At Simon | Paschal, we are experts in business law in Dallas TX and we know that hiring an attorney is something you should think about doing before something bad happens to you or your business that requires you to seek legal help. A business lawyer can prevent many bad things from happening by laying the proper legal groundwork upon which your business should be built. This is especially important for most small- to medium-sized business owners who can’t afford to take the kind of financial hit that can come with legal complications, fines and lawsuits.
According the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are many complex and slightly-less-complex issues that you should consider retaining an attorney skilled in business law in Dallas TX to handle, including:
▪ Naming your business and claiming a trademark. Naming your business, if it will carry any name other than your own, requires you to register your fictitious or ‘doing business as’ name. If you intend to create a website, you must ensure that your domain name is unique and you must follow a process to claim it. In addition, if you intend to use a trademarked word, phrase or logo that will belong to your company alone, you must go through a process to claim that as well.
▪ Designing the legal structure for your business. If you are entering a partnership or you want to set up a limited liability company (LLC), there are a number of steps you must take that, depending on which you are doing, include filing the ‘articles of organization,’ creating an operating agreement and registering your business with the state.
▪ Filing paperwork to start a business. The paperwork required to start a business includes obtaining permits and licenses, registering your business for tax purposes and applying for an Employer Identification Number (EIN).
▪ Creating contracts and non-disclosure agreements. Part of almost any business is the creation of contracts that include customer contracts, partner or vendor agreements and, often, non-disclosure agreements (NDA).
▪ Creating buy-sell agreements. If you are in a partnership or an LLC with more than one owner, you should have a buy-sell agreement, also known as a buyout agreement, in place that governs the handling of a situation in which one partner or owner dies or chooses to leave the business.
▪ Forming a corporation. Forming a corporation is more complex than a partnership or an LLC as it involves shareholders and a board of directors. A corporation also has more complicated tax and legal requirements.
▪ Filing a patent. Getting a patent is expensive, can be time-consuming and can take many years to get approved. A lawyer can help you to decide if it’s even worthwhile to pursue a patent.
▪ Buying or selling a business. Buying or selling a business is complicated and requires negotiating sales agreements, lease agreements and more.
▪ Litigation. Your business could face litigation stemming from lawsuits filed by current or former employees or customers. It can involve discrimination or harassment lawsuits, environmental lawsuits, government investigations for violations of the law and more.
To lay the best groundwork for your business, consider the experts in business law in Dallas TX, Simon | Paschal. Call us at (972) 893-9340 to schedule an appointment and visit us online at www.simonpaschal.com to learn more about us.
[osky-citation keyword=’BUSINESS LAW DALLAS TX’]Photo Credit: @DepositPhotos.com/ masha_tace
