{"id":4830,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:45","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/incorporation-and-legal-structures\/hiring-legal-help-with-business-formation.html"},"modified":"2025-10-31T22:45:00","modified_gmt":"2025-11-01T03:45:00","slug":"hiring-legal-help-with-business-formation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/incorporation-and-legal-structures\/hiring-legal-help-with-business-formation.html","title":{"rendered":"Hiring Legal Help with Business Formation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30  wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n<div class=\"fl-section-main fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\"><h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Hiring Legal Help With Business Formation<\/h1>\n\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/jade-yeban-j-d\/\">Jade Yeban, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/catherine-hodder-esq\/\">Catherine Hodder, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            October 31, 2025\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-editorial-note fl-text-sm\">\n            <p>Editorial Note: We earn a commission from affiliate partner links on FindLaw. Commissions do not affect the editorial integrity of our legal content.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"fl-key-takeaways fl-mb30\" data-testid=\"fl-key-takeaways\">\n    <div class=\"fl-card-content\">\n        <div class=\"fl-card-body fl-card-bg-teal fl-flex fl-flex-column\">\n                            <h2 class=\"fl-card-title fl-h2 fl-no-margin\">Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n                        <p>A <span data-term-id=\"54223412\">small <\/span><span data-term-id=\"54223394\">business<\/span><span data-term-id=\"54223394\"> attorney<\/span> helps <span data-term-id=\"54223409\">entrepreneurs<\/span> start their business by guiding them through complex <span data-term-id=\"54223440\">legal requirements<\/span>, such as choosing the right <span data-term-id=\"54223395\">business structure<\/span> and filing state formation documents. They also draft critical <span data-term-id=\"54223407\">legal documents<\/span> such as bylaws, <span data-term-id=\"54223418\">operating agreements<\/span>, and <span data-term-id=\"54223423\">partnership agreements<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you are\u00a0starting a\u00a0<span data-term-id=\"54223412\">small business<\/span>, you may have a number of questions concerning the proper organization form for your business\u2019s needs. What are the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/incorporation-and-legal-structures\/the-basics-of-small-business-incorporation.html\">advantages of incorporating<\/a>\u00a0your\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/starting-a-business.html\"><span data-term-id=\"54223412\">small business<\/span><\/a>? What should be included in a <span data-term-id=\"54223423\">partnership agreement<\/span>? How is a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/incorporation-and-legal-structures\/sole-proprietorship-taxes.html\">sole proprietor taxed<\/a>?<\/p>\n<p>Whether you need advice on choosing the right\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/incorporation-and-legal-structures\/choosing-a-legal-structure.html\">business organization form<\/a>\u00a0or would like help getting your new <span data-term-id=\"54223400\">sole proprietorship<\/span>, partnership, corporation, or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/incorporation-and-legal-structures\/starting-a-limited-liability-company-llc-checklist.html\"><span data-term-id=\"54223402\">limited liability company<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(LLC) up and running, an experienced <span data-term-id=\"54223412\">small <\/span><span data-term-id=\"54223394\">business<\/span><span data-term-id=\"54223394\"> attorney<\/span> can provide key assistance with your <span data-term-id=\"54223404\">new business<\/span> venture. At each step of the business <span data-term-id=\"54223399\">start-up<\/span> process, your attorney will work to ensure that all legal bases are covered. They also help ensure your <span data-term-id=\"54223404\">new business<\/span> has the best possible chance for success.<\/p>\n<p>This article provides a brief overview of how a <span data-term-id=\"54223405\">business law<\/span> attorney can help you as you start your business.<\/p>\n<p><em><b>Need help with business formation? <a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/forms\/business-formation.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Our trusted partner LegalZoom makes it easy\u2014packages start at $0 + state filing fees.<\/a><\/b><\/em><\/p>\n<h2>How a <span data-term-id=\"54223412\">Small <\/span><span data-term-id=\"54223394\">Business<\/span><span data-term-id=\"54223394\"> Attorney<\/span> Can Help<\/h2>\n<p>No matter what <span data-term-id=\"54223427\">type of business<\/span> organization\/<span data-term-id=\"54223399\">start-up<\/span> issue you face, a <span data-term-id=\"54223394\">business attorney<\/span> can help you find the right solution for your <span data-term-id=\"54223404\">new business<\/span> and\u00a0take all necessary actions to get your business\u2019s doors open, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p>Describing the different\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/incorporation-and-legal-structures\/business-structures-which-one-is-best-for-your-business.html\"><span data-term-id=\"54223436\">legal entities<\/span><\/a>\u00a0available to your <span data-term-id=\"54223404\">new business<\/span> (<span data-term-id=\"54223400\">sole proprietorship<\/span>, partnership, corporation, <span data-term-id=\"54223402\">limited liability company<\/span>, etc.)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Explaining all tax, business liability, management, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/starting-a-business\/sample-estimate-of-start-up-costs.html\"><span data-term-id=\"54223399\">start-up<\/span> cost<\/a>\u00a0issues relevant to each business organization form<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Helping you consider all factors and choose the right business organization form to meet your <span data-term-id=\"54223404\">new business<\/span>\u2019s needs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Drafting all necessary <span data-term-id=\"54223423\">partnership agreements<\/span>\u00a0for new partnerships,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/incorporation-and-legal-structures\/writing-and-filing-the-articles-of-incorporation.html\">articles of <span data-term-id=\"54223425\">incorporation<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/incorporation-and-legal-structures\/writing-corporate-bylaws.html\">bylaws<\/a>\u00a0for new corporations, articles of organization, and <span data-term-id=\"54223418\">operating agreements<\/span>\u00a0for new LLCs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Drafting and filing all government registration documents necessary for your <span data-term-id=\"54223404\">new business<\/span>, including\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/starting-a-business\/fictitious-business-names-do-you-need-one.html\">fictitious <span data-term-id=\"54223435\">business name<\/span> registration<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Drafting all necessary tax forms to get your new <span data-term-id=\"54223400\">sole proprietorship<\/span>, partnership, corporation, or LLC up and running<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Securing all necessary business <span data-term-id=\"54223399\">start-up<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/starting-a-business\/business-licenses-and-permits.html\">permits and licenses<\/a>\u00a0from local, state, and federal governments<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Helping you decide whether you will need an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/business-taxes\/employer-identification-number-ein-faq.html\">Employer Identification Number<\/a>\u00a0(EIN), which your attorney can help you apply for\u00a0online<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Using an attorney helps you find the <span data-term-id=\"54223442\">best <\/span><span data-term-id=\"54223395\">business structure<\/span> for your goals and helps you meet all the <span data-term-id=\"54223440\">legal requirements<\/span> to keep your business in good standing with the state.<\/p>\n<h2>Choosing the Right <span data-term-id=\"54223410\">Business Entity<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When you start a business, you have to pick the right <span data-term-id=\"54223427\">type of <\/span><span data-term-id=\"54223395\">business<\/span><span data-term-id=\"54223395\"> structure<\/span>. This is where the term\u00a0<span data-term-id=\"54223410\">business entity<\/span>\u00a0comes in. The structure you choose, like a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/incorporation-and-legal-structures\/what-is-a-c-corporation-.html\"><span data-term-id=\"54223414\">C corporation<\/span><\/a>, <span data-term-id=\"54223402\">limited liability company<\/span> (LLC), <span data-term-id=\"54223431\">limited partnership<\/span> (LP), or a\u00a0limited liability partnership (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/starting-a-business\/llcs-vs--llps.html\">LLP<\/a>), will affect how you pay taxes and your <span data-term-id=\"54223401\">personal liability<\/span>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A <span data-term-id=\"54223396\">business lawyer<\/span> is experienced in <span data-term-id=\"54223405\">business law<\/span> and <span data-term-id=\"54223438\">formation services<\/span>. They can help you decide which structure is best for your <span data-term-id=\"54223441\">business plan<\/span>. If you\u2019re in Illinois, for example, there may be specific rules for setting up a <span data-term-id=\"54223414\">C <\/span><a rel=\"sponsored noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/legalzoomcominc.pxf.io\/c\/4851649\/2115291\/26746?subId1=hiring-legal-help-with-business-formation%20wct2509242057071o9d6&amp;auto-aff-c-corp\" target=\"_blank\"><span data-term-id=\"54223414\">corporation<\/span><\/a> in that state. A lawyer will know these details and guide you through the process.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the <span data-term-id=\"54223399\">startup<\/span> phase, ongoing legal support is essential. As the business grows and evolves, a lawyer can assist in additional areas.<\/p>\n<h2>Protecting Your Ideas and Property<\/h2>\n<p>Your business might have special ideas or creations. These can be protected through\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property.html\"><span data-term-id=\"54223397\">intellectual property<\/span> laws<\/a>. Without <span data-term-id=\"54223429\">legal help<\/span>, someone else might copy or steal your <span data-term-id=\"54223432\">business ideas<\/span>. A <span data-term-id=\"54223396\">business lawyer<\/span> can provide <span data-term-id=\"54223416\">legal services<\/span> to help protect your <span data-term-id=\"54223397\">intellectual property<\/span>. This way, only you and those you choose can use your ideas without legal consequences.<\/p>\n<h2>Understanding <span data-term-id=\"54223407\">Legal Documents<\/span> and Information<\/h2>\n<p>Starting a business means dealing with a lot of <span data-term-id=\"54223407\">legal documents<\/span>. These can be hard to understand. You need to know what they mean for your business needs. A <span data-term-id=\"54223396\">business lawyer<\/span> can give you the legal information you need. They can also ensure you fill out and file these forms correctly. This includes things like leases for <span data-term-id=\"54223406\">real estate<\/span> or forms for the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Internal Revenue Service<\/a>\u00a0(IRS).<\/p>\n<h2>Avoiding <span data-term-id=\"54223424\">Legal Issues<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>No one wants to run into legal problems, especially <span data-term-id=\"54223412\">small <\/span><span data-term-id=\"54223403\">business<\/span><span data-term-id=\"54223403\"> owners<\/span>, but sometimes\u00a0<span data-term-id=\"54223424\">legal issues<\/span> can arise. Maybe there\u2019s a disagreement with a shareholder, or perhaps there\u2019s a question about how you\u2019re doing your tax return. Having a <span data-term-id=\"54223396\">business lawyer<\/span> means you may have someone to turn to for <span data-term-id=\"54223433\">legal matters<\/span>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>As the business landscape and laws change, having a legal professional by your side ensures that the business remains compliant. It helps mitigate risks and ensures you are well-prepared for future challenges and opportunities.<\/p>\n<h2>Additional Resources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/incorporation-and-legal-structures\/resources.html\"><span data-term-id=\"54223393\">Business Formation<\/span> Resources<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/incorporation-and-legal-structures\/business-formation-quickstart.html\"><span data-term-id=\"54223393\">Business Formation<\/span> Quickstart<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/incorporation-and-legal-structures\/state-guide-forms-and-fees-for-business-formation.html\">State Guide: Forms and Fees for <span data-term-id=\"54223393\">Business Formation<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Finding a <span data-term-id=\"54223412\">Small <\/span><span data-term-id=\"54223394\">Business<\/span><span data-term-id=\"54223394\"> Attorney<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re considering starting a business, it\u2019s in your best interests to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/business-commercial-law\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">consult with a <span data-term-id=\"54223411\">business formation<\/span><span data-term-id=\"54223411\"> attorney<\/span><\/a>\u00a0for <span data-term-id=\"54223421\">legal guidance<\/span>. An attorney will offer <span data-term-id=\"54223398\">legal advice<\/span> and\u00a0help you pick the type of legal structure that\u2019s right for you and your business.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    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<fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this not helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n                        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Missing Information\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                        >Missing the information I need<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Too complicated\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                        >Too complicated \/ too many steps<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    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Learn about articles of incorporation, corporate structure, EINs, and much more concerning whether or not you need legal help with your business formation at FindLaw.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41135,"featured_media":0,"parent":4798,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"app\/Http\/Controllers\/Templates\/ArticleWithBreadcrumbsController.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_autodraft_ids":[],"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","_is_real_time_mode":false,"_realtime_collaborators":"","footnotes":"","cf_checklist_status":[]},"categories":[2],"tags":[9],"state_laws_tags":[],"flmsa":[],"class_list":["post-4830","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-smallbusiness","tag-aff-llc"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4830","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4830"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4830\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":401303,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4830\/revisions\/401303"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4830"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4830"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4830"},{"taxonomy":"state_laws_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/state_laws_tags?post=4830"},{"taxonomy":"flmsa","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/flmsa?post=4830"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}