Home » Emigration Guides » USA » Business » Legal Services And Costs In America

Whether you plan to start a business from scratch, invest in an existing company or buy an established business outright, it can be very helpful to enlist the help of a specialised lawyer to keep the paperwork moving along. New businesses in particular require compliance with US regulations, licensing and other government agencies, most of which involve fees of some kind.

Legal representation in America is never cheap, but it can be lifesaving if there is ever an issue regarding lawsuits. Many law firms in America specialise in company law and make their income by developing strong relationships with company owners that can last through the duration of the business venture.

If you plan to start up a large business with loads of capital you will probably want to hire a law firm on a retainer basis so that your lawyer is well versed in your business and ready to help you at any time. This can greatly reduce the costs of legal advice as well as support in court. The role of the lawyer is to protect the interests of the company above all.

In America, attorney fees range from US$200 to US$1,000 an hour depending on the fame of the law firm. But in the end, these fees can be a good value if your lawyer understands the extent of items you can use as tax write offs. There are many special tax deductions available for business start ups but unless you are able to wade through the tome known as America tax code a lawyer trained in company tax law can save you literally hours of wasted time and energy.

Among the other duties a company law attorney can provide is business entity formation, which can be a major help. The lawyer can basically set up the entire company’s paperwork while you focus on the logistics of opening the business. Working with a law firm also ensures you are in compliance with employment laws and can help with the purchase of existing businesses.

Once your company is up and running a lawyer is useful to deal with any problems that arise. This includes contract and collections disputes, unemployment compensation hearings and other complicated issues.

If cash flow is a problem while setting up a business, the government’s Small Business Association can be a great source of free information and advice. Their website has loads of information that can answer most questions about business start ups. They can also assist in finding loans, contracts and other components that small business owners have to deal with themselves. It is worth taking a look at their website: http://www.sba.gov/.