Business Operations: Forms and Contracts

It can be exciting to start your own business. Being a startup also means that all aspects of the business fall on your shoulders. As a small-business owner, you will encounter various issues while operating your business. This article provides sample legal documents to assist you in your business operations.

Starting a Business

A solid business plan can start your business on the right footing. A business plan is good for defining and identifying business goals. It can also help in obtaining financing.

• Business Plan: See a real-life example of a business plan on FindLaw.com.

Accounting

Effective finance management and accounting are key to a successful business. It's important to keep close track of the income and liabilities of your business. The samples below can help you create tools to track your business finances.

• Sample Profit and Loss Statement: Information in a profit and loss statement.
• Reading a Balance Sheet: A sample balance sheet with definitions and descriptions of key elements.
• Sample Business Balance Sheet: Information generally included in the balance sheet.
• Sample Operating Budget: Common expenses and overhead costs associated with operating a business.

Business Taxes

Small businesses must pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and other taxing authorities. Some of the taxes are due monthly. Some of the taxes are due quarterly.

• Business Taxes: Explains business tax basics, including deductions and recordkeeping basics.

Contracts

Every business will deal with different types of contracts, whether oral or written. Contracts are binding agreements. It's a good idea for all business owners to have a basic understanding of contract law. Below are a sample sales contract, a checklist for common contract terms, and a sample letter in the event of a billing dispute.

• Sample Basic Sales Contract: Sample sales contract to help you draft or enter into your sales contract.
• Contract Terms Checklist: Basic provisions that may be important to include or consider in a business contract.
• Sample Billing Dispute Letter: If you notice a billing error, it's important to provide the creditor with written notice. This section offers a sample billing dispute letter.
• Independent Contractor Agreement: Small business development often includes independent contractors. Freelancers get the work done and save employers costs associated with employees.
• Limited Liability Company: Many small businesses start as sole proprietorships. Small-business owners soon wonder if they should change their business structure. Here's a single-member LLC operating agreement. FindLaw also offers streamlined business entity and formation services.
• Joint Venture Agreement: A joint venture is a cooperative business deal between two or more parties. It often includes the sharing of resources.
• Partnership Agreement: A partnership agreement provides an understanding of the partners' business responsibilities. It also explains how the parties will divide business profits.

Equipment and Services

Seeing examples of how others have made decisions can be helpful. Below are examples of service agreements and equipment leases.

• Services Agreements: Real-life examples of service contracts.
• Equipment Leases: Real-life examples of equipment leases.

Sales and Marketing

Effective marketing and advertising are important to reach prospective customers. Figuring out the best place to start for effective sales and marketing can be difficult. Below are sample sales and marketing agreements and a marketing strategy questionnaire.

• Sales and Marketing Agreements: Real-world examples of sales and marketing agreements.
• Marketing Strategy Questionnaire: Items to consider when developing a marketing plan or strategy for your business.

E-Commerce Checklists

Internet and e-commerce play a large role in how people learn about and engage with businesses. It's important for your business to have a strong internet presence. The checklists below provide helpful information about how to have the best internet exposure for your business.

• Choosing a Domain Name: Guidelines to assist you in choosing a business name with an internet presence in mind.
• Disclosure and the Internet: Steps businesses can take to reduce the legal risks when sharing company news online.
• Establishing a Website: Basic procedural information for establishing a business website.
• Social Media: Information on social media issues. Corporate use policies, blogging tips, social marketing, and more.

Day-to-Day Business Operations Checklists

Once you have everything set up for your business, it'll be time to run the day-to-day operations. The documents below provide helpful guidance on aspects affecting your daily business operations.

• Minimizing Business Risks and Losses: Items to consider for implementing a risk management and loss prevention program.
• Making an Insurance Claim: Information to help you organize and justify an insurance claim.
• Choosing a Business Location: Questions you should think about and answer when deciding where to open your business.
• Choosing a Facility: Questions that will help you determine if a building fits your business well.

Special Considerations

There are set-asides for certain types of businesses at the local government, state government, and federal government levels. The set-asides generally occur in the areas of government contracting and subcontracting.

Eligibility targets small disadvantaged businesses such as minority-owned, women-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. Eligibility requirements also include net worth and adjusted income standards.

Several government agencies offer business programs. The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers the Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program and the HUBZone program. The HUBZone program limits competition for certain contracts to small businesses in historically underutilized business zones.

Forms are available here.

Questions About Business Operations Forms and Contracts? Ask an Attorney

If you have questions about starting and running a small business, an attorney can help. Contact an experienced contracts attorney in your area to get those inquiries answered.