New Business Legal and Other Questions

Starting your own business can be an overwhelming experience. While you're busy figuring out your finances, trying to get clients and figure out a business plan, who has time to think about things like incorporation, hiring a lawyer, or otherwise establishing yourself as a trademarked business entity? I know from personal experience that all of this legal new business stuff is confusing and the last thing you want to think about when you're trying to get a new business off the ground. And unfortunately, most people aren't fortunate enough to have a close friend or family member who is a lawyer and able to take care of this legal stuff for them.

So, as I've learned more and more through my own experiences starting a new business I've tried to keep track of what was confusing and what advice was useful to me. This site is an attempt to clarify and elaborate on the legal, tax, and other needs required to start a new business, from setting yourself up as a corporate entity to finding ways to better manage your time. And of course, I've included some tips for self-employed and new business owners to use at income tax time.

I try to answer new business start-up questions like: When should I incorporate and do I need a lawyer? What can I do to keep myself on track while working from home? What does all the legal jargon surrounding starting a new business mean and where can I get legal help?

One of the best pieces of advice I've gotten on my journey starting a new business, besides the sometimes essential "hang in there," is to skip the expensive hourly rates of a lawyer and to use Legal Zoom online instead. It's better than going it alone because you still have the certainty that a lawyer has been involved, ensuring you're following all necessary legal guidelines, but at the same time it doesn't cost a fortune! Legal Zoom allowed me to save my money for more important things, like investing it to try to make my new business profitable.