• Survey of Rural Challenges
  • Small Town Speaker Becky McCray
  • Shop Local video
  • SaveYour.Town

Small Biz Survival

The small town and rural business resource

A row of small town shops
  • Front Page
  • Latest stories
  • About
  • Guided Tour
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • RSS

Adding Legal Help to Your Small-business Team

By Glenn Muske

Scales of Justice

Photo (CC) by Houstondwiphotos, on Flickr

At some point, you will need the support and expertise of an attorney as you operate your small business.

Often, though, owners delay adding that member to your business team. The thought is that you, the owner, will know when you need such help.

But that line of thought has two major issues. First, you may be making decisions now that are costing you money and will take more money to correct later.

For many small-business owners, the first time an attorney’s advice might be valuable is when selecting the business structure for your business. The attorney, along with your accountant, can outline the pros and cons for the various alternatives. Yet business owners often make that decision without any consultation.

Second, the time to look for an attorney is not when you are in legal trouble. Then you pick at attorney out of desperation and may not find the best fit for your business.

When looking for an attorney, you want to find one whose expertise and personality fit you and your business. Attorneys specialize. Thus, your attorney should be someone who has expertise and knowledge of assisting small-business owners such as you. In an ideal world, the attorney you select would have experience in your specific industry.

Finding such a person takes time. You need to determine who are your options. You can do this through an online search, networking, phone books and reference guides. Identify your needs and any specific questions that might arise.

This list of questions might indicate that, in addition to a general business attorney, you need a second member for your team with a specific set of skills, perhaps in trademarks, patents or international contract law. However, an attorney doing general business work is probably a good first step.

Then, like hiring an employee, you need to do interviews and reference checks. Who else do the attorneys work for and how do those clients feel about the services received?

Don’t hesitate to ask the attorneys about their charges and policy for response times. You want someone who will respond to you on a timely basis. This is a question to ask the candidates as well as other business owners as you do your reference checks.

The attorney you select will, you hope, be a team member for a long time. Bringing this person in early will help you make some early decisions and gets them grounded in your vision and goals.

Finding the right person will help build your bottom line.

  • About the Author
  • Latest Posts

About Glenn Muske

Glenn Muske is an independent expert on rural small business, working as GM Consulting – Your partner in achieving small business success. He provides consulting, and writes articles for county extension agents and newspapers across North Dakota. Previously, he was the Rural and Agribusiness Enterprise Development Specialist at the North Dakota State University Extension Service – Center for Community Vitality.
  • Change - December 26, 2018
  • Regular Customers Form Your Base - December 12, 2018
  • Disasters: Is Your Small Business Ready? - December 5, 2018
  • Business Startup: Steps to Remember - November 28, 2018
  • HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM SMALL BIZ SURVIVAL - November 21, 2018
  • Finding a Business Idea - November 14, 2018
  • Does Your Networking Have Punch? - November 7, 2018
  • Build Tomorrow’s Community Business Sector - October 24, 2018
  • Are You Changing? - October 17, 2018
  • Is it really a deal? - October 10, 2018

September 6, 2017 Filed Under: Small Biz 100, success Tagged With: effective management, legal, small business management, small business success, small business team, success

Wondering what is and is not allowed in the comments?
Or how to get a nifty photo beside your name?
Check our commenting policy.
Use your real name, not a business name.


Don't see the comment form?
Comments are automatically closed on older posts, but you can send me your comment via this contact form and I'll add it manually for you. Thanks!

Howdy!

Glad you dropped in to the rural and small town business blog, established in 2006.

We want you to feel at home, so please take our guided tour.

Meet our authors on the About page.

Have something to say? You can give us a holler on the contact form.

If you would like permission to re-use an article you've read here, please make a Reprint Request.

Want to search our past articles? Catch up with the latest stories? Browse through the categories? All the good stuff is on the Front Page.

Shop Local

Buy local buttonReady to set up a shop local campaign in your small town? You'll need a guide who understands how we're different and what really works: Shop Local Campaigns for Small Towns.

Best of Small Biz Survival

What is holding us back? Why does every project take so long in small towns?

How any business can be part of downtown events by going mobile

Concert-goers talking and enjoying the evening in downtown Webster City, Iowa.

Why do people say there’s nothing to do here then not come to our concerts?

Retailers: Fill all empty space, floor to ceiling

More of the best of Small Biz Survival

Copyright © 2023 Becky McCray
Front Page · Log in