Part of the American Dream is to create wealth for yourself and your family, and business lawyers in Houston have seen again and again that one of the best ways to do this is by founding your own small business. While creating wealth is certainly the goal for many small businesses, the owners’ concern should extend to properly protecting that wealth for the next generation.
Doing Things Right
Making your business a success depends upon doing things the right way. There are tons of laws and regulations that extend to conducting business in Houston. From licenses to inspections, your industry will affect just what types of regulations you need to adhere to. In order to make sure you are in compliance, you will likely benefit from working with aHouston business lawyer.
There is an incredible range of legal obligations that may relate to your business, and while you can do some research on your own, it is always best to back it up with solid legal advice. For example, you may need to provide contracts to your customers. While you can possibly draft these on your own, it makes financial sense to have them reviewed by an attorney who is able to ensure they extend all the right protections to you.
Business owners may also benefit from working with a business lawyer in determining the right type of business structure. In some cases, a simple sole proprietorship or partnership may be the right choice, but there are many, many times when some form of corporation is preferable due to the protections it affords. An S-corporation, C-corporation, LLC, or LLP is often a better choice, because it can help keep business and personal assets separate and protect one in situations where the other is vulnerable.
Growing Your Business
As your small business grows, a business lawyer in Houston is instrumental in smoothing the transition to a larger company. Perhaps you want to offer shares in your corporation or create bylaws for your organization. There are very specific legal requirements that go into developing these aspects of your business, and working with a business lawyer in Houston is the most responsible way to move forward.
Should your business outgrow you, or vice versa, you will also want to consult with a Houston business lawyer about how to sell it or create a succession plan. This protects partners and shareholders, and can even have an impact on your personal life and finances. Legal direction is necessary for ensuring all parties are treated fairly and understand the implications that come along in the form of taxes and other responsibilities.
Business lawyers in Houston are familiar with the laws that govern all aspects of running a small business within the state, and utilizing their expertise is a huge step toward laying a foundation for success in realizing the American Dream.
Kimberly Hegwood is the Managing Attorney of Your Legacy Legal Care, a Houston estate planning law firm. With more than 25 years of experience practicing law in Texas, she represents clients in a wide range of legal matters, including elder law, asset protection, estate planning, Medicaid crisis planning, probate, guardianship, and other estate planning practice areas.
Kimberly received her Juris Doctor from the South Texas College of Law and is a member of the State Bar of Texas.
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