Texas is a great place to be an entrepreneur, and there’s nothing more exciting than launching your own business. Whether you’re selling a product, service, or combination of both, the legal structure of your business and entity formation will be among the most important decisions you make early on. Because of this, a lawyer for business startup can be an important member of your team.
When choosing a business attorney, here are 3 important things to ask:
- How many years of experience does the attorney have doing business law?
General legal experience is fine, but it’s better to hire a lawyer who specializes in business rather than one who handles divorces, personal injury and bankruptcy.
- What are the attorney’s fees and how are those calculated?
One size doesn’t fit all where business law is concerned, and it’s best to hire an attorney who will customize his work and his billing to your individual needs.
- What is the attorney’s working style and does it fit with yours?
You want to work with a business attorney who is flexible and adapts easily to your business as it grows over time. It’s also important to hire an attorney who is articulate and understands the language of CEOs, COOs and CFOs. The best business attorneys are equally at home in the boardroom as in the courtroom.
It’s critical to hire an attorney with business savvy from the get-go because he can advise you on tax matters, licensing and employment agreements, real estate leases and a wide variety of other issues that may need to be handled before opening your doors to clients and customers.
Business startup tasks may seem pretty straightforward, but when you drill down into the legal aspects of launching a business, it becomes clear that you really need a significant level of experience and know-how. A quality startup attorney can help you avoid pitfalls now that could result in obstacles and legal difficulties in the future.
Houston business attorney Andrew Weisblatt has decades of legal experience advising startup companies and their executives. His seasoned and skilled approach has helped many entrepreneurs maximize their opportunities while minimizing business risks. Mr. Weisblatt would welcome the chance to talk to you and learn more about your legal needs. All conversations are confidential and highly professional. For a free initial consultation, contact Mr. Weisblatt at 713-666-1981.
Do I Need a Lawyer To Start a Business?
Technically, no. But perhaps the more important questions is, “Can I afford to go it alone without an attorney when I start a business?” All too often, entrepreneurs strike out into the business wilderness alone, thinking that they’ll build their business model along the way as needs arise. This piecemeal approach to starting a business can create problems later on and result in regulatory red tape and sales slowdowns. You don’t want to encounter non-compliance issues with regulators that could have financial and legal consequences in the long run.
It is better to establish a relationship with a business lawyer early on to help create a business plan, establish a favorable business entity, limit your personal liability, obtain the necessary licenses and permits, and comply with all local, state and federal regulations that affect your business. Where legal matters are concerned, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It is best to take a proactive approach to legal matters in business rather than being reactionary.
Mr. Weisblatt can work on one of these issues individually for your business, or he can become a full-fledged member of your team and handle several of these issues at once. He will customize his legal work based on your business needs.
5 Things to Know About Starting a Business
- Texas is a great place to launch a business. It is one of the top five states in the nation when it comes to supporting entrepreneurs and creating a business-friendly economic environment.
- Hire the best people you can find. Whether it’s accountants, sales representatives, attorneys, craftsmen or truck drivers, hire the cream of the crop. Exceptional employees and consultants will always deliver exceptional results.
- The owner is separate from his business. This is important to remember in the early days because so much is going on and everyone is burning the candle at both ends when launching a business. Lots of elbow grease and determination are essential, but so is taking time out for family and relaxation. It’s important for executives to be able to delegate and maintain their own life away from the office. Work/life balance is key to long-term success.
- Find a good mentor. It’s so important to have a trusted and experienced business mentor that you can go to when you want to brainstorm, talk about difficulties, or ask for advice. Many senior executives welcome the opportunity to “pay it forward” by mentoring younger or fledgling entrepreneurs. It’s part of the legacy they leave.
- Choose the right business for you. While there may be lots of fads or popular ideas about new businesses, it’s important to choose a business that plays to your strengths and builds upon your experience. Not everyone can run a successful Italian restaurant even though many of us love Italian food. Similarly, not everyone can launch a successful general contracting business even though most of us love beautiful houses and buildings. Spend time thinking about what you do best and how you might leverage your skills when launching a business.
How Much are Startup Business Lawyer Fees?
Most new businesses are watching their dollars pretty closely, and executives are focused on making prudent expenditures. Attorney fees at the Weisblatt Law Firm are competitive, and Mr. Weisblatt is proactive about structuring fees around a business’s needs. One size does not fit all where legal services are concerned. Mr. Weisblatt is willing to customize his services in a way that is economical and of greatest value to his clients.
Contact a Business Startup Lawyer Today
It’s a very exciting time when you launch a new business. It’s a time filled with lots of hard work, long hours and big dreams. Consider including attorney Andrew Weisblatt as part of the team that builds your startup. All startups face multiple legal matters, including entity formation, labor and employment agreements, licensing and permitting, establishing bylaws, reviewing contracts and many other issues. A skilled and experienced business attorney can be a strong asset in handling these matters on your behalf. For a professional and confidential consultation about your legal needs, contact Mr. Weisblatt at 713-666-1981. He would welcome the opportunity to speak with you.
Attorney Andrew Weisblatt
Mr. Weisblatt has practiced continuously since becoming licensed in 1992 and has represented businesses ranging in size from one person start-up ventures to multi-national corporations employing hundreds of people in multiple countries. From 2005 through 2009 Mr. Weisblatt was in-house counsel and chief operating officer of a multi-national corporation in the steel products industry. That in-house position provided valuable insight into how businesses work and what they actually need from their lawyers – both in-house and outside counsel. Attorney Bio
