Houston 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’s counsel and legal representation know 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.
Regardless of whether you are a start-up, planning to have your business run more efficiently, looking to expand or sell your business, or 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.
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 critical to your team. Running a business is complex and time consuming, so you may rely on a team of experts. For example, 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, hiring a Houston small-business lawyer also makes sense. 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 can tackle the problem 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?
The cost of a small-business lawyer varies 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 small-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 fraught with liability to handle on your own.
Why Choose Our Small-Business Attorneys
There are many business attorneys out there, but it is important to find one you feel comfortable with and who has the experience and track record of dealing 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. He 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 to 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 business situation and determine the best way to help.
When you hire our Weisblatt Law Firm, you no longer have to spend your time and energy learning about the law and making decisions. However, you can use your resources to run and grow your business. Get legal assistance so that the issues you are facing now won’t become major problems in the future.
Call us today to get started at (713) 666-1981.
Why Choose Us
Finding the right small-business lawyer requires a professional with the knowledge and experience to handle these cases. Not all attorneys are the same, and you want to work with a firm that will give your case the attention it needs.
The lawyers at the Weisblatt Law Firm have decades of experience handling small-business cases. We are the Houston small-business attorney who cares and gives you custom solutions for your business. You work with a dedicated attorney that listens and understands your situation. We provide tailored advice on many solutions small businesses need, including formation, dealing with labor disputes, creating partnerships, and conflict resolution.
Your small-business attorney will guide you to make intelligent decisions. You save time and money by putting our knowledge and skill to work for you. Small businesses require many custom services that help them to grow and prosper. A Houston small-business attorney can guide you through various situations. The attorneys at the Weisblatt Law Firm have five-star reviews and are here to help. Contact us now to speak with a skilled attorney about your case.
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, 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 is 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.
How Can We Help?
The Weisblatt Law Firm is here for small businesses that need prudent and objective legal advice. We level the playing field for you and give you access to the same knowledge and skills as big business. Our firm offers boutique small-business solutions, including formation, collections, negotiations, contracts, real estate transactions, and financial and employment issues.
Our team will find practical solutions to protect your business and directly address your problems. You work with a skilled small-business lawyer in Houston who listens to you and creates custom solutions. Your attorney looks out for you and makes things easier for your business. In addition, we are an ally that knows the law and can advise you on how to avoid legal pitfalls.
We have five-star reviews for our knowledge, experience, and professionalism. Our team is results-driven, and advocates are working to help small businesses. Our founder Andrew Weisblatt is on the TV show The Price of Business with Kevin Price. Andrew reflects on the selflessness of our attorneys and how our sense of caring makes a difference.
We help your business to grow by reducing risks and creating favorable situations. Our team looks out for you and will stand up and fight for you, such as collecting an unpaid debt. You can focus on running your business by letting us handle those jobs that are the most time-consuming and difficult. Everything runs smoother for your business by working with a small-business lawyer that can simplify and streamline things.
Get Help From Our Houston Small-Business Lawyers Today.
We’ll be here for you when you need us. Call us today at (713) 666-1981 for a free telephone consultation so we can show you how we can help.
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