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- Work and lawyers
Business Legal Advice for Small Business Owners: The Core Legal Basics
General legal guidance for small business owners: choosing a structure, contracts, employees, taxes, intellectual property, insurance and when to hire a business lawyer.
4 min read - Work and lawyers
Starting a Business: A Legal Checklist for Beginners
The key legal steps for launching a small business, from choosing a structure to licenses, taxes, insurance and contracts.
3 min read - Work and lawyers
LLC vs. Sole Proprietorship: Which Is Right for a Small Business?
Compare liability protection, taxes, cost and paperwork for sole proprietorships and limited liability companies.
5 min read - Work and lawyers
S Corporation vs. LLC: Differences in Taxes and Liability
How LLCs and S corporations differ, the self-employment tax angle and how to decide which fits your business.
2 min read - Legal documents
LLC Operating Agreement: What It Is and Why You Need One
An operating agreement sets ownership, management and exit rules for an LLC, even for single-member companies.
3 min read - Legal documents
Articles of Incorporation: What to File to Form a Corporation
What articles of incorporation include, filing steps, registered agent requirements and what to do after the state approves them.
3 min read - Work and lawyers
Business Licenses and Permits: What You Need to Operate Legally
The types of licenses and permits businesses may need at the federal, state and local levels and how to find out which apply.
2 min read
Contracts and documents
- Legal documents
Small Business Contracts Every Owner Needs: A Practical Checklist
The essential contracts and legal documents most small businesses need, what each covers, and when to use templates versus a lawyer.
4 min read - Work and lawyers
Business Contracts Basics: Terms Every Small Business Should Include
The essential elements of a valid contract, key clauses for small businesses and mistakes that lead to disputes.
4 min read - Legal documents
Service Agreement Guide: Protecting Both Provider and Client
Key clauses in a service agreement for freelancers and small businesses, including scope, payment, warranties and termination.
4 min read - Legal documents
Independent Contractor Agreements: Terms and Classification Risks
What to put in a contractor agreement and why the label alone does not decide whether someone is a contractor or an employee.
3 min read - Legal documents
Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs): How They Work
What an NDA covers, the difference between one-way and mutual agreements and the limits on what an NDA can do.
4 min read - Legal documents
Partnership Agreements: Protecting Business Partners
What a partnership agreement should cover, how default partnership law works and why a written agreement matters.
3 min read - Legal documents
Shareholder Agreements: Protecting Owners of a Small Corporation
What a shareholder agreement covers, buy-sell clauses, voting rights, transfer limits and why co-owners should sign one early.
4 min read - Work and lawyers
Terms of Service and Privacy Policies for Websites: What You Need
Why websites and apps need a terms of service and privacy policy, key contents and legal requirements like state privacy laws.
3 min read
Employees and contractors
- Work and lawyers
Hiring Your First Employee: Legal Steps for Small Business Owners
The legal and tax steps when you hire your first employee, including registration, forms, insurance and wage and hour compliance.
4 min read - Work and lawyers
Employee or Independent Contractor? The Tests Agencies Use
The factors the IRS, Department of Labor and states use to classify workers and what to do if you were misclassified.
4 min read - Work and lawyers
Employee Handbooks: What They Cover and What They Do Not Promise
What goes into an employee handbook, policies employers commonly include, how at-will language works and tips for small employers.
3 min read - Work and lawyers
Non-Compete Agreements: Are They Enforceable?
How courts treat non-compete clauses, what makes one reasonable and what to do before signing or leaving a job.
4 min read - Work and lawyers
Non-Compete vs. Non-Solicit vs. NDA: What Restrictions Can You Face After a Job?
How three common employment restrictions differ and which are most likely to be enforced.
4 min read
Risk, insurance and disputes
- Work and lawyers
When Does a Small Business Need a Lawyer? Situations Where Legal Help Pays Off
Clear signs a small business should hire a lawyer, from forming an LLC and contracts to lawsuits and employees, and how to keep legal costs under control.
4 min read - Work and lawyers
How to Protect Your Small Business From Lawsuits: Practical Steps
Practical ways to reduce legal risk: entity choice, contracts, insurance, employee practices, records, compliance and what to do if you are sued.
4 min read - Work and lawyers
Business Insurance Basics for Legal Protection: What Policies Small Businesses Need
Which insurance policies help protect small businesses from lawsuits and losses, including general liability, professional liability, workers compensation and cyber coverage.
4 min read - Legal documents
Hold Harmless Agreements: What You Are Really Agreeing To
What a hold harmless or indemnity clause means, when it is used, limits on enforceability and what to check before signing.
3 min read - Legal documents
Personal Guarantees: How Signing for a Business Debt Puts Your Assets at Risk
What a personal guarantee means for business loans and leases, how it differs from a co-signer, and ways to limit your exposure.
4 min read - Legal documents
Cease and Desist Letters: What They Are and How to Respond
What a cease and desist letter can and cannot do, when people send one and what to do if you receive one.
3 min read - Legal documents
How to Write a Demand Letter That Gets Results
A demand letter formally asks someone to pay or act before you sue. Learn what to include and how to send it.
3 min read
Selling, money and intellectual property
- Work and lawyers
Legal Risks of Selling Products Online: What E-Commerce Sellers Need to Know
Key legal issues for online sellers: terms of service, privacy policy, sales tax, product safety, advertising claims, intellectual property and returns.
4 min read - Work and lawyers
Sales Tax for Online Sellers: Nexus, Registration and Marketplaces
When online sellers must collect sales tax, how economic nexus works and how marketplace facilitators handle tax.
2 min read - Work and lawyers
Intellectual Property for Startups: Protecting Your Name, Code and Ideas
How trademarks, copyrights, patents and trade secrets protect different assets and the steps new businesses should take early.
2 min read - Courts and claims
Trademark vs. Copyright vs. Patent: What Is the Difference?
A plain-English comparison of the three main types of intellectual property and which one protects a name, a creative work or an invention.
2 min read - Legal documents
Selling or Buying a Small Business: What the Purchase Agreement Should Cover
Asset sale versus stock sale, key terms in a business purchase agreement, due diligence, non-compete clauses and common pitfalls.
3 min read - Work and lawyers
Franchise Agreements: Red Flags Before You Buy a Franchise
What to review in a Franchise Disclosure Document, common risks and questions to ask before signing a franchise agreement.
2 min read
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a lawyer to start a business?
Not always, but legal advice on structure, contracts and intellectual property can prevent costly mistakes, especially with partners or investors.
What business structure is best?
It depends on liability, taxes, number of owners and plans for investment. Compare options with a tax professional and a lawyer.
What contracts does a small business need?
Commonly customer or service agreements, vendor agreements, contractor agreements, an operating or partnership agreement and website terms and a privacy policy.
Does an LLC protect me from all lawsuits?
No. It limits liability for many business debts but not for your own negligence or personal guarantees.
How can I find affordable legal help for my business?
Try small business development centers, law school clinics, bar referral services and flat-fee lawyers.