The Lawyer

A lawyer can offer you expert advice on establishing a small business, buying an existing business, or evaluating a franchise opportunity. He or she can also help you draw up a partnership agreement, plan for expansion through incorporation, sale or purchase of business, provide research and advice, etc.

The lawyer is working for you, take your time in deciding who to hire. Your needs must be clearly understood and you should feel comfortable when dealing with your lawyer. It is very important that the lawyer be a business lawyer and deliver easily what you ask. It is your responsibility to read and check all documents and fully understand what you are signing or accepting. No advisor should divulge confidential information about your affairs (except when required by law).

You should know that, if you want the expertise of a senior partner in law firm you may be charged more than with junior, because senior partner cost more. Though you may be reluctant to pay for legal advice, its benefits in terms of time, wary, and saved later, definitely outweigh its initial cost. After all, the cost of professional help is a legitimate tax-deductible business expense.

155 Legal Do's (and Don'ts) for the Small Business - One of the most difficult aspects of starting and running a small business is knowing what are the requirements for compliance with the law . . . and what legal pitfalls to avoid. This user-friendly guide, written by a practicing attorney, features a format that offers helpful cross-references and quick access to 155 major legal do's and don'ts in a variety of subject areas, including international transactions, contracts, intellectual property, computers, business succession planning, and more. Included are such important topics as: Financing—personal guarantys; Litigation—arbitration; Types of businesses—conversion from a corporation; Commercial transactions—warranties and disclaimers; Employment—hiring aliens; and much more...

How to Really Start Your Own Business - W.D.Bygrave, professor of entrepreneurship, Babson College "Gumpert's how-to book is simply the best. No would-be entrepreneur should launch a business before reading this book."

A Basic Guide for Buying and Selling a Company - This outstanding guide contains all the essentials with regard to the interaction of people transacting for small businesses and how to maximize your chances to obtain fair deals. Explains how to effectively use a business broker, methods of payment available to the buyer, deal with an attorney, how the seller prices the company, and much more.

Tested Advertising Methods - A legend in advertising for more than 60 years, John Caples still serves as a guide to generations of creative marketing people. Now his classic work on how to create successful advertising has been updated by respected advertising consultant Fred Hahn. It retains all the clarity, candid analysis, time-tested experience and invaluable award-winning ideas from the original, while bringing it right up-to-the-minute on the many new changes in the field.