In starting a small business, the various legal and administrative requirements can be onerous and complex. Getting incorporated, setting up a business account and EIN (Tax ID) number, creating operating agreement(s) with partners in the business. Then comes the legal and administrative issues associated with running a small business. Hiring employees, developing standard operating procedures for employees, developing procedures for termination of employees. Meeting local, state, and federal requirements with businesses and employees, like eVerify for employee immigration status. The list goes on and on. Most small businesses cannot afford to hire a general counsel as an employee of the business, but the need for legal assistance is such that separately retaining counsel with every legal issue or problem is also onerous and expensive. There is another solution we have used in my law firm. We have helped a number of small businesses become established while meeting legal standards, and continued to assist as the businesses continue and grow while remaining “legal”. Our small business clients retain our firm to act as a small business legal advisor.

They put money into a retainer, to be used only when legal work is requested. Whenever something occurs needing legal help, we can immediately help without establishing separate attorney client relationships. We can help incorporate and create operating agreements and obtain EINs for business tax purposes. We can help draft contacts for agreements with other businesses and with incoming employees. We can provide advice on handling employment issues or preventing any problem with potential discrimination.
Finally, we can help handle cases others may bring against the small business when that occurs.