Have you ever wanted to start your own business and work for yourself? It all sounds like a dream until you start and think to yourself, “I need legal advice.”
Luckily, there are small business legal services that don’t cost an arm and a leg. So if you’re on a budget, you can get the help you need.
Keep reading to learn more about these legal services.
What Are Small Business Legal Services?
Small business legal services are things that help you operate your small business legally. They can help when you first start your business, and they can come in handy in case someone ever sues you.
As a small business, you probably don’t have enough money to hire a lawyer full-time. You may not even have enough money to keep a lawyer on a monthly retainer.
Because of that, small business legal services allow you to get the assistance you need. You don’t have to worry about breaking the bank just to protect your business.
Consider some of the things that fall under legal services.
Work By a Lawyer
When most people think of legal services, they probably think of a lawyer doing work for a business. A lawyer can come in handy when you need to form an LLC for your business or deal with other legal matters.
Any hours a lawyer spends reviewing your legal documents or case files could be considered legal services. Whether they are reading through your LLC application or reviewing a suit against you, a lawyer can provide small business legal services.
But legal services include much more than the hours a lawyer spends working on your business or case. Consider the time that you meet with a lawyer to discuss legal business and get business legal advice.
Legal Counseling
Legal counseling and advice can be just as important as having a lawyer review your files. Getting advice can also be an excellent way to save money on small business legal services.
If you don’t have the money to hire a lawyer to review your documents, you can ask for their advice. You can schedule an appointment to get business legal advice on things like writing contracts.
As long as you get the advice from a reputable source, you can use that information. You can write your own business contracts, and you won’t have to hire a lawyer whenever you need to change something.
So this type of legal service can help you save a lot of money. And if you’re new to the business, it can help you start things off correctly.
Why You Need Legal Services
Whether you started your small business yesterday or a decade ago, you need small business legal services. You can use legal services online as well, so you never have to step foot into a law office.
An online legal service can help you determine what paperwork you need to start a business. You can use the service to protect yourself if someone sues you, and you can get advice on any contracts that you need to write.
Compared to a lawyer, legal services online can be very affordable. You don’t have to have a huge legal budget to take advantage of them, but you can still get the help you need.
Because unless you want to put yourself at risk of a lawsuit, you need to get business legal advice. Then, you can make sure you aren’t breaking any laws when you run your business.
Why Find Them Online
If you can’t find legal services in person, look for legal services online. You can find tons of resources and tips on the legalities of running a business.
When you look online, you don’t have to worry about where the lawyers or service is located. And if you need help when you’re out of town, you don’t have to worry about waiting until you get home.
Now, it can help to find a lawyer who can legally practice in your state. Then, you can make sure they know the local laws that apply to your business.
Still, finding small business legal services online can save you a lot of time. You won’t have to take the time to drive to and from the office. And sometimes, you may not even need to make an appointment.
So if you want to maximize your time running your business, you should look for legal services online.
Legal Services Online Cost
Hiring a lawyer can cost you well over $200 an hour, but that’s not the case with online legal services. Depending on the services you need, you can get business legal advice for no cost at all.
Some websites offer legal advice through a blog or another free method. They’re a great option if you need basic legal tips and don’t need to talk to a person.
You can find legal services that specialize in creating legal documents and others that let you talk to a lawyer. Depending on the services and any limitations, you can expect to pay about $20 to $50 per month for those services.
While those fees can add up, they don’t compare to the expense of hiring a lawyer. If you have the time to write contracts and other documents, you can save a lot of money with these small business legal services.
How to Find Small Business Legal Services Online
To take full advantage of small business legal services, you need to find the right services for you. Before you choose a service, think about a few factors in your business.
For example, a new business owner may need more help than someone who has been in business for a while.
Consider Your Needs
The first thing to consider when looking for small business legal services is to think about what your business needs. Consider whether you need help with one thing or multiple.
Determine if you need to file for an LLC in your state or if you plan to use a different business structure.
If you will be offering services, consider how many services you’ll offer and if all of them will require separate contracts. You can then find legal services to review those contracts.
Consider Your Budget
While online legal services are almost always cheaper than hiring a lawyer, you should still think about the cost. Not all websites offer the same services, so you may need to work with multiple companies.
Doing so isn’t always a bad thing, but the cost can add up. If you don’t have much money, look for free services or free trials to get the help you need.
Then, you can continue with the paid version of the service that you know you can’t live without.
As your business grows, you can start to pay for more legal services. But until then, consider how much you can afford to spend so that you can choose the best service.
Use Online Legal Services Websites
Websites like Nolo and LegalZoom are a great option for finding affordable small business legal services. Nolo offers free legal information on their website, and if you have the money, you can buy their books.
Meanwhile, LegalZoom is a paid legal service that lets you talk to a lawyer and get reviews for your business contracts. You can also get help when it comes to filing for an LLC.
LegalShield is another great service that you can use no matter what stage of business you’re in. You can use it for creating policies and contracts or writing other legal documents.
An online legal service can be a great way to get the help you need when you need it. Often, you don’t have to spend a ton of money, but you can still ensure that your legal documents cover what they need to cover.
Look for a Local Lawyer
If you have the money to spend on a lawyer, even if for a single session or hour, consider it. But make sure that you hire a lawyer in your state rather than across the country.
The American Bar Association has different requirements, so a lawyer needs to pass the exam to practice in a given state. So even if you travel a lot for your business, look for a lawyer in the state where you base your business.
Working with a lawyer can be especially helpful if someone sues you or if you need to sue a client for something like non-payment. And while online legal services can be useful, they can’t help defend you in court.
On the other hand, a lawyer can help you walk through your case as a business owner. They can fight for you so that you get the best outcome of the case, whether you’re the one suing or the defendant.
These great exclusive attorney leads can help firms and clients connect. Then, you can make sure you have the legal help you need for almost anything.
The Legal Advice You Need
Every business will come upon legal trouble at some point. Whether you need to write a contract or deal with a court case, you need to know when to use small business legal services.
You can save money with online services, and you can also invest in a lawyer when it counts.
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