intellectual property
- Writing and enforcing favorable contracts
- Choosing and implementing your business’s legal structure
- Assisting business owners when they run into legal trouble such as complaints and lawsuits
- Checking for any applicable copyright issues and possible copyright infringement
- Helping business owners determine whether their particular business will be legal and profitable
- Making sure foreign business owners are able to run their businesses in the US
Small business lawyers typically work with both experienced business owners and first time entrepreneurs to help them start and grow their business. Whatever business issue you’re having, rest assured that you’re in the hands of a competent and experienced business lawyer who is ready to get you the best possible outcome.
Types of Small Business Lawyers
There are two basic types of small business lawyers: transactional small business lawyers and litigation small business lawyers.
The difference between these types is that a transactional business lawyer focuses on contract work and a litigation business lawyer focuses more on what happens when an issue goes to trial.
A transactional business lawyer mostly spends their time talking to their clients and handling the contracts that make up a business’s everyday needs.
This includes things like drafting contracts like employee contracts and employment contracts, negotiating contracts with other lawyers, and going over contractual offers received by business owners.
In addition to helping a small business owner with contract issues, they give advice on regulatory issues and help clients deal with the IRS.
Transactional small business lawyers spend their time in their offices or meeting with clients, and never go into the courtroom.
On the other hand, when things need to be settled in a court room after a formal complaint has been filed, that process is called ‘litigation.’ That’s when a business trial lawyer steps in and helps their clients with disputes between businesses that have gotten that far.
The key difference between a business trial lawyer and a civil trial lawyer is that they litigate business issues such as breaching a contract instead of other issues like personal injury.
Some of the duties of a small business trial lawyer are:
- Conducting depositions, which are basically formal interviews to gather information from parties important to the case at hand
- Preparing and filing legal documents to move the case forward
- Attending hearings on motions filed
- Helping clients through arbitrations, which are similar to trials but instead of taking place in front of a judge take place in front of either a panel of lawyers or a specifically designated independent hearings officer
What Does a Small Business Lawyer Do?
A small business lawyer can help you with anything involving in forming and running your business.
The basic duties that you might think about when starting your own small business which a small business lawyer could help with involve forming it. After all, it can be confusing getting together and filing all the paperwork perfectly and a business law lawyer is the perfect expert to make sure your business is legal and compliant.
However a small business lawyer isn’t just there for you when you’re starting your business. They can
help you make decisions for your small business regarding a wide variety of areas including:
- business formations,
- contract negotiations,
- copyright infringement
- employment and labor laws, and
- litigation
To sum up, a small business lawyer helps ensure that your business starts off on the right foot, and makes sure that any issues concerning a rapidly growing small business like hiring employees and signing contracts are taken care of.
No matter what stage your small business is at, a small business lawyer can help with any problems, questions, or concerns that you’ve got.
Email me at sam@mollaeilaw.com with all of your small business questions.
How Much Does a Small Business Lawyer Cost?
The cost of a small business lawyer can vary depending on which services you require, and the two ways a lawyer typically charges their clients are flat-rate or hourly.
When a lawyer charges you hourly for the work, clients can often be surprised by how much their bill is.
Unfortunately there are a lot of unscrupulous lawyers who overcharge clients, either inflating how much time tasks took or performing unnecessary tasks to pad the bill.
A lawyer that charges a flat fee upfront is asking for a pre-arranged total fee that is paid upfront to complete all work required for a particular legal matter.
When you’re working with an expert small business lawyer, they will be able to give you a quote before you sign outlining exactly what charges and fees you’ll incur doing business with them. They’ll also answer questions you have about how much a service costs and why before you’re ever charged a dime.
How to Find a Small Business Lawyer Near Me?
The best ways to find a small business lawyer near you include Google, word of mouth, and ratings sites.
Google is the world’s most powerful search engine, and the first go-to when many people are looking to hire a professional. If you do choose to use Google in your search for a small business lawyer, make sure that the professional you hire really is everything their website claims.
Another way to find a small business lawyer is word of mouth. Again, be careful when using this method that the lawyer can help you with your specific needs.
Finally you can always check certain lawyer rating sites such as Google reviews to see what other clients have to say.
Here are some of the things that my clients have to say on Google reviews:
“Amazing personalized service at a very reasonable cost. I highly recommend Mollaei Law if you’re thinking of starting a new business.” – Michael L.
“Sam offers an invaluable service that takes the guesswork out of dealing with the IRS. He is professional, patient…and a pleasure to deal with.” – Joanie D.
“Five stars. Sam was responsive and very professional lawyer. Thank you very much for all your help and advice. Highly recommended!” – Milnich U.
If you’re ready to follow in my past clients’ footsteps and get the best possible service for your small business, email me at sam@mollaeilaw.com.
What to Ask a Small Business Lawyer?
The most important thing to keep in mind when meeting your small business lawyer for the first time is that there are no stupid questions.
You have absolutely nothing to be worried about when having your introductory session with a small business lawyer. As long as you’ve done your homework and picked a lawyer with good reviews in good standing with their respective state bar, you’ll be absolutely fine.
Still, you should keep in mind a few important questions that will help you screen whether or not this particular small business lawyer is right for you during your first session:
Do you have a license to practice the law?
What kind of results have you gotten for clients like me?
Do you have any client testimonials you can show me?
How many years have you practiced law?
What will working together be like?
How often will I hear from you?
Are there any fees I should know about, such as fees to call you or email you?
What’s the anticipated timeline for this task?
Even after your first consultation and project together, you might have other questions about your business that only a lawyer can answer.
Unexpected legal issues can arise, you could get sued, or you could just want to be sure you’re operating in full compliance with all local, federal, and state laws.
I highly recommend writing down all of the questions you have when you think of them, so you can have a handy list for the next time you meet with your small business lawyer. This will make sure nothing gets missed and I can provide you the best service possible.
Why Do Small Businesses Need a Lawyer?
Small businesses need a lawyer in order to operate in compliance with the law and to avoid losing everything in the case of a legal issue.
A lot of what a small business lawyer will handle for you is preventative. They will go over how to legally and financially make sure that your business is not breaking any laws or not paying the IRS what’s owed.
The amount of money you spend having a business law lawyer get your business operating above board could save you thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars down the line.
Another reason to hire a small business lawyer is to make sure that the contracts you sign with employees, contractors, suppliers, and buyers hold up in court.
You don’t want to hire an employee and then find out you aren’t covered if they steal company secrets.
A lawyer will know what you should include and what to look for depending on your type of contract or agreement to make sure you are protected completely.
Who is the Best Small Business Lawyer?
The best Los Angeles business law firm is one that is knowledgeable, respectful, accessible, convenient, and completely honest and transparent with you.
Mollaei Law has helped hundreds of business owners and entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses into profitable ventures.
Whatever problem your business has, whatever business question you need answered, I’m the person you can trust to help you through it.
My law practice is specialized to cater to the needs of business owners and entrepreneurs, and I have devoted my practice and life to perfecting the knowledge and skills it takes to keep your small business protected.
Conclusion
If you run a business, you need to hire a qualified small business lawyer.
It really is just that simple.
A small business owner’s business is their livelihood, something they need to support themselves financially and work day and night to build.
If you don’t have a small business lawyer making sure your business is compliant with the law and protected in a lawsuit, you could lose everything you’ve worked so hard to build.
I help business owners and entrepreneurs from the very beginning of their businesses all the way through the years as those businesses grow.
If you’re a business owner, or if you’re even thinking about starting your own small business, send me an email at sam@mollaeilaw.com so I can make sure your business is compliant and protected in every situation.
