Running your own business can be rewarding work. For many, it’s a dream come true.
But if you currently own a business, or even if you are in the early stages of starting your own business, you know just how much there is to do and how complicated it can be.
Regardless of where you are in the business ownership process, you may have at some point considered whether you should hire an attorney.
But you might be asking yourself, What does a small business lawyer do?
Many people wonder whether an attorney can actually provide value to their business. In reality, an experienced small business lawyer can help your business in countless ways.
The small business lawyers at Massingill can provide invaluable services to your Texas small business.
From legal research and advice to in-court business litigation disputes, we have what it takes to be your Texas small business law firm.
Contact us online or call (512) 645-1365 today for a free consultation to discuss your business needs and see how our attorneys can help you.
What Does a Small Business Lawyer Do?
Lawyers help clients understand the law and navigate legal disputes. But what does a small business lawyer do, specifically?
A well-qualified small business lawyer will be able to provide a wide array of legal services. Below are some of the services we frequently provide to our Texas small business clients.
Business Formation
Before starting a business, there are a number of key decisions you must make and legal requirements you must comply with.
Do you want to set your business up as an LLC, a partnership, a corporation, or some other type of entity? How do you go about registering your business with the Texas Secretary of State?
An experienced small business attorney can help you navigate these crucial questions and many more as you formally set up your business.
At Massingill, we can assist you with all aspects of the business formation process. Our Texas business formation attorneys can help:
- Determine the right entity type for your small business;
- Advise on tax implications and personal liability protections;
- Draft and file any necessary corporate formation documents;
- Apply for an employer identification number (EIN) from the IRS; and
- Provide valuable advice and counsel moving forward.
Setting up your Texas small business correctly is crucial to its future success. The wrong decisions at the outset can lead to problems down the road that may be costly and time-consuming to correct.
Thus, make sure to have someone in your corner with the knowledge and legal expertise to put your business in the best position possible.
Business Transactions
Sometimes, you might need an attorney to help your business with transactional matters.
If your business is preparing for a corporate merger or acquisition, it is almost always recommended to engage an experienced legal professional to advise you throughout the process.
Our attorneys regularly assist our small business clients with negotiating business transactions and drafting necessary documents to get deals to close.
We will also work in consultation with your CPA to ensure that we do what is in the best interest of your business.
Contract Drafting and Review
No matter what type of business you own, you will almost certainly require contracts at some point or another.
Examples of commonly used business contracts include:
- Partnership agreements,
- Operating agreements,
- Indemnity agreements,
- Nondisclosure agreements,
- Property and equipment leases,
- Purchase orders,
- Security agreements,
- Employment contracts,
- Independent contractor agreements, and
- Noncompete agreements.
Contracts are legal documents. Thus, it is imperative that you have a small business attorney who can draft and/or review any documents that may be critical to the success of your business and ensure that they are valid and enforceable.
At Massingill, we recognize that each business is unique and will have different needs. That’s why we will work with you to review and draft contracts that are tailored to fit your business.
Intellectual Property
As your business grows, you may discover it is time to hire a small business attorney to help protect and pursue your intellectual property rights.
Many people think that intellectual property is reserved exclusively for rights in inventions. Thus, they mistakenly believe that if they are not an inventor, they do not need an IP attorney. However, this is not the case.
While patent rights are of course one important category of intellectual property rights and copyrights are two other important intellectual property rights that are applicable to many small businesses.
An experienced small business lawyer can help you register trademarks and copyrights you may use in connection with your business. Doing so can help you build and grow your overall brand.
Additionally, by registering your copyrights, you put the general public on notice of your intellectual property.
If someone attempts to infringe on your validly registered IP, a small business attorney can help you take legal action to enforce and safeguard your rights moving forward.
Business Disputes and Litigation
No matter how smoothly your business runs, there is always a possibility that a dispute will arise.
Small business disputes come in many forms. Examples of common legal disputes that might arise in the course of your business include:
- Partnership disputes,
- Breach of contract disputes,
- Customer disputes,
- Employment disputes, and
- Disputes with other businesses.
No matter what type of legal dispute your business is facing, it’s no secret that it can cost you both time and money to resolve. However, hiring a small business lawyer can often lead to a more efficient and cost-effective resolution.
If and when a dispute does arise, don’t be left wondering where to turn. The attorneys at Massingill are trained negotiators ready to fight for your rights.
We will work to effectively and efficiently resolve your dispute.
Why Hire Massingill as Your Austin Small Business Lawyers
So, what does an Austin small business lawyer do? A well-qualified small business attorney will be able to assist you with just about anything that your business needs.
At Massingill, our goal is to help you make complex legal matters feel simple and more manageable.
We know there are countless other law firms you could hire for your small business legal needs, but here are a few reasons why we think we’re the best firm for you:
- We have more than 100 5-star ratings from former clients;
- Our firm offers a variety of legal services to fit the needs of your Texas small business;
- You can always schedule appointments with us easily online; and
- We offer no-nonsense pricing and flat fee services.
Our attorneys in Austin are proud to serve business owners in a variety of sectors throughout the State of Texas. We hope we will have the opportunity to help your business too.
Contact us online today or call (512) 645-1365 for a free consultation, and see what our firm can do for you.
Where You Can Find Our Austin, Texas Office
Joshua Massingill
Joshua Massingill is an attorney practicing in Austin, Texas. He serves on the Texas State Bar’s Law Practice Management Committee, the Leander Educational Excellence Foundation (LEEF) Board of Directors, and the Success-Werx Board of Advisors. He mentors young entrepreneurs in Leander ISD’s INCubatorEDU program and is active in his church.
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