4 Moments in Business When You'll Need a Lawyer
When you think about the possibility of hiring a lawyer for your business, what's the one time that you think you’ll actually need one?
If you think the answer is only when something goes wrong, then you absolutely have to keep reading! There are actually four times in the life of your business when you will probably need a lawyer.
You need a lawyer when…you’re starting up
There's a lot going on at the beginning of your business. A lot of things you're learning and a lot of things you're setting up where you need someone in your corner to help you set up your business entity. Things such as:
Making sure that your trademark is clear and that you can use the name that you've chosen
Navigating graphic design and website and social media marketing and copywriting freelancers
All the people to set up your business for success
And that means a lot of contracts, IP and intangible valuable stuff that's going to be a core of your business.
You need a lawyer when…you’re growing like crazy
You've got new offers. You've got new sub-brands underneath your main brand. You're launching into podcasting, or YouTube channel territory. Or you are partnering with brands and doing sponsorships. Maybe you're going into live events, maybe you're partnering with other brands to do an offer together.
Either way, you've got documents, lots of contracts, going back and forth. That means lots of money changing hands, and you need someone who's going to have your back. Someone to make sure you're not forgetting anything and someone to make sure that you're not stepping into any accidental landmines.
You need a lawyer when…problems come up
Yes, problems will come up! This is when you need someone to swoop in and fight that fire for you. Help you to defend yourself against copycats, or defend yourself against a claim from somebody else. Either way, something's gone wrong somewhere and you need a lawyer to help you sift out what to do and to help eliminate some of that stress from you take some of that stuff off of your plate.
You need a lawyer when…you’re ready to move on
Maybe you've fallen out of love with your business. Or maybe this has been your end game the whole time that you want to sell. When you're ready to sell your business, there are some big documents happening. There are some disclosures and possibly IP assets going with the sale of your business. Either way, there are big contracts involved and you want a lawyer on hand to help you with the sale of that business.