Small-Business Lawyer
A Houston Small-Business Lawyer Can Help Your Business
Starting a new business, setting it up correctly, running the day-to-day operations, managing employees, providing outstanding customer service, and dealing with problems and legal issues that arise . . . these are a few of the many things that small-business owners must deal with.
If you own a small company, a small-business lawyer can help you start your operation and keep it running smoothly. The Weisblatt Law Firm knows the challenges that small-business owners face, and we are here to help. Proper legal guidance may keep your company out of legal trouble so it can perform at its best. Our firm has been helping small businesses like yours since 2009, so you can trust us to provide you with effective and affordable legal representation. We strive to develop long-lasting client relationships so we can address routine issues as well as legal problems that come up unexpectedly.
Why Choose Our Small-Business Attorneys?
There are many business attorneys out there, but it is important to find one you not only feel comfortable with but who has the experience and track record to deal with your small-business issues. Here are some reasons why we feel you should retain Houston business attorney Andrew Weisblatt:
We are experienced. 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.
- We work hard to keep our clients satisfied, and you can read our testimonials that prove it.
- We handle a wide range of business issues, including litigation and legal disputes, business contracts, corporate formation, real estate transactions, employment issues, and collections.
- We provide personal service and trusted advice. We understand Texas laws pertaining to business, and work closely with our clients to provide essential legal advice to help you decide what steps to take that would best benefit your business.
- We are thorough. We make sure everything is done correctly and legally to avoid potential problems.
- We offer free, confidential, and personalized telephone consultations to discuss your individual business situation and determine the best way to help.
When Weisblatt Law Firm takes your case, your legal affairs are in capable hands — you don’t need to worry about anything but getting back to business. Call (713) 666-1981 for a free consultation over the phone.
Regardless of whether you are a start-up, wanting to have your business run more efficiently, looking to expand or sell your business, or are facing legal issues, we are here to help and serve small businesses throughout Texas with comprehensive legal representation. Don’t let your business problems become overwhelming.
Get help from our Houston small-business lawyers today. We’ll be here for you when you need us. Call us today at (855) 242-7092 for a free telephone consultation so we can show you how we can help.
Why Hire a Lawyer for a Small Business?
A Small-Business Attorney Can Keep You from Making Costly Mistakes
Whether you started some time ago or are planning to begin a business, a lawyer is a critical part of your team. Running a business is complex and time-consuming, so chances are you rely on a team of experts. You may have a bookkeeper, an accountant, a banker, and an insurance agent to help your business stay open. You may outsource your payroll and marketing functions. Given all the potential legal challenges you face, it makes sense to hire a Houston small-business lawyer as well.
Your business solves a problem or meets a need. You tell potential customers not to spend time and effort to address these issues, but to hire you instead. You have the expertise and knowledge they lack, and you can tackle the problem much more effectively and efficiently. Instead of paying for mistakes while they learn by doing, your services are a much better value. For these same reasons, you should have a small-business attorney handle all legal issues for your business – it’s much more effective to have a professional do it correctly than to run the risk of making mistakes that cost more in the long run.
What Is the Cost of a Small-Business Lawyer?
Costs of a small-business lawyer vary, according to factors such as what work is involved with the case and the fee structure of the firm. Most small-business lawyers charge hourly fees, which may start at $150 or more per hour, but some firms are flexible about fees. Other lawyers charge a flat fee, no matter how long the task might take to finish, and this should be negotiated in advance. Another option is to hire an attorney on retainer, where the business owner pays an advance, to have a lawyer who is always available to work on tasks and draws from the retainer while doing so.
What Kind of Lawyer Do I Need for a Small Business?
Whether you are starting, running, or closing a small business, you need a small-business lawyer that specializes in the issues that small businesses deal with. It is important to develop a relationship with a small-business lawyer so you can have questions answered as they arise and deal with legal issues that present themselves, but it’s especially important to retain a business lawyer when you are faced with litigation or issues that are too complex, too time-consuming, or too fraught with liability to handle on your own.
Houston small-business owners and operators trust Weisblatt Law Firm to help their businesses thrive. You can do the same for your small business.
Our Small-Business Lawyer in Texas Deals with Legal Issues and Challenges
Our small-business lawyers handle a wide range of business issues, and when you have our team on your side, we will examine your situation to find out your areas of concern. We will listen to your needs as a business owner and those of your organization, and go on to provide counsel and help you solve problems in a timely and responsive manner. Our attorneys will be there to help with all aspects of business administration, including contract negotiations, employment disputes, and drafting business policies. The following are some of the areas our small-business lawyers can assist you with:
Small-Business Attorneys Help with Business Formation
If you are starting up a new business, our small-business lawyers will examine your individual situation to determine what is the best fit for you and the goals you have for your business. Your business will be involved in legal issues from the moment it starts until the day you close or sell it. Selecting the right legal entity can get you started in the right direction and prevent problems later on.
We can discuss what your business does, your goals and plans, those involved in starting and running it, and the problems you must avoid. There are many legal entities to choose from. Each has benefits and costs. You may begin with one entity, run into problems, then create a different one that better suits your needs. Which one’s right for you is your decision to make:
1. Sole proprietorship
This is the easiest to form, and you’ll have complete control of your business. You’re automatically a sole proprietorship if you conduct business but aren’t another business entity. With a sole proprietorship, your personal and business assets and liabilities mix. If you can’t pay back a business debt, your personal property may be used to satisfy the debt. Banks may be reluctant to loan to you, and investors won’t be interested.
2. Partnership
A partnership is the simplest way for two or more people to own a business, but there are downsides. One partner can be bound by an agreement made by another, even if they weren’t aware of it. Your personal assets could also be used to pay the partnership’s financial obligations.
3. Limited liability company (LLC)
An LLC is a mix of corporate and partnership business structures. LLCs protect your personal property from business debt liability in most cases, because they’re separate from your business assets. Your profits and losses can pass through to you without corporate taxes. Any LLC can have a limited life; and if your business is involved in big but separate projects, you could form an LLC for each one. An LLC may be a good option if you’re at a higher risk of being sued or need to go into debt to operate. You may also pay less in taxes than if you owned the business through shares in a corporation.
4. Corporation
A corporation is a legal entity separate from its owners. Corporations may make a profit, be taxed, and be held legally liable for their actions. Unless the corporation is used as a sham to shield shareholders from liability, owners shouldn’t be held personally responsible for paying its debts, taxes, or lawsuit verdicts.
Corporations have the best protection from personal liability, but the cost of forming and running one is higher than for other entities. There’s more record-keeping, processes, and reporting. A corporation could pay taxes on its profits, and stockholders can pay taxes on profits distributed as dividends (unless it’s an S corporation).
Unlike a sole proprietorship or partnership, a shareholder can leave the business, but the entity can remain intact. It should also be easier to get loans and investments from others. A corporation may be a good option if:
- Your business is at medium or higher risk of litigation.
- You want to raise money by selling stocks to others.
- You want to sell all your stock to end your relationship with your company.
You could mix business entities, depending on what you do. A corporation could be part of a partnership, a member of an LLC, and own stock in another corporation.
No matter which way you choose to set up your business, our small-business lawyer in Houston will make sure everything is done properly and legally, so your business gets off to a good start.
Small-Business Lawyers Deal with Contracts
Small businesses deal with contracts all the time, so our small-business lawyers will protect your rights and interests through well-drafted, enforceable contracts. Legally enforceable contracts aren’t always in writing, and just writing down an agreement won’t necessarily make it enforceable. Without realizing it, you may be bound by an oral contract or a contract formed by the parties’ acts. If you breach a contract (intentionally or not), you can be held responsible for the harm caused to the other party.
A contract is a legally binding agreement involving at least two parties, creating a mutual obligation to do something or refrain from doing something. It must have the following:
- An offer
- An acceptance
- Mutual consideration (something of value is exchanged)
- The parties can be legally bound (they’re not minors or mentally incompetent)
- The contract is for a legal purpose.
You may want to have a key employee, supplier, customer, or contractor bound by a contract. A contract could protect your personal property and prevent an important employee from working for the competition. It provides both sides some certainty, which allows them to plan their business’s future costs and actions.
If you’re given a contract to sign, it should be reviewed by an attorney. Never sign anything you don’t understand, because the potential costs may be far greater than what you hope to gain. If you want to create a contract with another party, contact our office. There are many possible defenses to enforcing a contract. If it’s not drafted and executed properly, it may not do you any good.
Small-Business Attorneys Handle Debt Collection
Your small business won’t last long if customers or clients don’t pay you. Laws apply to debt collection, so you can’t say or do whatever you want to if someone owes you money. If your actions and words are severe enough, you risk legal action against you that can cost far more than what you’re owed. Despite reasonable, good faith efforts, and if the amount at stake justifies it, you may need to sue a client or customer to get paid.
Small-Business Lawyers Know Employment Law
If you have employees, there are many state and federal laws and regulations you must follow. There may also be local ordinances that apply. If you violate them, you might be investigated and/or sued by a government agency. An employee, former employee, or job applicant might also file a legal action against you. If you want to have work done by an independent contractor, not an employee, but you don’t handle it properly, that, too, can get you into legal trouble.
Small-Business Attorneys Work with Real Estate
If your small business has a physical location, you need to buy or lease it. If you’re buying real estate, there may be zoning or land-use issues. If you’re constructing an office or facility, there will be contracts to sign. If you’re leasing, that lease should be reviewed to make sure you get what you need while reducing your obligations as much as possible.
Small-Business Lawyers Resolve Disputes
At some point your business may be involved in a serious disagreement with another party that may result in litigation. It could be a partner you think embezzled from your company, a customer claiming you cheated them, or an employee accusing you of discrimination or not paying them for their work.
Thankfully, very few disagreements are resolved at trial, saving parties time, energy, and money. They also lose control of the outcome when a judge or jury decides the matter. The Weisblatt Law Firm negotiates resolutions for our clients, and we represent them at mediations, arbitrations, and in court. Highly specialized areas of law can be involved, and if you try to do this yourself, you won’t be focused on running your business.
Small-Business Lawyers Deal with Financial Struggles and Other Issues
If your company is having a hard time paying its bills, our small-business lawyers can help you find a way out. That can be through collecting debts, renegotiating loans, laying off employees, selling assets, or selling all or part of your business. You may need to end contracts because you can no longer afford the obligations, or you may choose to close locations that are under lease. Closing your business or trying to get a fresh start through bankruptcy may also be options.
When unexpected issues arise, such as those experienced during the COVID-19 restrictions, our small-business attorneys will be there to help your company navigate them. Whether you’re having difficulties with an employee, a government agency, or some contractual obligation, the Weisblatt Law Firm will be there for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Small-business issues can be complex, and it is natural to have many questions. Here are a few answers to frequently asked questions.
Can a small-business lawyer help with intellectual property matters?
Yes. Small-business lawyers frequently deal with intellectual property matters for their clients. With technology and art-creation tools at everyone’s fingertips these days, intellectual property holdings have grown exponentially for individuals and small businesses. An experienced business attorney will ensure that your intellectual property is protected and managed according to your wishes.
Types of intellectual property that small-business lawyers typically work with include:
- Copyrights
- Trademarks
- Patents
- Trade secrets
- Inventions.
Often, small-business owners are unaware of the value of their intellectual property and less aware of the protections they are entitled to. If you have IP interests, a small-business lawyer will perform a thorough inventory of your IP and take the appropriate steps to protect every asset you have.
Can a small-business lawyer help my business with B2B debt collection?
Yes, small-business lawyers can help with B2B debt collection. Lawyers make extremely efficient debt collectors because they know the law and its boundaries and are familiar with the legal avenues for collecting debt. When a debt collector has a legal question, they must call an attorney. When your debt collector is an attorney? Problem solved.
How long does it take to collect delinquent business debt?
Collecting business debt can be a time-consuming process. Depending on the circumstances, it can take weeks, months, or even years. Each situation is different and has its own timeline. When you hire an attorney, they work diligently to recover your debt for you as quickly as possible.
How do I protect against discrimination or harassment liability?
The best way to protect against harassment and discrimination is to first hire an attorney with experience in employment and labor law. They will thoroughly analyze your business and help you develop comprehensive policies and protocols on discrimination and harassment. These policies and protocols will be your first line of defense against claims of harassment or discrimination.
To get more answers to your questions about legal matters involving small businesses, contact Weisblatt Law Firm. We’re here to help.
Call Our Houston Small-Business Lawyer Today to Schedule a Free Consultation
Small-business owners face significant challenges on the way to profitability. Many end up closing their doors because they are not prepared for the legal obstacles that sometimes pop up during business operations.
Whether you own a small business or are planning to open one, quality legal counsel and representation are critical to your business’s success. With the Weisblatt Law Firm’s help, you may avoid serious legal problems and the costs they involve.
If you have a small business, call Weisblatt Law Firm for the directed and effective guidance your operation needs. Your goals matter to Andrew Weisblatt. Let him and his team help you prosper. Call (713) 666-1981 for a consultation today.
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
