Protecting Yourself and Your Investment
It’s the dream of many—starting your own business, being your own boss, setting your own hours, and answering only to yourself. While opening your own commercial entity is far more complicated than that, it can offer many advantages, but you need to be careful to provide yourself with as much protection as you reasonably can. Here are some legal issues that should be prominent in your thinking as you evaluate your options:
- What is the best legal structure for your business?—There are a number of different ways to set up a small business, from a sole proprietorship to a partnership, limited liability company (LLC), or even a corporation. The different business forms offer different levels of protection from creditors, different tax consequences, and different levels of filing/reporting. An experienced business law attorney can help you evaluate your options and choose the structure that best meets your needs.
- What will you call your business, and how will you protect the name of your business?—The name of a business is often one of its best marketing tools, helping the business establish goodwill. You’ll want to ensure that the name you choose doesn’t conflict with an existing enterprise, which can create legal problems. You’ll also want to take the right steps to protect others from benefiting wrongfully from your hard work. An experienced lawyer can help you take the steps to protect your business name, trademark, logo, or other unique identifying characteristic.
- Registration with all appropriate revenue agencies—You’ll need to file with state and federal revenue agencies and may also need to provide notice to local agencies. Your lawyer can help you complete these tasks. Your attorney can also work with you to ensure compliance with all tax filings and obligations.
Contact Attorney Howard N. Sobel
At the office of Howard N. Sobel, we provide comprehensive legal counsel to businesses and business owners. Contact our office online or call us at 856-424-6400 to set up a free initial consultation. Evening and weekend appointments can be arranged upon request. We accept all major credit cards.
