What You Need to Start a Business

Attorneys can help you with your contacts, setting up your business structure and lease reviews. An Insurance Agent can help you with planning the best overall package for your type of business.InsuranceYou should have the proper insurance for all of your equipment and vehicles as required by law or needed. Some jurisdictions may require you to carry business liability insurance. This can be obtained for around $200.00 to $1000.00 per year.Business Counselors can help you with your business planning, loan applications, and referrals to other professionals. SCORE volunteers and Small Business Development Centers offer some counseling for small businesses.On reason to contact a professional would be to find out about issues before them become a problem, especially legal or tax issues. Even if you are relatively comfortable with how you have set up your business, having an experienced person look over what you are doing can be helpful.Points to think about when working with a professional: Find someone that you can talk to, and feel comfortable with. A competent professional should never be to busy to give their clients the time they need to address their business issues, or return phone calls. Find out what communication method work best: phone, Fax, e-mail, in person or regular mail. Ask about billing rates and payment process up front, and what fines and/or penalties that professional is willing to take responsibility for, if they occur. Before you leave a meeting, review any points that have been agreed upon for services to be provided. Or, further research to be done and the projected completion timetable, including the tasks that you have agreed to complete. Use a calendar to not these timelines, as well as approaching deadlines for tax filings. Ask if they will consult with other professionals (in other fields) as needed, and whom they work with already. If you do not understand something, ask for clarification.Selecting a LawyerChances are that you will need legal advice right from the inception of your business. There are a number of legal issues where you might need help in your business in addition to getting your company set up properly authorized to conduct business.Selecting a lawyer to work with your business should be done carefully. A lawyer will be one of your key advisors - you will want to ensure that you are comfortable with him or her and find is easy to exchange ideas. It does you no good if you are intimidated or uncomfortable asking questions, or discussing problems. Sometimes it might be necessary to change attorneys as your business needs change, but this can be an expensive process. Before contracting a lawyer, learn about how lawyers charge for their services so that you approach them with a good sense of what to expect.Here is a practical approach in selecting a lawyer: Ask for referrals from people whose opinions you respect and who have worked with attorneys representing small businesses. Set up interviews with two or three attorneys. There might be a fee involved, but many attorneys will waive the fee for the Las Vegas Business Attorney initial interview. Keep the interview focused on its purpose that is, determining if you are comfortable and have a rapport with the attorney. Ask for references for other small business clients and contact them.