Results: 187

Business Formation Lawyers Near You

Ted Amley avatar
Premium
  • New York
With over 20 years of legal experience working at leading law firms and financial institutions in New York before setting up my own practice, I combine capabili...
  • Bankruptcy
  • Business Law
  • Employment Law
  • +3
  • Intellectual Property
  • Real Estate Law
  • Securities Law
With over 20 years of legal experience working at leading law firms and financial institutions in New York before setting up my own practice, I combine capabili...
  • Bankruptcy
  • Business Law
  • Employment Law
  • +3
  • Intellectual Property
  • Real Estate Law
  • Securities Law
David Avellar Neblett avatar
  • Florida
David spent his time as a young lawyer working for insurance companies for coverage disputes and for marine business and yacht owners. He is an avid art and ant...
  • Appeals & Appellate
  • Business Law
  • Construction Law
  • +3
  • Consumer Law
  • Insurance Claims
  • Maritime Law
David spent his time as a young lawyer working for insurance companies for coverage disputes and for marine business and yacht owners. He is an avid art and ant...
  • Appeals & Appellate
  • Business Law
  • Construction Law
  • +3
  • Consumer Law
  • Insurance Claims
  • Maritime Law
Shay Aaron Gilmore avatar
  • California
As an Attorney At Law with over 20 years of legal and business experience, I serve the California cannabis community with transactional advice and counsel for o...
  • Business Law
  • Cannabis & Marijuana Law
  • Employment Law
  • +8
  • Environmental Law
  • Gov & Administrative Law
  • Intellectual Property
  • Landlord Tenant
  • Municipal Law
  • Real Estate Law
  • Securities Law
  • Wage and Hour
As an Attorney At Law with over 20 years of legal and business experience, I serve the California cannabis community with transactional advice and counsel for o...
  • Business Law
  • Cannabis & Marijuana Law
  • Employment Law
  • +8
  • Environmental Law
  • Gov & Administrative Law
  • Intellectual Property
  • Landlord Tenant
  • Municipal Law
  • Real Estate Law
  • Securities Law
  • Wage and Hour
Alejandro Hernandez avatar
  • New Mexico,
  • New York
Alejandro Hernandez is a New York Lawyer handling matters throughout the nation.
  • Asbestos & Mesothelioma
  • Business Law
  • Cannabis & Marijuana Law
  • +14
  • Construction Law
  • Consumer Law
  • Entertainment & Sports Law
  • Estate Planning
  • Immigration Law
  • Insurance Claims
  • Law Practice
  • Personal Injury
  • Probate
  • Products Liability
  • Real Estate Law
  • Securities Law
  • Tax Law
  • White Collar Crime
Alejandro Hernandez is a New York Lawyer handling matters throughout the nation.
  • Asbestos & Mesothelioma
  • Business Law
  • Cannabis & Marijuana Law
  • +14
  • Construction Law
  • Consumer Law
  • Entertainment & Sports Law
  • Estate Planning
  • Immigration Law
  • Insurance Claims
  • Law Practice
  • Personal Injury
  • Probate
  • Products Liability
  • Real Estate Law
  • Securities Law
  • Tax Law
  • White Collar Crime
Mathew Kerbis avatar
  • Illinois
I’m The Subscription Attorney. I offer predictable and affordable monthly subscription packages of legal services to small businesses, freelancers, and everyday...
  • Business Law
  • Education Law
  • Employment Law
  • +6
  • Estate Planning
  • Family Law
  • Insurance Claims
  • Landlord Tenant
  • Law Practice
  • Real Estate Law
I’m The Subscription Attorney. I offer predictable and affordable monthly subscription packages of legal services to small businesses, freelancers, and everyday...
  • Business Law
  • Education Law
  • Employment Law
  • +6
  • Estate Planning
  • Family Law
  • Insurance Claims
  • Landlord Tenant
  • Law Practice
  • Real Estate Law
Adam Blaier avatar
  • New Jersey
Practicing Law since 2016, Adam Blaier is a Shareholder at Brown & Blaier, PC. Adam works with startups and businesses in the New York/New Jersey Area and abroa...
  • Business Law
  • Cannabis & Marijuana Law
  • Communications & Internet Law
  • +3
  • Entertainment & Sports Law
  • Intellectual Property
  • Trademarks
Practicing Law since 2016, Adam Blaier is a Shareholder at Brown & Blaier, PC. Adam works with startups and businesses in the New York/New Jersey Area and abroa...
  • Business Law
  • Cannabis & Marijuana Law
  • Communications & Internet Law
  • +3
  • Entertainment & Sports Law
  • Intellectual Property
  • Trademarks
Andrew Gordon avatar
  • Illinois
Andrew B. Gordon is the founder and managing attorney of Gordon Law Group, an aggressive tax & business law firm in Chicago. Andrew works diligently to ensure t...
  • Business Law
  • Cannabis & Marijuana Law
  • Tax Law
Andrew B. Gordon is the founder and managing attorney of Gordon Law Group, an aggressive tax & business law firm in Chicago. Andrew works diligently to ensure t...
  • Business Law
  • Cannabis & Marijuana Law
  • Tax Law
Darryl "D" Shaper avatar
  • Texas
Darryl is taking his experience as a technology startup founder and using AI to help reduce the cost and offer fixed fees for contract review and redlines. Dar...
  • Animal & Dog Law
  • Business Law
  • Elder Law
  • +6
  • Employment Law
  • Energy, Oil & Gas Law
  • Landlord Tenant
  • Legal Marketing
  • Real Estate Law
  • Securities Law
Darryl is taking his experience as a technology startup founder and using AI to help reduce the cost and offer fixed fees for contract review and redlines. Dar...
  • Animal & Dog Law
  • Business Law
  • Elder Law
  • +6
  • Employment Law
  • Energy, Oil & Gas Law
  • Landlord Tenant
  • Legal Marketing
  • Real Estate Law
  • Securities Law
Taren L. Castro  avatar
  • Florida
The Castro Law Firm, located in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, provides a range of legal services to clients that focus on probate, estate planning and business. ...
  • Business Law
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate
The Castro Law Firm, located in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, provides a range of legal services to clients that focus on probate, estate planning and business. ...
  • Business Law
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate
Cyrus Johnson avatar
  • California,
  • Texas
Corporates and investment companies benefit greatly having someone to help manage and accelerate their legal portfolios, working with teams of lawyers and issue...
  • Antitrust Law
  • Arbitration & Mediation
  • Bankruptcy
  • +10
  • Business Law
  • Collections
  • Constitutional Law
  • Employment Law
  • Energy, Oil & Gas Law
  • Entertainment & Sports Law
  • Federal Courts
  • International Law
  • Law Practice
  • Legal Marketing
Corporates and investment companies benefit greatly having someone to help manage and accelerate their legal portfolios, working with teams of lawyers and issue...
  • Antitrust Law
  • Arbitration & Mediation
  • Bankruptcy
  • +10
  • Business Law
  • Collections
  • Constitutional Law
  • Employment Law
  • Energy, Oil & Gas Law
  • Entertainment & Sports Law
  • Federal Courts
  • International Law
  • Law Practice
  • Legal Marketing
Yenniffer Delgado avatar
  • Georgia
Yenniffer is a deep thinker and is well known for her legal strategic skills. Yenniffer is an attorney who deeply considers every available legal avenue and how...
  • Appeals & Appellate
  • Business Law
  • Construction Law
  • +2
  • Entertainment & Sports Law
  • Intellectual Property
Yenniffer is a deep thinker and is well known for her legal strategic skills. Yenniffer is an attorney who deeply considers every available legal avenue and how...
  • Appeals & Appellate
  • Business Law
  • Construction Law
  • +2
  • Entertainment & Sports Law
  • Intellectual Property
Joel Francis Murray avatar
  • Washington
Joel has a broad range of experience that includes administrative law, appeals and rulemaking, business and corporate law, consumer protection, government affai...
  • Business Law
  • Civil Rights
  • Employment Law
  • +4
  • Gov & Administrative Law
  • Real Estate Law
  • Tax Law
  • Trademarks
Joel has a broad range of experience that includes administrative law, appeals and rulemaking, business and corporate law, consumer protection, government affai...
  • Business Law
  • Civil Rights
  • Employment Law
  • +4
  • Gov & Administrative Law
  • Real Estate Law
  • Tax Law
  • Trademarks
Michael J. Duffy avatar
  • Pennsylvania
Michael J. Duffy is an attorney in Montgomery McCracken’s Business Department. He focuses his practice on general corporate matters, with a concentration on gov...
  • Appeals & Appellate
  • Business Law
  • Intellectual Property
  • +1
  • Trademarks
Michael J. Duffy is an attorney in Montgomery McCracken’s Business Department. He focuses his practice on general corporate matters, with a concentration on gov...
  • Appeals & Appellate
  • Business Law
  • Intellectual Property
  • +1
  • Trademarks
Dolan Williams avatar
  • California
Customer service is my number one priority. Contracts are my specialty. I specialize in drafting, reviewing, and revising contracts, as well as creating templ...
  • Animal & Dog Law
  • Business Law
  • Collections
  • +8
  • Construction Law
  • Education Law
  • Employment Law
  • Estate Planning
  • Family Law
  • Landlord Tenant
  • Real Estate Law
  • Wage and Hour
Customer service is my number one priority. Contracts are my specialty. I specialize in drafting, reviewing, and revising contracts, as well as creating templ...
  • Animal & Dog Law
  • Business Law
  • Collections
  • +8
  • Construction Law
  • Education Law
  • Employment Law
  • Estate Planning
  • Family Law
  • Landlord Tenant
  • Real Estate Law
  • Wage and Hour
Nuo Jia Li avatar
  • Michigan,
  • New York
Lois Li is a detail oriented transaction attorney that provides candid legal advice to resolve complex business issues. Addressing larger ongoing corporate matt...
  • Business Law
  • Communications & Internet Law
  • Employment Law
  • +6
  • Health Care Law
  • Intellectual Property
  • International Law
  • Securities Law
  • Tax Law
  • Trademarks
Lois Li is a detail oriented transaction attorney that provides candid legal advice to resolve complex business issues. Addressing larger ongoing corporate matt...
  • Business Law
  • Communications & Internet Law
  • Employment Law
  • +6
  • Health Care Law
  • Intellectual Property
  • International Law
  • Securities Law
  • Tax Law
  • Trademarks
Jerry Long avatar
  • Tennessee
I help business owners build, protect, preserve and pass on wealth. I advise businesses and business owners on civil litigation, business formation, business la...
  • Business Law
  • Collections
  • Employment Law
  • +6
  • Estate Planning
  • Intellectual Property
  • Landlord Tenant
  • Probate
  • Real Estate Law
  • Trademarks
I help business owners build, protect, preserve and pass on wealth. I advise businesses and business owners on civil litigation, business formation, business la...
  • Business Law
  • Collections
  • Employment Law
  • +6
  • Estate Planning
  • Intellectual Property
  • Landlord Tenant
  • Probate
  • Real Estate Law
  • Trademarks
Brook M. Thibault avatar
  • Virginia
Brook M. Thibault is a Virginia Beach trial lawyer, former Associate Counsel for CMA CGM (America) LLC the world's third largest container ship company, and Pub...
  • Animal & Dog Law
  • Business Law
  • Criminal Law
  • +5
  • Divorce
  • DUI & DWI
  • Family Law
  • Insurance Claims
  • Personal Injury
Brook M. Thibault is a Virginia Beach trial lawyer, former Associate Counsel for CMA CGM (America) LLC the world's third largest container ship company, and Pub...
  • Animal & Dog Law
  • Business Law
  • Criminal Law
  • +5
  • Divorce
  • DUI & DWI
  • Family Law
  • Insurance Claims
  • Personal Injury
Darryl Shaper avatar
  • Texas
Darryl specializes in contract law and his focus is on making sure your contract is clear, protects your interests and meets your needs. You can expect fast, st...
  • Business Law
  • Construction Law
  • Elder Law
  • +1
  • Employment Law
Darryl specializes in contract law and his focus is on making sure your contract is clear, protects your interests and meets your needs. You can expect fast, st...
  • Business Law
  • Construction Law
  • Elder Law
  • +1
  • Employment Law
Scott Allan Pullins avatar
  • Ohio
Scott Pullins is an Ohio attorney, charter school board member, political consultant, and writer. He provides services to small businesses, individuals, financ...
  • Animal & Dog Law
  • Appeals & Appellate
  • Business Law
  • +12
  • Collections
  • Criminal Law
  • Education Law
  • Elder Law
  • Energy, Oil & Gas Law
  • Gov & Administrative Law
  • Intellectual Property
  • Landlord Tenant
  • Municipal Law
  • Probate
  • Real Estate Law
  • Trademarks
Scott Pullins is an Ohio attorney, charter school board member, political consultant, and writer. He provides services to small businesses, individuals, financ...
  • Animal & Dog Law
  • Appeals & Appellate
  • Business Law
  • +12
  • Collections
  • Criminal Law
  • Education Law
  • Elder Law
  • Energy, Oil & Gas Law
  • Gov & Administrative Law
  • Intellectual Property
  • Landlord Tenant
  • Municipal Law
  • Probate
  • Real Estate Law
  • Trademarks
Derek A. Colvin avatar
  • Virginia
Derek Colvin is a graduate of Penn State Law and Old Dominion University. He started his legal career in public service as a prosecuting attorney from 2009 th...
  • Business Law
  • Employment Law
  • Federal Courts
  • +3
  • Intellectual Property
  • Law Practice
  • Trademarks
Derek Colvin is a graduate of Penn State Law and Old Dominion University. He started his legal career in public service as a prosecuting attorney from 2009 th...
  • Business Law
  • Employment Law
  • Federal Courts
  • +3
  • Intellectual Property
  • Law Practice
  • Trademarks

Having a legal business entity reduces the company’s risk of liability exposure. A business formation lawyer will ask you various questions to determine what kind of business you should form. In addition to these topics, they’ll ask about corporate governance issues, such as minutes, meetings, and how to operate your business. Your business may lose its liability protection if you do not form it appropriately or incorporate it.

What Is a Business Formation Lawyer?

Liability exposure and other vital aspects of business entity selection under state laws that lawyers advise clients on include:

  • Sole proprietorships;
  • Corporations;
  • Partnerships (general partnership or limited partnership);
  • Limited liability partnerships (LLPs);
  • Limited liability companies (LLCs);
  • C-corporations; and
  • S-corporations.

What Does a Business Formation Attorney Do?

Business incorporation benefits your company by providing:

  • Limited liability;
  • Tax advantages;
  • Unlimited duration;
  • Transferability of ownership;
  • Raising capital.

Incorporating a business usually requires the following assistance from the best business formation lawyer near you:

  1. Choosing a C-corporation or an S-corporation for the company;
  2. Choosing a corporate name that distinguishes it from others registered in the state;
  3. Articles of incorporation and appointment of a registered agent;
  4. Drafting corporate bylaws that lay out the company’s rules;
  5. Electing directors and officers;
  6. Issuing stock;
  7. Developing operating agreements; and
  8. Creating a partnership agreement (if necessary).

Small businesses that incorporate are usually closely held corporations, exempt from most regulations. However, you should still get a lawyer’s opinion. If the corporation issues stock, a lawyer can make sure the corporation complies with the securities laws and regulations.

When to Hire a Business Formation Lawyer?

When you decide and form your own business entity, there are multiple steps you can take to get started. It may become necessary for you to consult a lawyer once your business has reached a later stage, such as when you decide to hire employees. It is important to keep in mind, however, that if you are uncertain about anything during the process, hiring a lawyer could help you avoid costly mistakes.

How Do I Choose a Business Formation Attorney?

Businesses should contact lawyers and learn about their basic services and rates in the initial consultation to determine whether they are a good fit for them. By understanding the law firm’s rates, you can budget accordingly and ensure that when you need their services, you can afford them. 

  • Decide what type of lawyer you need;
  • Make sure you choose the right size firm; and
  • Assess whether proximity to your business is important to you.

Prior to hiring a lawyer, do some preliminary research and determine when you wish to hire and who is the best fit for your business. 

Because every business law situation is different, it’s hard to provide a quick answer. It is a great idea to speak to a business lawyer about your concerns.

What Is the Business Formation Lawyer Average Cost?

The best business formation attorneys near you usually charge an hourly fee for their services. This fee is generally determined by several factors. Among them are:

  • Legal experience;
  • The complexity of each case;
  • Rates in your community; and
  • The firm’s size.

Law firms providing legal services to small businesses charge different fees. Smaller firms tend to charge less per hour than larger ones. For example, an attorney may charge a higher hourly rate for court work versus a lower rate for research. An hourly rate of $150 to $325 is typical.

Do Business Formation Attorneys Usually Charge for Consultations?

When you meet with the lawyer, you will be charged an initial consultation fee. This first meeting is not meant for legal advice. A lawyer’s initial consultation is usually charged at an hourly rate, at a reduced rate, or for free. This is a great step for getting your questions answered prior to beginning an attorney-client relationship.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of entity should I form for my new business?

Companies are formed as one of the following:

  • A sole proprietorship;
  • Partnership;
  • Corporation; and
  • LLC (limited liability company).

When deciding what type of business structure to use for your company, you need to consider factors such as how much liability protection against debts you need, your personal tax situation, and how formal or informal you want the business to be.

Sole proprietorships and general partnerships provide the least liability protection, but they can be as formal or informal as the parties like.

LLCs and corporations offer greater protection against the company’s debts, but they are more complex to form and operate.

Your attorney can explain how to form the different types of entities, how they must operate legally, and what their ongoing legal requirements are.

Your lawyer can also suggest which entity is best based on the above factors and your future plans for owning or selling the business, bringing in investors, and other factors.

To determine the tax structure for the different types of entities, you should consult a Certified Public Accountant.

Generally speaking, when should I use an LLC?

LLCs are ideal for business or investment ventures involving two or more people. Compared to a general partnership as well as a limited partnership, LLCs offer numerous advantages. In comparison to an S-corporation, it does not have its own restrictions on how to allocate dividends to members.

Do I need a lawyer near me to incorporate?

Businesses can be expensive to start, and owners under financial stress are often tempted to incorporate without an attorney. It is possible to incorporate a small business without hiring a lawyer if you have the time and skills to perform the research, prepare the paperwork needed to register with the state and draft the legal documents.

This route, however, is not without risk. If you are unsure how to structure your existing business or are worried about drafting the documents correctly, then you should seek professional guidance. A knowledgeable attorney can help you in those circumstances. An attorney can assist you in determining whether your business needs to incorporate, finding the most appropriate corporate structure, and preparing and filing the necessary documents. Working with a lawyer for business formation near you ensures your family business’ incorporation documents adequately shield you from liability for its debts.