Good legal setup early is far cheaper than fixing problems later. The most common needs are forming an LLC or corporation, agreements between co-owners, and contracts with customers, vendors and contractors.
Starting out
- Choosing an entity: sole proprietorship, LLC, S corporation or C corporation: each has liability and tax differences.
- Operating or partnership agreement: who owns what, who decides, and what happens if someone leaves.
- Contracts: client agreements, contractor agreements and NDAs.
As you grow
Hiring employees vs contractors, trademarks, leases, investor terms and collections.
DIY starting points
Our sister site offers free templates for an LLC operating agreement, NDA and independent contractor agreement.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a lawyer to form an LLC?
Not always (filing is often simple) but a lawyer is valuable when there are multiple owners or investors.
Questions from readers
Question about Small business? Ask it here. We answer common questions in general terms on this page. This is not legal advice, and we can’t take your case.
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