Speak to a Small Business Lawyer

If you are a small business owner, it’s a good idea to seek legal advice from a competent, reliable business lawyer. Since it is impossible to predict when a legal issue may arise, you’ll want to find a top quality attorney who will represent you and handle all aspects of your business interests and activities. There are a number of legal problems that can happen suddenly. Here are some examples:

An individual or business entity may be using or claiming rights to copyrighted material acquisition, a patent or other intellectual property owned by your LLC.

A visitor may have slipped and fallen on the floor in the reception area of your commercial offices and is accusing your commercial establishment of being at fault. They are now pursuing litigation against your company.

A customer signs a purchase agreement for a piece of equipment but finds the same item at a lower cost and purchases it from another seller instead, thus breaking the contract.

A neighboring business venture owner is challenging your rights to have your clients use a certain entrance of the commercial building in which your offices are located.

In addition, various questions related to local, state or federal laws may arise during your daily planning and normal business activities. With so many potential legal issues that may affect your business without prior warning or notice, seeking out legal counsel is clearly a wise choice.

How to Find the Right Lawyer for Your Business

When searching for a good business lawyer, try to get recommendations and advice from other small business owners you may know. If you’re looking to expand your search however, you can also go online and read reviews about local attorneys. It’s a good idea to seek out lawyers with the only the best ratings and reviews. During the legal consultation, make sure the attorney has experience handling your type of work and understands your company’s goals. They must be able to fully understand the legal aspects of contracts, intellectual property and transactions in your area of business. They should have extensive experience in litigation and matters of dispute relative to your ongoing business practices as well. Above all, you want your attorney to display the highest degree of integrity with a quality track record of success.

What If You’re a Relatively New Business?

If you are a new business, don’t let that stop you from seeking professional legal counsel either. Whether you’re a franchise, partnership, LLC or sole proprietorship, it’s a good idea to receive guidance especially during the early days of your new business startup. This will enable your company to start off well, grow in size, facilitate effective outreach and manage operations, all while avoiding any serious legal problems.

How Much Should You Expect to Pay an Experienced SMB Attorney?

When you first contact a lawyer near you, there are a few questions you should ask. To start, you should find out whether or not they charge a flat fee or bill by the hour. It is completely appropriate to ask how much an attorney’s hourly rate will be, as well as the total cost for the services rendered. In fact, most experienced private practice attorneys will expect you to ask about free consultations and especially about the hourly rates or flat fees. However, it is best to provide some basic information about your business first before asking the lawyer about the cost of his or her services. After learning about your business, they’ll be able to give you a more accurate estimate of how much representation will cost, including court appearances. Of course, there will always be unpredictable events that require legitimate recommendations or assistance. After finding out more about your small business, the lawyer can give you a more accurate picture of the costs associated with resolving these extra issues as well.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Lawyer

Some novice entrepreneurs and owners of newly formed companies make the mistake of hiring the most well-known attorneys or law firms in their area. The main problem with this type of arrangement is the high fees these types of lawyers charge. Attorney-client relationships formed for reasons like this are often not practical, can be expensive for the client and often do not last. Although you may like the idea of working with the most well-known, established lawyer near you, you may be better off hiring a lesser-known attorney with more affordable rates.

Many recently formed small companies do just fine with smaller law firms that offer lower-cost services. Nowadays, the options are plentiful. Because of the ability to quickly search listings online, you can easily compare costs, read reviews and check ratings in the comfort of your own home. Websites like LegalZoom.com, LegalMatch.com, Lawyers.com and FindLaw.com serve as a matching service with online search options to help you locate an affordable attorney who specializes in your area of work. Once you find the right lawyer to represent your company, you may not have to search again for a long time; many business owners remain clients for many months or even years.

Another common mistake made by many entrepreneurs is hiring a lawyer without much experience in their particular industry. Although the attorney may agree to offer assistance as a courtesy, the small business owner may incur higher costs from more hours spent on legal services due to lack of experience. A lawyer who specializes in your industry will be able to work more efficiently, thus reducing number of billable hours spent on your case.

Benefits of Hiring a Top Local Business Attorney

Some lawyers who provide services to small business owners and startups are extremely passionate about helping them grow and thrive in today’s fast-paced economy. These types of lawyers are usually very receptive and enthusiastic about answering questions, giving expert advice and dealing with potential problems. That is the way it should be. When you sign an agreement with a lawyer for their services, you should expect quality professional guidance and personalized attention. With the right legal counsel, your company has an excellent opportunity to grow, prosper and thrive in today’s hectic and challenging business world. If you are looking for a qualified local attorney we can help. For more information, give us a call today.

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