Cincinnati Startup Attorneys & Lawyers

Why Should My Company Hire a Startup Attorney?

How well you grow as a company depends on how you approach the early days. You don't want to become a statistic, one of the many companies that fail during the first two years.

As one of the founders, you'll have little free time already. You don't want to waste it figuring out legal documents you barely understand. A startup attorney can offer a guiding hand. They'll also have experience with other businesses like your own. You can draw on this knowledge to improve your chances of success.

What Can a Startup Lawyer Do for a New Business?

An experienced startup lawyer offers a lot of value. They will:

Add Networking Opportunities: Whether your new business needs money or customers, lawyers have a network of former and current clients they know. They can connect you with established businesses that will help you secure your company's future.

Set Up Your Company: Whether you choose to incorporate or set up a business by yourself, a startup attorney can file the right paperwork. They'll advise you on the best way to register your services with the government, protecting your immediate and long-term interests.

Handle the Paperwork: During your early days, you'll sign contracts with customers. You'll hire new employees. You may even negotiate deals with business partners. All of these instances involve some paperwork.

Since you lack experience in this area, you run the risk of using the wrong documents or agreeing to something that you didn't intend. An attorney will handle the paperwork for you, saving you a lot of aggravation.

Offer Guidance on Hiring: The government has rules in place for proper hiring practices. The conditions vary depending on the size of your startup. You'll need legal advice to know who you can and cannot hire.

Once you have workers on the payroll, you also need to provide a list of rules for them. A lawyer can offer a checklist of guidelines. You can use them as the backbone of an employee handbook.

Protect Your Ideas: During its early days, your business might invent a new product or create a process. When you make something original, you should own it. Unless you know the details of copyright and trademark law, you run the risk of someone stealing your best ideas.

A startup attorney can offer advice on how to protect your intellectual properties (IPs). Just as importantly, they can also teach you how to avoid infringing on the IPs of others. A single encounter with a patent troll could bankrupt your company. That's why legal advice in this area is crucial.

Which Questions Should I Ask a Startup Lawyer?

You'll want to check for references just like you would when hiring anyone else. You also need to protect yourself against overbilling. Viewabill is an online service that tracks this statistic. The data suggests that lawyers overbill clients by 23 percent. To avoid the issue, clarify billing terms and services in advance.

You should also find out whether the lawyer will charge by the hour or by the project. Ask if they offer discounts or payment plans for startups. Since you'll have little excess cash on hand in the early days of the company, try to work out a payment schedule. It'll improve your chances for long-term success.

Other questions you should ask include:

• How much experience do you have as a lawyer?
• How much experience do you have with startups?
• How much experience do you have in advising on trademarks, copyrights, and infringement?
• Are you the point person at your firm or will I deal with other employees?
• If others will also work with the startup, how many of them are lawyers as opposed to people who haven't passed the bar exam?
• In case of emergency, will I talk to you or to them?
• How quick are you and the rest of your firm with responses?
• How many clients do you have and can you reasonably add more to your workload?

How to Find the Best Startup Lawyer in Cincinnati, Ohio

You should create a checklist of traits for your attorney. You obviously need someone who has passed the bar exam offered by the Office of Bar Admissions of the Supreme Court of Ohio. An attorney who hasn't passed the bar cannot offer legal advice in the state. To make sure an attorney is legal, contact the Office of Bar Admissions to verify their claim.

You also want an attorney who has no outstanding complaints. Any unhappy customer can register their complaint with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel of the Supreme Court of Ohio. An attorney with multiple complaints isn't someone you should hire under any circumstance. Even a single complaint should worry you enough to explore other options. You must trust your attorney since their advice is critical to the success of your startup.